How to Start your own Social Club

A social club is an opportunity for employers and employees alike to bond and find common ground with one another. As an employer, social groups can do wonders to motivate employees by giving members a chance to release their tension through social outlet. And it is widely acknowledged that a happy staff boosts business.

A successful social club can generate a company culture of productivity and friendship. It is difficult for people to leave a company which has a positive working environment, where they have gained respect from higher management, and is made up of their best friends. While a social club will not solve all of a company's problems, it creates a working atmosphere that is identified by the world's leading businesses as a key element to overall business success.

The following statistics reaffirm why employers should establish a social network. It is proven that companies with social clubs on average have a lower staff turnover than similar companies within the same industry. In New Zealand, the 2005 employment figures showed that one in six people left their place of work by the end of the year. The average wage is $38,000 and it will cost a company around half of the employees wage to find a permanent replacement for a leaving member of staff. On average, a company will be paying $16,000 each year for every 6 new employees.

Creating a social club is simple and can be done by following a few simple steps. First, it's important that you get as many people as possible behind the initial idea of setting up the club. The best people to really get a social club off the ground are typically going to be the most sociable, energetic, and well liked amongst the staff. Managers, keen on making your club a success, could provide an incentive for people to join the club; a bonus or gift can be given to the organisers or each new club member as a token of appreciation for their participation.

Second, for a social club to be a success, commitment from the staff is essential. There are a variety of ways to get commitment from employees. The best strategy is to take a break during the work day, get everyone together, and announce how excited the company is to be forming a social club. Enthusiasm from management is crucial and it is important to highlight all of the benefits that the club will offer and the activities that will be involved. If the company is large, a memo to all staff which contains clear communication from management will be enough.

There are a variety of activities available which are designed specifically for company groups and social clubs. If a company contributes $10 a week per staff member there is a total budget of $552 per person a year. The social event/s that this budget is spent on should be decided by the individual company. Some of the most popular activities include: sports clubs, sailing trips, nights out, dinner activities and shows. If $55 pp is allocated, staff can choose between a show and a meal. Midwinter and Christmas Parties are a great way for companies to celebrate. These events should be very special and planned with a lot of care.

River rafting, archery, high ropes courses, jet boating, treasure hunts, 4*4 driving, skiing adventures, sailing challenges, and quad biking are some of the sport experiences available throughout New Zealand and are amazing for team bonding. The average cost for these social events is approximately $70 per person. It is recommended to have a social event every three months for a total cost of $210 per person. This leaves $342 for a large end of year function. It can also be used on a corporate gym or country club membership. These facilities often offer discounted rates for companies, making the membership cost less expensive for an individual.

Any left over social funds should be well managed. Companies often find money remaining after social functions because some employees are not able to attend. This remaining budget can be allocated to quality incentives and rewards for the top performing employees every month. Staff will work hard to receive these incentive rewards and productivity will dramatically increase. This saves the business a minimum of $5,000 per year in staff turnover costs and increases production. In addition to being an excellent asset to the company, social club activities are a business expense making them tax deductible.

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