Team building can still boost employee engagement

Companies across the UK are still able to boost staff motivation through team building days out - but activities need to be selected carefully.

This is the view of the Institute of Employment Studies, which suggested that such events can help improve employee engagement if done properly.

It stated that many workers associate team building days out with slightly embarrassing tasks such as forming a bridge over a muddy river.

While such instances are perhaps becoming outdated, companies can still get employees on side by staging outings at the theatre or sporting events.

Institute of Employment Studies associate director Penny Tamkin suggested that more traditional forms of team building are now being neglected, especially among public sector workers.

"I think they have become less popular as people are getting the sense that they are slightly embarrassed that they are not directly work-related and can't justify it," she remarked.

According to a study published by uSwitch last week, more firms would be wise to offer perks to employees wherever possible in order to counteract pay freezes.