×
Home PageCareerWealthReal EstateCollectiblesBusinessView From The TopAbout UsTerms of ServicePrivacy PolicyAdvertiseContact UsDo Not Sell My Personal InfoAlways PetsBig EditionFamilyMindedFar & WideStadium TalkWork + Money
© 2024 Big Edition, Inc.

How to Survive Your Work Retreat

Unfortunately, not all employees can behave themselves on a company retreat and not all managers know how to host one. Getty Images

So you’re going to be at an offsite work retreat for a while, surrounded by your bosses and coworkers. For employees, hopefully it’s something fun and engaging. For managers, hopefully your team will walk away from the event as a more cohesive unit. That is, if everything goes accordingly.

Unfortunately, not all employees can behave themselves on a company retreat and not all managers know how to host one. That’s because company retreats seem to exist in this gray area between work and leisure — except they don’t. While ostensibly all about fun and team building, these retreats can either help or hinder your career.

Follow the guidelines below and you’ll walk away from that offsite outing with an even better reputation.

Dress Appropriately

So the retreat you’re going to has a pool, a hot tub, and a fancy reception area. While it’s pretty obvious you shouldn’t break out the thongs and Borat mankinis, you also need to consider if your bathing suit isn’t too revealing.

“Around the pool, remember that you’re going to be seeing everyone back in the office at some point and choose your attire accordingly,” says HR consultant Richard Pummell. He says to imagine that a picture of you in your swimwear makes it onto social media. If it “would attract the wrong type of attention or require explanation, it’s probably not appropriate,” he says.

When it’s time for dinner and drinks in the ballroom (or down the street), go ahead and look sharp. “For cocktail evenings and dinners out, by all means use this as an opportunity to dress to impress,” says Pummell.

Be Careful Who You Invite to Your Hotel Room

Extending an invite to some coworkers for an after party in your hotel room might sound like an innocent gesture — and in most cases, it probably is. But according to our experts, there’s an inherent risk in doing so.

“A male member of a sales team invited his fellow sales colleagues back to his hotel room for an after party,” said Amy Sanchez, a career coach and owner of Swim Against the Current. “While almost everyone received the invitation, one female member of the sales team took offense to the invitation and reported him to HR.”

Why? Because the sales team was “90 percent men and 10 percent women, and all the men were drinking heavily,” said Sanchez. “So you can see why she may have felt threatened, even though his request may have been innocent. He ended talking to HR Monday morning and had a permanent strike on his record.”

Or Just Avoid Another Person’s Room Altogether

Pummell takes it one step farther. He advises employees and managers to completely avoid entering another person’s room.

“It’s smart to think of an employee’s hotel room being no different than their bedroom at home,” he said. “It’s very personal space, and in order to avoid any possible issues, it’s better to just not enter.”

Pummell says it’s more about not allowing gossip to start, to avoid the “why did this person enter that person’s room” whispers that may follow you back to the office. He also says managers should be particularly sensitive in this area.

“Managers entering an employee’s room would definitely be a concern,” says Pummell.

Don’t Act Like You’re Among Friends

When you’re at a work retreat, the environment is more relaxed and you’re likely to act in a more casual manner. That’s fine. Just don’t let this new environment trick you into thinking your coworkers are your college buddies.

“Regardless of what time it is and where you are, you are still among colleagues, not friends, and you must continue to act professionally,” said Sanchez. So don’t break out “Cards Against Humanity” or start a “Truth or Dare” game.