15 National Leave the Office Early Day Ideas & Activities

Here is our list of the best National Leave the Office Early Day ideas.

National Leave the Office Early Day occurs each year on June 2, or the nearest weekday. National Leave the Office Early Day ideas are activities for your team to participate in when the workday ends early. Examples include scavenger hunts, happy hours, and escape rooms. The purpose of these activities is to have fun with your team while observing this social holiday.

These ideas are similar to team social ideas and ways to have fun at work. Getting your team out of the office is good for business and boosts your team’s happiness.

This list includes:

• National Leave the Office Early Day ideas
• National Leave the Office Early Day activities
• National Leave the Office Early Day games
• National Leave the Office Early Day events

Let’s get to it!

List of National Leave the Office Early Day ideas

From spa days to surprise parties, here are our top ideas to engage your team on National Leave the Office Early Day.

1. Social Break Bingo

If you are looking for National Leave the Office Early Day games, then Bingo is a great choice. We suggest playing a game of Bingo focused on getting to know your teammates better. The first step in hosting your game is to create a card with funny and relatable information.

Here is a sample Bingo card to get you started:

Next, find a common area in your office and distribute cards to players. Then, give players 15 to 20 minutes to walk around and find coworkers who fit the description in the Bingo spaces. After players meet team members who match the descriptions on the card, they can mark the space with an “X.” The first player who fills out five spaces in a row wins the game.

Bingo is a great way to encourage team members to socialize with each other while having fun.

2. Hobby Corners

National Leave the Office Day is not like a typical day in the office. To set this day apart, we recommend creating hobby corners throughout your office. These areas should allow employees to participate in their favorite hobbies. For example, you can set up an arts and crafts station, coffee bar, and video game area.

Throughout the day, you can encourage team members to take a break to enjoy new activities and hobbies. Setting up hobby corners is a great way for employees to have fun in the office while engaging in their passions and hobbies.

3. Feedback Circle

Asking employees for feedback is a great way to improve your company culture. We recommend using some time on National Leave the Office Early Day to organize a feedback circle. A feedback circle is a gathering where team members share their thoughts, feelings, opinions, and insights about the company where they work.

Remember to keep this activity to a maximum of 20 minutes. You do not want to keep your employees in the office too late on National Leave the Office Early Day.

Here are a few questions to ask your employees:

• On a scale of one to ten, rank your satisfaction as an employee.
• What is your favorite part about working here?
• What is your least favorite part about working here?
• Do you feel supported in your role?
• How can we create a more positive workplace culture?
• What actions would you like to see company leaders take to build a positive culture?

Employees are more likely to be excited about leaving work early on National Leave the Office Early Day, making this the perfect time to ask for their honest thoughts and insights. We recommend using your team’s feedback to help you improve your team culture and create an unforgettable employee experience.

4. Resume Workshop

For some team members, personal and professional growth is a top priority. These employees would most likely enjoy using extra time in their day to work on their development. Hosting a resume workshop can be a great activity for these team members to enjoy on National Leave the Office Early Day.

Here are a few tips for hosting your resume workshop:

• Give tips on creating an ideal resume.
• Invite your company’s recruiters to provide resume critiques.
• Host mock interviews.
• Provide skill development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning courses.
• Offer light snacks and refreshments.

Resume workshops are a great way to promote professional development tips and support to employees who want to grow their careers.

5. Volunteering Project

If your company values volunteerism and service, then organizing a volunteer project is one of the best National Leave the Office Early Day activities.

When choosing a project, be sure to pick an activity that aligns with a cause that team members are willing to support. For example, you can select causes related to social justice or homelessness.

Here are a few volunteering ideas to consider:

• Local litter pickup
• Letters to soldiers
• Blood drive
• Food donations
• Clothing drive
• Mentoring for underserved students

Volunteering with your team can help you highlight your company’s values while giving back to your local community.

6. Team Hike

One of the best ways to get your team active is by organizing a team hike. Be sure to organize the hike in the afternoon so the sun is not too strong and overpowering. Depending on your location and season, we recommend hiking after 3 p.m. to avoid extreme heat.

Hiking as a group can help teammates build camaraderie while socializing. Additionally, hiking provides an ideal opportunity to disconnect from technology, perfect for employees who work on computers daily. You can use the buddy system to pair teammates together. Be sure to encourage team members to get to know their buddies and stick with them throughout the hike.

Hiking is a great National Leave the Office Early Day activity that promotes fitness and allows employees to get a breath of fresh air.

7. Spa Day

National Leave the Office Early Day aims to leave your work-related stress behind for the day. Participating in a spa trip is one of the best ways to relax and recharge on your afternoon off from work. At the spa, you can take advantage of various treatments and services, such as massages, facials, and mud masks. You can also soak in a pool or hot tub for added relaxation.

We suggest taking a spa trip with teammates to enjoy the experience together. Alternatively, you can also gift employees a voucher to visit their spa of choice. Either option is ideal for team members to take their minds off work while prioritizing self-care.

8. Surprise Party

A surprise party is one of the best National Leave the Office Early Day events. The best part about this activity is that team members will not expect a party in the office.

Here are a few steps to successfully host a surprise party in your office:

1. Decorate a spacious room with streamers and balloons.
2. Order food, such as pizza or sandwiches.
3. Send an invite for a last-minute meeting.
4. Call employees into the room.
5. Surprise team members with a fun party to end the day.

Be sure to stock up on decor, drinks, and food. We also recommend creating an agenda with fun activities for team members to enjoy. Activities can include party games like office trivia, charades, and a talent show.

9. Care Packages

One of the most exciting National Leave the Office Early Day ideas is to provide employees with care packages. As part of this initiative, fill a care package with products that your employees will appreciate and enjoy.

Here are a few items to include in your care package:

• Relaxation Spa Kit
• Pinch Me Therapy Spa Dough
• It Takes a Village Luxury Candle
• Cheer Pin Bundle Set
• Statement Color Changing Tumbler
• Thanks for All You Do Eye Poppin’ Pal Stress Reliever
• M&M’s Snack Pack

Be sure to package your items nicely and distribute care packages before employees leave for the day. Giving employees thoughtful and useful gifts is a great way to get team members excited about this holiday.

10. Team Lunch

One of the most classic National Leave the Office Early Day activities is a team lunch. As soon as employees clock out in the afternoon, invite them to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. We recommend choosing a restaurant within walking distance so you can get some fresh air.

When choosing a restaurant, keep your teammates’ tastes in mind. If you are looking for a safe option with food that most employees will enjoy, then we suggest picking a restaurant with a wide variety of appetizers, meals, and drinks. For example, you can choose American, Italian, Asian, or Mediterranean food. Google Maps can be a helpful resource for finding restaurants in your area and checking out reviews.

After finishing your lunch, be sure to allow employees to head home and enjoy the rest of their day. Getting a meal together is a great way to spend time together and socialize with teammates.

11. Happy Hour

Most bars host happy hour specials on weekdays from 2 to 5 p.m. If your team clocks out by 2 p.m., then you will be right on time for happy hour. During happy hour, you and your team can enjoy delicious appetizers and drinks at low prices. You can also play entertaining bar games, such as darts, pool, and Jenga.

For an optimal experience, encourage employees to leave any work-related topics behind for the evening. We suggest banning work conversations during happy hour to ensure that team members can enjoy their time off the clock and focus on socializing with coworkers. Attending happy hour together is a great way to get together and catch up in a casual setting.

12. Photo Booth

If you want team members to be able to capture memories from National Leave the Office Early Day, then we recommend setting up a photo booth. To set up a photo booth in your office, gather a ring light, tripod, and backdrop. Be sure to add fun props to your photo booth, such as sunglasses, whiteboards, and costumes.

You can encourage employees to take group pictures in the photo booth by propping their phones on the tripod. Photo booths are a great way to make memories in the office.

13. Office Trivia

One of the most engaging National Leave the Office Early Day games is office trivia. The goal of this game is to test your team’s knowledge of the company’s history. To begin your game, come up with a list of trivia questions. Be sure to choose a combination of easy and difficult questions.

Here are a few questions for your game:

• Who is the founder of our company?
• In what year was our company founded?
• What is our company’s slogan?
• Who is our company’s CEO?
• Where is our company’s headquarters?
• How much revenue did the company earn last year?
• Which department is the largest?
• How many employees currently work at our company?

You can assign one team member to serve as the moderator. The moderator’s role is to ask questions and tally up responses, awarding one point for each correct answer. At the end of the game, have the moderator announce the winner as the player with the most points. Remember to award this player a trophy for their achievement.

14. Scavenger Hunt

One of the most engaging activities for employees is a scavenger hunt. The objective of this activity is to have team members roam around the office looking for items and completing challenges.

To plan your scavenger hunt, put together a list of assignments and point values, such as:

• 2 points: Order an iced coffee from the cafeteria.
• 3 points: Take a picture by the company sign.
• 4 points: Find the location with the best view.
• 5 points: Record yourself dancing in the courtyard.
• 6 points: Find a blue highlighter.
• 7 points: Create art using common office supplies.
• 8 points: Find a lamp that is not working.
• 9 points: Take a selfie with an employee from the HR department.
• 10 points: Find the golden coin that is currently in a secret location.

You can split players up into teams of three. Then, give the teams 20 to 30 minutes to complete each task. After the time ends, bring players back together to tally up their points. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Be sure to award the winning team a fun prize, such as a trophy or gift card.

15. Office Obstacle Course

One of the most engaging activities for National Leave the Office Early Day is an office obstacle course. The objective of this activity is to get team members moving as they complete fun challenges.

Here are a few guidelines to help you organize this activity:

1. Split employees up into two to four teams.
2. Rearrange office furniture to make room for your obstacles.
3. Come up with a handful of obstacles and challenges.
4. Award five points to the team that wins each obstacle.
5. Tally up points.
6. Name your winning team.

Be sure to create unique and fun challenges as part of your obstacle course. For example, you can move desks and bookcases to make a clear path for a desk chair race. An office obstacle course is a unique way to engage in friendly competition with coworkers.

Conclusion

Every year, National Leave the Office Early Day occurs on June 2, or the nearest weekday. This social holiday allows employees to enjoy some extra time off on a typical workday. Employees also have the opportunity to rest and relax during their time off.

Celebrating National Leave the Office Early Day as a team is a great way to promote team building, bonding, and camaraderie. There are many ways to engage team members on this holiday, such as office parties, team lunches, and happy hours. In addition, participating in different activities, events, and games can help bring teams closer together while building a positive team culture.

Next, check out our lists of Employee Appreciation Day ideas, ways to recharge your team, and virtual thank you ideas.