Get All Access for $5/mo

Once a Month This CEO Kicks Staffers Out of the Office. Here's Why. Ron Schneidermann of AllTrails explains why telling employees to skip out on work could be the best thing for your company's growth.

By Dan Bova

AllTrails

On the first Friday of every month, Ron Schneidermann tells his employees to go take a hike. Literally.

Schneidermann is the CEO of AllTrails, the fitness app used by 60 million hikers, mountain bikers, climbers and snow sports junkies to plan their outdoor adventures. "A few years ago, my birthday landed on a Friday, and I took the day off from work to go do a big mountain bike ride with some colleagues," he explains. "I was hesitant to take a full day away from the office, but it turned out to be an awesome experience together out on the trail. We were brainstorming ideas for AllTrails, recharging in nature, and letting our guards down for a more authentic connection. Not only did I feel great both physically and mentally afterward, but there was no denying how productive our time together off-campus ended up being."

Related: We Gave Our Employees Fridays Off Paid and Now We Have an Amazing Team

That was the genesis of what is now known as Trail Day. And for the past four years, on the first Friday of every month, staffers are told to abandon their desks and computers and to hit the trails, field test the app, and mostly, decompress.

Given that the company has been doing this for four years, you might have guessed that the program is delivering. "I noticed that our team members came back from Trail Day more excited about our mission to get people outdoors, re-energized with new ideas, and more connected with their colleagues," says Schneidermann. "Trading one day a month behind the screen for so much positivity and impact was and is a no-brainer investment."

Related: This Ancient Ritual Is Key to How I Run a Company of 500 People. Harvard Research Shows Why.

Schneidermann says that it's been a great asset in preserving company culture as it expands. AllTrail's headcount doubled three years in a row and now has over 200 workers. Sending staffers out into the wild once a month is not only a fun break, but it helps unify the company mission in everyone's minds. "We're built on the idea that we're all made better by spending time in nature," says Schneidermann.

It also helps bond employees with customers. "One of our company's core values is 'spread the stoke.' We want to bring on team members who can help others get that feeling — that stoke — that you have when you get out on the trail with friends and family," he says. Trail Day, he says, reinforces what the company is all about and the value it brings. "Our employees can really empathize with our users — because we are our users."

This concept can be applied in many variations across all kinds of industries. Running a bakery? Give employees a couple of bucks to go try a muffin across town and see what they think of the taste and customer experience. Have an EdTech app? Have your sales and tech team take a course on company time. "By prioritizing one day a month for connection, rejuvenation, ideation, and good clean fun out in nature, we keep our core values front and center," says Schneidermann, "and I'm convinced that we are a stronger and more connected team because of it."

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business News

Homeowners in These 10 States Pay the Most in 'Hidden' Upkeep Costs

Hidden home costs pile on top of mortgage payments.

Growing a Business

5 Books to Help You Motivate, Unify and Build Perspective

In a post-Covid world, check out these must-read books to help build a more resilient organization, create a modern work culture and maintain a powerful growth mindset.

Money & Finance

Avoid These 10 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make with Money

Despite the challenging statistic that only 5% of startups survive beyond five years, common financial pitfalls often contribute to their failure. Through personal observation, I've identified the prevalent financial mistakes made by entrepreneurs.

Growing a Business

How Visionary Leaders Transform Curiosity Into Groundbreaking Ideas

Lee Brian Schrager, founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, discusses the spark that launched FoodieCon, his best practices for running popular food events, and why all business owners need to adapt to social media trends.

Making a Change

Learn All of Rosetta Stone's Languages for $152

A lifetime subscription is nearly $250 off for a limited time.