I've just been away on a non work retreat for 5 days and it was a big ask.
I can't imagine doing something similar for work. Are they paying you all the time you are away (after all, you are basically "at work" the whole 24 hours).
It just seems another way to squeeze more house out of people.
--> In most cases, this trip is completely funded by the companies on top of the regular salary which you will make anyway.
--> Many of them have fun elements to it to relax the attendees and give them a break. Infact, breaking the regular 'work more' pattern is the key aspect.
--> Any trip is always hectic - whether work or personal. If you can get more done during a 3 days trip which will help you to spend more time with the family once you are back, it is better in some way. Right :)
Work is different for an early-stage startup with purpose vs. established companies making way through day-to-day activities, churning through a list of tasks. It requires quite a bit of mind space and commitment to be part of an early-stage startup - and if you look at it that way, 5 days offsite for relaxation and collaboration sounds like a cool idea to me.
I can't imagine doing something similar for work. Are they paying you all the time you are away (after all, you are basically "at work" the whole 24 hours).
It just seems another way to squeeze more house out of people.