“What company events to organize and when” is a question that company leaders and HR managers constantly have to grapple with.
All managers want their employees to be positive, motivated, and therefore also achieve high performance. Different people are motivated by very different things and activities—money, gym and/or fuel compensation, training, free lunch or transport, professional recognition, etc. However, all of these are short-term motivators (generally up to 6 months).
In Estonia, three main motivational events for company staff have emerged: the company’s birthday/anniversary, summer days, and the Christmas party. In recent years, a variety of additional activities have been added, usually organized for smaller groups—for example bowling, hiking, sauna evenings, dinners, etc.
The biggest question, however, is when is the RIGHT time to organize that enjoyable team event.
It often happens that department managers react too late—only when team members’ motivation and energy levels have already dropped and people are counting the days until their vacation. At the moment when an HR manager is planning their annual work plan, they should also include various team events in the action plan, spaced out fairly evenly throughout the year.
Several studies have shown that even a 2–3 hour activity can be very effective as a motivation boost—something that helps people take their minds off work and brings the team together.
Below is an illustrative example of planning motivational activities:
| Activity* | Target group** | |
| January | New Year’s Party | Whole company |
| February |
Strategy day, team event, or seminar – to introduce the goals for the new calendar year. The event is followed by an enjoyable team activity (by departments). |
By department or as the whole company at once. |
| March |
A more active team-based outdoor activity. |
|
| April |
Self-development – participating in a seminar. It can be work-related, but we recommend allowing the employee to choose a training that interests them personally. |
|
| May |
Charity – participating together in a spring clean-up initiative. |
By department or as the whole company at once. |
| June |
Summer days – either with families or without. |
Whole company |
| July |
Family Day – time for families. It is important to give employees the opportunity to spend time with their loved ones. |
Whole company |
| August | Summer days – either with families or without. | Whole company |
| September |
Workplace Seminar – a couple of hours of professional training that helps employees set their focus for the autumn. |
By department or as the whole company at once (depends on the size of the company). |
| October |
Small team activity – for example, an office or outdoor movie night is enough. |
By department or as the whole company at once (depends on the size of the company). |
| November |
A pre-Christmas initiative for the local community (kindergartens, schools, shared green spaces, etc.). |
By department. |
| December |
Christmas party – consider whether to celebrate with +1 or not. |
Whole company |
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*Activity depends on the company’s financial year – when summaries are made and new goals are set. |
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** The scale varies greatly between companies. This is just an illustrative example. |
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The table above is very general and by no means set in stone. Every company, whether led by a manager or HR director, needs time to create a plan that suits their specific organization. It is more cost-effective to retain existing good employees by fostering a positive work environment and mindset. It would be a mistake to exhaust staff with a heavy workload and then try to briefly boost motivation. When joining a company, every employee is interested in its internal culture. Bonuses and other forms of compensation may not have a long-term impact. Many employees seek experiences and opportunities for personal growth. That’s why it’s important to keep activities balanced throughout the year.
Every event marketing agency should be able to consult with HR managers and collaborate on which engaging activities would suit their employees best. The agency’s role is to find the right balance between learning and fun.
Come to Frank for a consultation, and we’ll help you put your plan in place!