Southeast Missouri businesses offer out-of-the-office recreation

What's the best way to get to know your co-workers? Find out who they are after-hours. Managers say it encourages stronger relationships among employees both inside the workplace and out.

About 24 percent of Southeast Missouri State University faculty and staff have memberships to the campus recreational facilities. Troy Vaughn, director of recreation services, says that although there are no organized activities for employees, many use the facilities "religiously" for a daily workout on their own time. Others get together a few times a week for informal basketball games. Vaughn highly encourages this informal use as both a stress reliever and a way for students and employees to interact outside the classroom or office.

"It's a very different angle than in the classroom," says Vaughn. "I think you have a stronger relationship in the classroom when you also have a good social relationship."

Meanwhile, 18 Cape Girardeau Medassets employees double as softball players who compete with the Cape City League at Shawnee Park Sports Complex. Doug Dickerson, internal systems programmer at Medassets, says employees have participated in Cape Girardeau's Corporate Games for about six years, and he saw enough interest to start another company team.

"It's a good way to bring everyone together outside of work and build a team outside of work," says Dickerson.

Workers at Procter and Gamble also participate in golf outings and sports leagues. The company even has an in-house fitness facilty, complete with treadmills, ellipticals, free weights and stationary bikes, which receives about 800 visits each month.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce sponsors an Industry Appreciation Golf Tournament each October, and the city's parks and recreation department organizes the Corporate Games, a weeks long sports tournament among area businesses. They compete in more than 20 games each fall, ranging from bowling to horseshoes to dodgeball. The winning team in each of the three divisions receives the Corporate Cup to display at their business until next year's games.

"I think the biggest thing here is encouraging camaraderie," says Kaed Horrell, recreation supervisor at the Parks and Recreation Department. "Of course there's the competition to prove your health and fitness, but it's also important to build camaraderie within each of the organizations."

Gail Conrad, who competes on the City of Cape Girardeau team, enjoys the games because they bring together employees from different departments who normally don't work together.