Each employee who participates is reimbursed for materials up to $25. So, multiply that by 20 and Hom's team could've gotten up to $500 for their design.
Though, he says they were resourceful, trying to use office supplies where they could.
In addition to building morale, Hom said, it fosters communications with other departments when people come by to admire their work. And, it puts their fun corporate style front and center when they bring someone in for an interview.
A "Pokemon"-themed cube won "Funniest," a cube with the word "BAM!" projected in huge letters in several different places won "Most Minimalist," a disco-themed design won "Best Decade," and a play-themed design complete with a swing set, hop scotch and monopoly signage won in the "Next Play" category.
So, is there a lot of pressure in a cube-off?
"We have a lot of competitive people here – that's one of the reasons we're such a strong company," said Stewart Grilli the mastermind behind the 18-hole mini-golf course that took up an entire floor. "There's a lot of competitive juices but it's always in good fun," Grilli said.
Grilli is an enterprise-relationship manager but his team consisted of 118 people spanning several departments, including sales and operations.
They broke up into sub-groups to design each hole. There's a golf cart that was created by building a frame on a toy car that someone's child had grown out of. The last few holes have a carnival theme, complete with side games, a Zoltar fortune-telling machine and treats such as popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones. For the big finish, when you sink the last hole, lights flash and music plays. That one was designed by a former intern. (And yes, they hired him!)
Their design won for "Most Transformed" and Grilli said he's talking to some of the executives about holding a company tournament at the golf course.
