Afterwork events are often seen as an excuse for a beer with colleagues. But does this have a real purpose in company life? In this article, we unpack the experience of French culture.
What is an Afterwork Event?
An afterwork event is an informal gathering organized outside of regular working hours. Colleagues meet—often at a bar, café, or other casual venue—to relax, socialize, and build connections. These events help strengthen team bonds, improve communication, and boost employee morale by encouraging interaction in a friendly, non-work setting.
What Are the Benefits of An Afterwork Event?
Afterwork events are designed to create connections between colleagues outside working hours, and this is not without an ulterior motive. If your colleagues discover things they have in everyday life outside work, they’ll also find it easier to communicate and work together professionally.
The French concept is increasingly important to their working environment, and getting on well with colleagues is an important criterion for many of them. A happy employee means half as many sick days, six times less absenteeism, and 55% more initiative.[*]
According to a study by Wehobby, 89% of employees are more motivated at work when the employer considers their physical and mental well-being.[**]
Today, 60% of French people who participate in after-work events consider this a decisive factor in their well-being at work.[***]
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Example Ideas for Afterwork Event Team Activities
Afterwork events are a fantastic way to strengthen relationships and foster a positive team culture. Here are some engaging ideas to inspire your next afterwork gathering:
1. Themed Happy Hours: Host a happy hour with a fun theme, such as a tropical luau, retro night, or international cuisine tasting. This adds an extra element of excitement and encourages everyone to participate.
2. Trivia or Quiz Nights: Organize a trivia competition covering topics like pop culture, company history, or general knowledge. Forming teams helps break the ice and promotes friendly competition.
3. Escape Rooms: Take your team to a local escape room or try a virtual version. Working together to solve puzzles strengthens collaboration and problem-solving skills.
4. Outdoor Activities: Plan a picnic in the park, a group hike, or a friendly sports match. Outdoor events encourage relaxation and physical activity, which can boost team morale.
5. Creative Workshops: Arrange for a painting, cooking, or cocktail-making class. Learning something new together is both fun and rewarding.
6. Game Nights: Board games, card games, or video games can bring out everyone’s playful side and spark laughter.
Mixing up activities ensures there’s something for everyone, making afterwork events inclusive and memorable for the whole team.
How Do You Introduce Afterworks at Your Company?
It’s important to realize that there may be those who are resistant to the idea, pointing out that:
“Everyone does what they want after their working day, and we don’t have to be obliged to spend this time with our colleagues.”
At no time should your employees feel obliged to attend this event, nor should they feel bad if they don’t. A good way to kick-start this “Thursday night habit” is to survey your staff by asking them if they’d be interested in you organizing afterworks, how often they’re held, the places they’d like to discover, or the activities they’d enjoy doing with colleagues.
This way, you can include them in planning these events, and if they feel involved and listened to, they’ll be more motivated to participate.
It’s essential to have a frequency consistent with what’s been announced and decided with employees to get them used to it. However, having additional events in line with the company’s current events is also a good idea.
The two most important criteria for French people when it comes to taking part in afterworks are proximity to the office and the originality of the venue, so choosing the right venue is essential:
- Have an HQ: Some companies have a favorite bar that employees consider a landmark, often located right next to the office.
- Introduce new venues at every afterwork event: To encourage your staff to attend every time, let them try out unusual activities and bars to maintain interest.
- The most important thing is to listen to your employees and follow their needs and desires.
These events improve employee morale and engagement. They are also a great human resources initiative because they enable networking between teams and connections outside the office.
Study notes:
* = Etude Harvard/MIT Study
**= Etude WeHobby Study
***= Etude Opinion Way pour Privateaser Study
