International Friendship Day: Celebrating Bonhomie at Business

It is becoming common to see people from diverse backgrounds working together in workplaces. There can be various barriers and cultural differences which may cause a rift among the employees. As an employer, you should consider celebrating events that help form a community at the workplace. International Friendship Day falls on 31 st July and could be the perfect occasion to bring your team together. Celebrating friendship day at the workplace can help the team connect with one another and learn more about one another’s personal lives. It will allow employees to embrace team engagement and build more vibrant and effective friendships. Let us learn the importance of celebrating friendship day at the workplace and what initiatives you can take to build bonhomie in the business.  

Why Celebrate Friendship Day at the Workplace?

Celebrating Friendship Day and similar events at the workplace helps unite the employees over collaborative efforts. As an employer or manager, you would know how difficult it can be to keep a team together. Keeping your employees engaged is one of the most effective ways to retain them and create a conducive culture. It also opens channels for conversations, laughter, and some excitement together. Celebrating events and activities will keep them physically active and will be effective for the overall well-being of the employees. Bring life to your work culture with some new and creative celebration activities.  

How to Celebrate Friendship Day at the Workplace?

Here are some effective ways to celebrate friendship day and improve the bonding of the employees at the workplace:   

Organize a Friendship Day Party

Whether you are working remotely or working from the office, try to give your employees a break from work. Conduct a friendship day party or take your employees out on lunch. Consider the activities and select the location wisely. There can be employees who may have travel issues. Therefore, you must seek the opinion of your employees before selecting a venue.  

DIY Friendship Day Band and Other Activities

Give the employees a task that allows them to showcase their creative side. You can ask them to create DIY and colorful bands using threads or beads. You can also organize other competitions and games to make the occasion more engaging. Ask them to make cards or play a game like secret Santa, where every employee will bring a gift for the other employee. Decide on the budget and consider planning such activities with your team.  

Karaoke with the Team

Different people have different opinions and might have a love/hate relationship with karaoke. The best thing is that you can have a special karaoke event or can even celebrate it virtually with the team. All you will have to do is just screen share in the virtual meeting to make it more impactful and engaging.  

Go on a Company Scavenger Hunt

If the employees like adventurous and thrilling activities, you can consider organizing a company scavenger hunt. You may plan picture-based hunts and make them enjoyable for the team. Plan gifts for the winners in advance. You may also consider having special company merchandise for the event and gift it to your employees. It will make them feel special and will help improve their bonding.   

Make a Special Video Celebrating Your People

Consider making a special video and a compilation of the events conducted throughout the year. You can even ask the employees to share their photos . The video should be aimed at celebrating the bonds that the employees share and making each person feel special.  

Throw a Theme Party

Even if you are celebrating virtually, consider making it more engaging for the employees. You can ask the employees to share their ideas regarding different themes. For instance, it could be related to a popular show, movie, book, or any other theme. While considering the theme , you should plan the décor, cuisine, contests, and quizzes. For virtual events, you can ask people to dress up according to the theme and send unique gifts to each other.  

Attend Classes Together

Give your employees a break from work and consider taking them to attend a particular class together. It could be a one-day workshop or a cooking or dancing class. There are multiple things that you may look forward to. Consider asking your employees about the activities they would like to do together. If the location and timing are a concern, you may consider organizing an online class for the employees.  

Mystery Lunch or Activities

Give your employees a special surprise by throwing a mystery lunch or conducting some mystery activities to celebrate with the team.  

Take Icebreaker Quizzes

Quizzes are another way to make it effective and engaging for the employees. Consider creating different teams to improve the bonding of your employees.  

Play "Getting to Know" You Games 

There are chances that people from different teams might not have interacted with one another. Give your employees a chance to know each other better. Here are specific activities that you can plan to help them understand each other well:   

• Bucket list quiz  
• Who knows better?  
• Never have I ever   
• Who am I?   
• Fun fact match   
• Two truths and a lie   
• Movie Trivia   
• Name that tune  
• Wrong answers only   
• Awards show   

Besides these activities, you must show appreciation for each employee. Create a greeting card, write a special message, and tell them how their presence in the organization helps the team or the business. Encourage your employees to celebrate the day with one another and make it a success. You should not only celebrate friendship day with your coworkers but should also celebrate it with your clients. Know them well and take your business relationships to the next level.