Office culture trends 2014

By Sarah Vaynerman, Director of Communications at OFFSITE

I recall, nearly a decade ago, my jaw dropping when first hearing about the employee perks at Google. At the time, this was an anomaly; no one anticipated that the culture of this Mountain View, California search company would encourage countless organizations to follow suit, incentivizing employees not just with paychecks, but by truly valuing workplace happiness. Today, workplace culture is integral to the success of any organization and, unless we’re talking really big numbers, just as important to employees as compensation and benefits.

But not every company can afford to give its employees free food and rides to work, massage credits to reward a job well done or allow 20% of their time to be dedicated to passion projects. So how do the not-Googles of the world retain talented people and build engaged, high-functioning teams? At OFFSITE, we see everyone from lean startups to Fortune 100 companies gather to ignite and power exciting ideas every day. Here’s what I’ve learned:

Casual Everyday

Appearances simply don’t matter as much as they used to. Jeans and t-shirts outnumber suits and ties by a landslide amongst the employees of countless companies that we’ve seen walk through our midtown doors. Allowing workers the choice to be comfortable and express themselves creates a vibe that is encouraging rather than stifling. Smart, talented people perform their best when they are at their most authentic

Teambuilding, gamified

I can’t remember the last time I witnessed a lecture or discussion on teambuilding. Duh. That’s not how you forge bonds! No, you build teams by participating in activities that are challenging, require collaboration and deliver a healthy dose of competition. From the indoor relay races to the building of gigantic, moving puzzles that we’ve witnessed, there is definitely a trend in gamified teambuilding as a way to bring employees together. The energy on the way out is always so alive after a good matchup.

Virtual and hybrid teams

Technology allows us not only to work from anywhere, but to collaborate in real-time from anywhere. We see companies bringing their leadership from all over the world to our Manhattan office while their team members from far and wide participate via videoconference, often using social media to augment the experience even further. But proceed with caution – while this seems like a no-brainer, it can actually be very difficult to keep participants engaged online. If you have the budget, hiring a planner who is experienced in both the tech, management and people aspects of online and hybrid events is a worthwhile option.

Wellness

Have you noticed a trend in health, wellness and even mindfulness in business lately? If your company can’t afford to feed employees organic meals and spring for holistic retreats, try scaling the idea down a bit. Get a juicer for the office and offer yoga and meditation once a week or month. The gesture in favor of your team’s physical and mental health will go a long way, and you may be surprised at how much better a team functions after a calming practice.

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Sarah Vaynerman is the Director of Communications at OFFSITE, Manhattan’s most evocative corporate meeting and private event space. There is no other space quite like it, where you’re inspired to think more freely, work more collaboratively, and explore ideas more creatively. Relax and enjoy as OFFSITE becomes your personal venue. Wander across three levels to find your “sweet spot.” Get down to the business at hand and let OFFSITE’s staff worry about the details at midtown Manhattan’s most creative meeting venue.

Check out OFFSITE on Facebook or talk to Sarah about meetings and events on Twitter @goOFFSITE