When a notification about an upcoming “offsite” lands in your inbox, it might not be met with enthusiasm. These events, often viewed as obligatory retreats, pull employees away from their usual tasks for a combination of structured activities and leisure time.
During these one or two-day events, employees are expected to set aside their regular duties and engage in various interactions, ranging from casual small talk to organized activities, including icebreakers. While networking is a key objective, some attendees find this aspect of offsites to be somewhat transactional or uncomfortable.
As management professors exploring the role of professional networks, we have found through our research that these gatherings might offer more benefits than initially apparent, subtly altering working relationships.
Time and Financial Investments
Despite their prevalence, little research exists on the true efficacy of offsites. Typically held once or twice annually, these events are gaining popularity from December through March, as noted by industry reports.
Offsites offer a rare chance for interactions among employees who might not usually meet, especially in large companies with dispersed teams. The informal and formal interactions, like shared meals and group exercises, contribute to strengthening bonds in ways that virtual meetings cannot.
In the wake of increased remote work, organizations are keen on revitalizing employee engagement. Consequently, retreats have gained traction as a method to counteract workplace isolation, echoed by business travel trends. A 2025 survey indicated a drop in companies not holding offsites, suggesting a renewed focus on these events.
Decoding Networking in Law Firms
In discussions with managers from major firms, we discovered a common assumption that offsites naturally foster collaboration. To evaluate this assumption, we examined the networking activities of over 700 partners at a large, anonymous U.S. law firm, tracking their participation in annual retreats over several years.
Our analysis utilized detailed billing records to assess collaboration patterns before and after the retreats, revealing unexpected outcomes that highlight the potential value of these events.
Boosting Visibility Among Partners
Post-offsite, partners were more inclined to initiate collaborations with previously unfamiliar colleagues. Interestingly, even those who missed the event showed increased collaborative efforts, highlighting the pervasive influence of the offsite’s collaborative message.
Participation in offsites can enhance a partner’s visibility, making them more likely to be considered for new opportunities. The data showed a 24% increase in collaboration requests for attendees shortly after the retreats.
Enhancing Professional Networks
New working relationships were formed post-event, positively impacting both individual careers and firm revenue. Continued interactions were observed in 17% of these new partnerships over the following two years, particularly bridging gaps between different practice groups within the firm.
On average, attending partners developed approximately one new connection monthly, suggesting offsites’ role in broadening professional networks beyond immediate teams.
Connecting Across Organizational Silos
In everyday work settings, employees often interact predominantly with familiar colleagues. Offsites disrupt this pattern, especially in remote work contexts, facilitating connections that might not occur otherwise.
These broader connections are invaluable, providing access to diverse resources and insights that can foster innovative thinking and problem-solving. For employees in large organizations, offsites present a unique chance to build influential networks and enhance their professional presence.
