How to plan accessible team work events
Sociability
|
Apr 29, 2025
Workplace accessibility doesn’t stop when you leave the office!
Do you debrief with colleagues while picking-up your lunch? 🥗
Feel closer to your team after a Friday evening pub trip? 🍻
From our commutes, to morning coffees, and weekend conferences, much of our working life happens beyond the office doors. Creating an inclusive workplace means ensuring disabled employees are also included in these moments.
Why planning accessible work events matters?
Team work events and social activities are key to building collaborative, trusting relationships with co-workers. These activities foster a sense of team unity and cohesion, cross-departmental collaboration, and increased employee engagement.
When these experiences are not accessible, disabled employees miss out on the opportunity to connect and contribute. 60% of disabled people have been unable attend a work event because it is inaccessible. Prioritising accessibility ensures disabled voices are deeply embedded and appreciated within your organisational culture.
How can I make social activities more accessible?
1. Include hybrid and remote colleagues in work events 💻
Flexible work is one of the most common adjustments disabled workers request to help manage care and health. In fact, 85% of disabled workers feel that hybrid and remote working options are essential. But working remotely shouldn’t mean being left out.
Get creative with your events by:
Hosting virtual events including quizzes, virtual escape rooms or live-streamed workshops. At Sociability we run a monthly quiz for our hybrid workforce!
Providing opportunities to share interests virtually through team playlists and book swaps.
2. Choose restaurants and venues that work for everyone 🎉
Before heading to after work drinks, drop a quick message asking if anyone has specific access needs. If you’re not sure who’s coming, prioritise venues that are step-free, and have lots of different options for seating, and sensory considerations, so that everyone can find a place that works for them.
Sociability’s Accessibility Management System connects office spaces to nearby restaurants, pubs and coffee shops - making it easier to search and filter for venues your whole team can enjoy. If you’re visiting a new city, you can also check out the Sociability app!
3. Share details in advance 💡
If you’re planning an event, share accessibility information ahead of time. Providing information in advance supports your disabled employees by:
Giving neurodiverse team members time to get familiar with the space, reducing sensory overwhelm and letting them focus on connecting with co-workers.
Creating time for feedback so disabled employees have a chance to flag access needs and adjustments in advance - avoiding last minute changes.
Take the first step towards inclusion
No matter your role or seniority you can make your workplace inclusive. Disabled workers and those with long-term health conditions are 15% more likely to report general loneliness at work. Simple, thoughtful steps to make social activities accessible improves wellbeing, collaboration and engagement for everyone on your team.
Want to be a truly inclusive workplace? Start now!
Book a demo to see how Sociability can help achieve your goals
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota in setting new standards for accessibility
Sign up to our newsletter and join an engaged community of DEI professionals
Workplace accessibility doesn’t stop when you leave the office!
Do you debrief with colleagues while picking-up your lunch? 🥗
Feel closer to your team after a Friday evening pub trip? 🍻
From our commutes, to morning coffees, and weekend conferences, much of our working life happens beyond the office doors. Creating an inclusive workplace means ensuring disabled employees are also included in these moments.
Why planning accessible work events matters?
Team work events and social activities are key to building collaborative, trusting relationships with co-workers. These activities foster a sense of team unity and cohesion, cross-departmental collaboration, and increased employee engagement.
When these experiences are not accessible, disabled employees miss out on the opportunity to connect and contribute. 60% of disabled people have been unable attend a work event because it is inaccessible. Prioritising accessibility ensures disabled voices are deeply embedded and appreciated within your organisational culture.
How can I make social activities more accessible?
1. Include hybrid and remote colleagues in work events 💻
Flexible work is one of the most common adjustments disabled workers request to help manage care and health. In fact, 85% of disabled workers feel that hybrid and remote working options are essential. But working remotely shouldn’t mean being left out.
Get creative with your events by:
Hosting virtual events including quizzes, virtual escape rooms or live-streamed workshops. At Sociability we run a monthly quiz for our hybrid workforce!
Providing opportunities to share interests virtually through team playlists and book swaps.
2. Choose restaurants and venues that work for everyone 🎉
Before heading to after work drinks, drop a quick message asking if anyone has specific access needs. If you’re not sure who’s coming, prioritise venues that are step-free, and have lots of different options for seating, and sensory considerations, so that everyone can find a place that works for them.
Sociability’s Accessibility Management System connects office spaces to nearby restaurants, pubs and coffee shops - making it easier to search and filter for venues your whole team can enjoy. If you’re visiting a new city, you can also check out the Sociability app!
3. Share details in advance 💡
If you’re planning an event, share accessibility information ahead of time. Providing information in advance supports your disabled employees by:
Giving neurodiverse team members time to get familiar with the space, reducing sensory overwhelm and letting them focus on connecting with co-workers.
Creating time for feedback so disabled employees have a chance to flag access needs and adjustments in advance - avoiding last minute changes.
Take the first step towards inclusion
No matter your role or seniority you can make your workplace inclusive. Disabled workers and those with long-term health conditions are 15% more likely to report general loneliness at work. Simple, thoughtful steps to make social activities accessible improves wellbeing, collaboration and engagement for everyone on your team.
Want to be a truly inclusive workplace? Start now!
Book a demo to see how Sociability can help achieve your goals
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota in setting new standards for accessibility
Sign up to our newsletter and join an engaged community of DEI professionals
Workplace accessibility doesn’t stop when you leave the office!
Do you debrief with colleagues while picking-up your lunch? 🥗
Feel closer to your team after a Friday evening pub trip? 🍻
From our commutes, to morning coffees, and weekend conferences, much of our working life happens beyond the office doors. Creating an inclusive workplace means ensuring disabled employees are also included in these moments.
Why planning accessible work events matters?
Team work events and social activities are key to building collaborative, trusting relationships with co-workers. These activities foster a sense of team unity and cohesion, cross-departmental collaboration, and increased employee engagement.
When these experiences are not accessible, disabled employees miss out on the opportunity to connect and contribute. 60% of disabled people have been unable attend a work event because it is inaccessible. Prioritising accessibility ensures disabled voices are deeply embedded and appreciated within your organisational culture.
How can I make social activities more accessible?
1. Include hybrid and remote colleagues in work events 💻
Flexible work is one of the most common adjustments disabled workers request to help manage care and health. In fact, 85% of disabled workers feel that hybrid and remote working options are essential. But working remotely shouldn’t mean being left out.
Get creative with your events by:
Hosting virtual events including quizzes, virtual escape rooms or live-streamed workshops. At Sociability we run a monthly quiz for our hybrid workforce!
Providing opportunities to share interests virtually through team playlists and book swaps.
2. Choose restaurants and venues that work for everyone 🎉
Before heading to after work drinks, drop a quick message asking if anyone has specific access needs. If you’re not sure who’s coming, prioritise venues that are step-free, and have lots of different options for seating, and sensory considerations, so that everyone can find a place that works for them.
Sociability’s Accessibility Management System connects office spaces to nearby restaurants, pubs and coffee shops - making it easier to search and filter for venues your whole team can enjoy. If you’re visiting a new city, you can also check out the Sociability app!
3. Share details in advance 💡
If you’re planning an event, share accessibility information ahead of time. Providing information in advance supports your disabled employees by:
Giving neurodiverse team members time to get familiar with the space, reducing sensory overwhelm and letting them focus on connecting with co-workers.
Creating time for feedback so disabled employees have a chance to flag access needs and adjustments in advance - avoiding last minute changes.
Take the first step towards inclusion
No matter your role or seniority you can make your workplace inclusive. Disabled workers and those with long-term health conditions are 15% more likely to report general loneliness at work. Simple, thoughtful steps to make social activities accessible improves wellbeing, collaboration and engagement for everyone on your team.
Want to be a truly inclusive workplace? Start now!
Book a demo to see how Sociability can help achieve your goals
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota in setting new standards for accessibility
Sign up to our newsletter and join an engaged community of DEI professionals
