Georgia restaurant closes to take all of its employees on a well-earned cruise

A restaurant in Georgia has set the standard of how to treat employees, as they shut down for a week and all the staff went on a cruise.

Going to work can sometimes be a bit of a chore, but if your job comes with perks it can definitely make those early alarm clocks easier to handle.

Some places opt for free food, others might offer you discounts on your favorite stores and restaurants, while many just want a good health insurance plan.

One Georgia restaurant has just set the bar for other places of work, by taking all of its employees on a cruise to Mexico for a week.

Some workplaces are more relaxed than others. Credit: PhotoAttractive/Getty

Pier 16, a family-owned establishment situated on Tybee Island, is renowned for its dedication to its employees' well-being.

Co-owner Natalia Navon emphasized the importance of acknowledging the team's relentless efforts, stating: "Right now, if I’m going on a vacation I would feel like my employees would want to take a vacation too," in an interview with Fox 29.

Navon and her husband, the co-owners, make it a yearly tradition to organize an extravagant trip for their employees. Matthew Rodriguez, a recent addition to the Pier 16 team, expressed his delight at joining the crew for his inaugural voyage, saying: "When I first started, it was only a story I heard and next thing you know, I was in Mexico with these guys. It was amazing."

A glimpse into the employees' enjoyment was shared through an Instagram post from the restaurant, showing a group of 20 staff members relishing their time aboard the cruise ship.

For Joseph Runfola, this was his third vacation with the company. Reflecting on the experiences, he shared: "The first trip I went to Vegas with them. I had never been out of the South… The second year we went to the Bahamas. This year we went to Mexico. It was amazing."

Runfola emphasized the bonding that occurs during these trips, stating: "This trip we got to learn a lot about each other… It’s one house… We are a big old family."

Navon echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of fostering a familial connection among her employees.

Experts in leadership training support such initiatives, noting their positive impact on both employers and employees alike.

Speaking to Fox 29, Dr. Sallyann Gray, CEO of Gray Focus Training Solutions, emphasized the importance of nurturing positive relationships in the workplace, stating: "Persons respond to bosses or managers or supervisors whom they have a good relationship with, where they have good rapport. Like asking people, 'How are your kids? Is everything going well?' These things help to boost staff morale, increase company positive culture, and it also leads to greater staff retention long term."

Where do I apply to work at Pier 16?

Featured image credit: courtneyk/Getty