It’s hard to work in an environment full of tension. Productivity goes down and attitudes go up. Don’t assume a team-building activity is going to fix all the problems of a dysfunctional work environment.
Psychological safety and security is imperative for a high functioning, productive workplace.
Your employees absolutely cannot function in a toxic environment and no amount of forced fun is going to change that. If you want a team that will work for you, you need to provide a safe and empathetic space where everyone can communicate openly.
Retention in sub-optimal working conditions is difficult at best, impossible at worst.
You’ve worked hard, spent a lot of money, and put your trust into hiring the right people to build your company. The last thing you want is to find that your employees are not supportive of one another, and don’t feel comfortable sharing their ideas. They won’t be the ones to try and make changes, they’ll just find another place to work.