Every June we take a day to show our appreciations to all the dads out there, but very few us know exactly how this tradition began. Here is a great outline from Piktochart infographics:
A Little Father’s Day History
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How to Host a Company Picnic
Company picnics are great morale boosters. They strengthen teamwork and encourage interdepartmental integration. But to the uninitiated, company parties can seem like a lot of work. For the organizer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Get the festive energy started as soon as the invites go out, plan ahead, and your event should be talked about until next year!
Here they are — our guidelines for how to host a company picnic:
- Send an invite, not an email. An office-wide email thread can be a helpful follow-up, especially if it’s a potluck or themed picnic. But to get the word out, drop an invite on desks or leave them tucked into lockers. It’s a company event, after all, not a meeting!
- Fridays are best for office picnics. Employees can take off early and look forward to the weekend. If you schedule it mid-week, employees will spend the picnic worrying about tomorrow’s work load.
- Cater, Potluck or DIY? No one wants to get stuck taking hamburger orders all day. A company picnic should be a break from work. Instead of delegating tasks, opt for catering or, if on a budget, make each food station DIY. If the picnic budget is very slim, consider making it a potluck.
- Rent or buy. Supplies — like decorations, utensils and picnic blankets – can make or break a company picnic. If your picnic is an annual tradition, buying might be the better option. Call suppliers and do the math to find out which option suits your need.
- Prepare for the unexpected. Rain happens. Keep an eye on the forecast, rent a few tents and pick an alternate party day in case weather doesn’t permit.
Going the DIY route? Skewers are the easiest, quickest option for self-serve grilling and can be assembled a day in advance. Follow the Food Network’s cheat sheet for building great skewers:
Andy’s Good Vibrations
In the past week, I’ve heard every Beach Boys song under the sun. On repeat. Andy is feeling very excited about summer’s arrival and his enthusiasm is infectious. As a result, our office stereo has been working overtime.
Andy’s summertime energy is spilling over into other places, too. The break room fridge is full of coconut water, new office plants are popping up everywhere and Andy’s desk looks like the inside of a piñata.
I stop by on my morning walk through the office.
“Andy,” I smile at him over a sea of blue binders and yellow tulips, “it’s looking very seasonal over here.”
He smiles back. “I’ve never been so excited for warm weather!”
“After the winter we had…” I respond.
“Exactly! I thought some colour and music would really lift our spirits. You know, remind us what it’s like to see blue skies and sunshine.”
“I think it’s working,” I say, gesturing around us. The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds is playing and, though it’s first thing on a Monday, spirits are high. “What made you think to do all of this?”
“It was a study I read online about boosting office health. It talked about plants, music and healing colours. You know — blue is energizing, green is calming, yellow boosts creativity — that sort of thing.”
I nod, scanning his desk. “This is why we love you, Andy!”
Andy blushes and gives a shrug. “We spend 40 hours a week here, Rona. I think we should love where we work.”
My heart feels full. I completely agree. “Well said. Thanks for reminding us all of that.”
We share a smile and I continue on to my office. Maybe it’s the warmer weather or the cheerful music, but I feel especially lucky today. Who says an office can’t feel like home?
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