In 2017, the tech company Plex organized a week-long corporate retreat in Honduras for its 120 fully remote employees, aiming for team-building with a "Survivor" theme. The $500,000 trip was designed to combine meetings and challenges with beach activities and nightlife. The CEO, intended to play a host role, fell ill with a stomach infection shortly after arrival, setting the tone for a series of misfortunes.
The retreat, dubbed "Plexcon 2017," was marked by numerous problems. Employees faced military drills more strenuous than anticipated for office workers, and one staff member suffered an allergic reaction requiring an improvised intravenous antihistamine administration. Other mishaps included a rogue porcupine, a dead tarantula challenge, and significant transportation issues where planes failed to take off, leaving employees stranded.
Despite the "calamity" described by founder of Moniker Partners Sean Hoff, who planned the trip, the event is remembered ambivalently by attendees. While acknowledged as a disaster, some, like Greta, referred to it as "one of the most fun trips ever" and credited it with forging close bonds and creating numerous inside jokes. Plex head of business development Shawn Eldridge recalled eating a tarantula as part of a challenge.
The Plex retreat highlights a broader trend of corporate retreats re-emerging post-Covid-19, with companies using lavish getaways to foster culture and retain employees in a remote work environment. These events are seen as a way to build connections and reinforce company values, despite the potential for things to go wrong. The article also notes the increasing presence of corporate retreats in popular culture, including a new season of "Jury Duty" and a horror film, both set at such events.
