Organising a Corporate Retreat for Generation Z Codes, Expectations, and Engagement in 2026

By 2026, Generation Z—born between 1997 and 2012—will make up more than a quarter of the global workforce. These employees have radically different expectations from previous generations when it comes to teamwork and corporate events. Creating a corporate retreat that truly engages them means understanding their values, rethinking the basics, and innovating with new formats. Here’s a comprehensive guide to successful Gen Z team retreats.

Who Is Generation Z? Profile and Workplace Values

Generation Z includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012. As the first true digital natives, they grew up with smartphones, social media, and instant access to information. Their workplace characteristics include:

• Authenticity above all: They quickly spot greenwashing, corporate jargon, and superficial events. They want genuine experiences.


• Meaning and impact: They commit to causes that matter—to the company, to society, and to their personal growth.


• Speed and short formats: Used to content under 60 seconds (TikTok, Reels), they have little patience for long, non-interactive PowerPoint presentations.


• Non-negotiable well-being: They set clear boundaries between work and personal life. A corporate retreat that encroaches on weekends without compensation will be poorly received.


• Diversity and inclusion: They are highly attuned to representation, equality, and inclusion in all aspects of the company.

What Gen Z Expects from a Corporate Retreat: 5 Key Requirements

To engage Gen Z employees in your corporate retreat, anticipate these five essential needs:

1. Co-creation of the agenda. Don’t impose a ready-made schedule: involve them in designing it. A quick pre-event survey on topics they want to address already builds engagement before the retreat even begins.

2. Short, interactive formats. Break sessions into 20–40 minute blocks. Alternate between presentations, small group workshops, quick debates, and real-time polls. Participatory formats like World Café, Fishbowl, or Design Thinking are especially effective.

3. Space for open expression. Gen Z won’t tolerate being passive. Plan formats where everyone can contribute: collaborative murals, co-ideation workshops, or three-minute pitches by subgroups.

4. Purpose and impact. Include at least one moment focused on the company’s mission, environmental and social issues, or individual contributions to a larger collective project.

5. Valued informal time. Don’t over-schedule. Meals, free time, and unstructured evenings are often the most memorable and foster authentic connections.

Formats and Activities That Resonate with Gen Z

Certain formats particularly resonate with Generation Z:

• Internal hackathons: Four to eight hours to solve a real company problem. Teams pitch their solutions to a jury. Engagement is at its peak.
• Creative team building: Street art, fusion cooking, custom escape rooms, podcast workshops. Originality is key—avoid activities that feel outdated.
• Nature-based retreats: Hiking with leadership workshops, bivouacs, and reflection sessions around a campfire. Gen Z is highly receptive to immersive outdoor experiences.
• Open participatory formats: Open Space Technology, BarCamp, Unconference—where the agenda is co-created on the day.

Explore our team building activities specially designed for multigenerational teams, including Generation Z.

Critical Mistakes to Avoid

Just as important as best practices, identifying pitfalls helps prevent failed corporate retreats:

• Two-hour PowerPoint plenaries. Nothing loses Gen Z’s attention faster. Limit to 20 slides, 30 minutes, and include interactive moments.


• Banning phones. Paradoxical? Not really. Banning phones feels like a lack of trust. Instead, set usage guidelines (no social media during workshops, but note-taking is fine).


• Non-inclusive retreats. Inadequate menus (for vegans, allergies), inaccessible activities, or schedules without downtime—these are negative signals for a generation that values individual consideration.


• Lack of feedback. Organise a debrief at the end of the retreat and share the results. Show that their input matters.

Multigenerational Corporate Retreats: Bringing Together Gen Z, Millennials, and Boomers

In reality, most corporate retreats bring together several generations. The key is finding common ground: a shared objective, respect for everyone’s contributions, and varied formats so each person can express themselves.

Mixed intergenerational workshops—where a Gen Z and a senior collaborate on the same challenge—are often the most revealing and rewarding. They break down silos and highlight complementary skills.

To design a tailored corporate retreat that engages all generations, explore our corporate retreat offers and contact our team for personalised support in choosing the right venue and format.