Summer Fare — The New Power Picnics

When employees of 5W Public Relations gathered for their company picnic this week, they chowed down on grilled hamburgers and tossed back cold drinks. There was something extra on the menu, too: a PowerPoint presentation.

"Every dollar I spend has to be maximized for company growth," says CEO Ronn Torossian, who came up with the idea for a working pool party this spring. "They can eat their potato salad and drink their beer while they listen to me."

As corporate excesses continue to come under the microscope, one of the business world’s most enduring traditions — the company picnic — is increasingly doing double duty. Along with the burgers and sack races, the agenda now includes…an agenda: discussions of corporate strategy, brainstorming sessions and group problem-solving drills.

Managers say this change is necessary. With businesses scattered around the globe, companies need to make the most of the time when employees are gathered in one place. And given that outings are not cheap, every dollar has to count.

By Ellen Gamerman

From The Wall Street Journal Online

Full Story: http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/officelife/20060817-gamerman.html?cjcontent=mail