Category: The Office

Posted in Party Planning Committee, The Office

Office Christmas Cookie Exchange

Posted on by Nathan Westerberg

Good morning everyone and welcome to a special post from the Breakroom Breakdown Party Planning Committee! One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the food, especially the Christmas cookies! Each year I bake batches (more and more each year) of various cookies that I give out as presents. And, of course, snack on all of the rest for the rest of the year and this year is no different. Technically I suppose it is different in that my husband will be baking them with me. And to be clear this was not me twisting his arm (I prefer to have the kitchen to myself) but he was insistent on baking with me this year so I am looking forward to it!

I have a few that I like to do every year and then I like to try out new recipes to see if I should include them and since I cannot personally bake you all cookies, I wanted to share my recipes this year. All found online, although I tend to play around with flavors like throwing in extra cinnamon. I am not affiliated with any of these websites, but am using their recipes so it is important I give them the credit. I hope you enjoy, tell me how liked them as well as share your own favorites!

A stack of red velvet crinkle cookies dusted with powdered sugar, with a bite taken out of the top cookie, placed on a wire rack. In the background, there is a blurred bottle of milk.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
https://bromabakery.com/red-velvet-crinkle-cookies/

I have been doing one for several years now and they are a favorite. My husband loves red velvet cake which is where I got inspired to find this one. They are pretty simple and what I love is how easy that crinkle effect is. By rolling them in a sugars before you bake, they crackle as they bake, and taste just like red velvet cake.


A close-up view of golden-brown crinkle cookies arranged in a circular pattern on a plate, showcasing their cracked surface texture and sugared tops.

Sugar Cookies
https://handletheheat.com/soft-chewy-sugar-cookies/

Everyone has their go-to sugar cookie recipe and this has become mine. Super soft and chewy (I am not a crunchy cookie person). I found this recipe one night we were snackish and haven’t looked back. While not inherently Christmasy, they remind me of snow balls so I think they work just fine.

A festive display of Christmas-themed cookies in green, red, and white, featuring tree, flower, and star shapes, set against a pink background.

Spritz
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/classic-spritz-cookies/aa68df04-bd64-4f1b-8421-0df82064bca4

Not much is more Christmas than a spritz cookie and you cannot go wrong with Betty Crocker’s recipe. One of all time favorites, I only do them at Christmas because I will admit that although simple, I never have luck with the spritz gun. They get stuck and come out deformed and I tend to curse like a sailor the whole time. Are they worth it? I do them every year for a reason, plus you get a variety of shapes and colors to use.


A close-up of oatmeal cookies topped with white icing and scattered cranberries, arranged on a pink hexagonal plate, with decorative gold ornaments in the background.

Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookie
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a62611559/cranberry-orange-oatmeal-cookies-recipe/

I was drawn to this as similar to a biscotti I did last year, but this will be my first time making them. I love chewy oatmeal cookies but detest raison in mine. Normally I throw in butterscotch chips (Oatmeal Scotchies) but this has a holiday feel to them so I am excited to test these bad boys out!


A close-up of several ginger molasses cookies arranged in a row, showcasing their crinkled surface and sugary texture.

Molasses Cookie
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/soft-molasses-cookies/

Rather than Gingerbread Men (which like to fall apart) why not do a simple, molasses cookie? Gives you the flavor, simple, and super chewy. Molasses is not necessarily everyone’s favorite flavor so do keep that in mind that it can be an acquired taste.


Baked peanut butter cookies topped with chocolate kisses, resting on a cooling rack.

Peanut Butter Blossom
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/classic-peanut-butter-blossom-cookies/a3563f6e-96b0-443f-ae0a-53cef4be6db6

This is a very classic cookie that many of us grew up with. I personally have not made them but my husband really wanted us to do them this year. We are playing around with it in that instead of only kisses, I got other candies (like mini Reese’s cups) to put on top. Again, this is a very simple cookie because sometimes the easy ones are the best.



And that is my Christmas Cookie list this year! Six might not sound like a lot but I will be making more than one batch of each so it does end up being a lot.

Like I said, tell me some of your own! If I see a good one I might try to make it this week, or I’ll have something ready for next year.

I hope you all have a great holiday this week spending time with loved ones and I Iook forward to seeing you all after the holidays right here in the Breakroom.

Posted in Business Article, Party Planning Committee, The Office

2025 Office Christmas Gift Guide

Posted on by Nathan Westerberg

Good morning and welcome back to the Breakroom! We are only 6-days away from Christmas and (for those who celebrate) there is a strong chance you may have forgotten a present and need to do some last minute shopping. Often forgotten is your office Secret Santa, what are you supposed to buy for a coworker?

I wanted to give some good options for gifts and I thought there was no better way than to look into the gifts given out at Dunder Mifflin over the years and pick some of my favorites. I decided to lean in on those I consider good gifts but if I do not include something that you thought was a good idea, let me know!

A mint green teapot with a round body and a lid.

Teapot
Perhaps one of the most iconic gifts is the teapot given by Jim to Pam filled to the brim with personal mementos (and a mysterious letter). Maybe you are not trying to profess your love to someone, but I’m sure you know someone who loves tea and would go crazy to have a teapot at home or around the office.

Two young children in sunglasses and hats playing musical instruments in a playful setting.

Baby Jazz Poster
While this might not be everyone’s taste, this was given to Angela who specifically loves this type of artwork. While you may not know someone who is crazy for baby jazz players, this would be a great gift for anyone who loves the office.

A man wearing a gray hooded bathrobe with a tied belt, showing the front and back views.

Comfy Robe
Season 3 we see the company gift (a robe) gets taken away from Toby by Dwight, but Pam ultimately gets him one. I once got a friend a robe years back and she continues to adore it to this day. Over the years I have leaned more into gifts that are consumables or simply will be used quite often because then they become part of their everyday.

A metal citrus juicer with wooden handles, designed for extracting juice from fruits.

Nutcracker
While the nutcracker Michael got Dwight is a unique piece, it doesn’t mean you cannot get someone a real one. While I do think this is an odd gift, I feel it is a unique one because I do not believe it is something a person would often buy themselves. And I can imagine at least one person out there would open this up and, if there was no description of what it was, they may start make list of possibilities like Dwight did.

A comic book cover featuring a character resembling a man in a white shirt and black tie, standing next to a large bear with an open mouth. The title reads 'The Adventures of Jimmy Halpert'.

Homemade Gift
I love how Phyllis and Ryan made fun of Pam’s gift of a comic book because most people I know would go crazy if someone created a unique comic for them. If I had any artistic abilities in me I would certainly consider doing this. Instead I have gotten into the habit of baking dozens of cookies and giving cookie assortments out as gifts. Not everyone bakes cookies at Christmas so it is my way of ensuring they have a fun snack that evening. And I enjoy all of the leftovers, too.

A cute gray ceramic container shaped like a smiling cat, sitting next to a patterned gift box from Spotted Dog Gift Company.

Cookie Jar (with cookies)
Kevin received a cookie jar in a later season and loved it, pry because it also came with cookies. This is another item that I feel people would absolutely use but likely is not bought too often for themselves. I have one jar that I love that looks like French macarons stacked together. I recall a Christmas party with friends and we did a White Elephant game and the popular gift was an adorable unicorn cookie jar. So try to tailor it to their tastes, besides being utilitarian it is also decor so make sure it something they would want to look at all year round. And then toss in a few of your cookies so they get an added gift.

A colorful board game box for 'Azul', featuring intricate tile designs in various colors including red, blue, and orange.

Board Game
Now I am going into my own personal recommendations. Board and card games are always popular and I think everyone should have a collection they can break out. This particular game (Azul) was one a friend taught us to play and while initially confusing, once I read the rules I found it was pretty simple and fun. And I’m a sucker for a game with pretty tiles so this is just one example!

A wooden rolling pin resting on a flat surface with dough, alongside two eggs and flour scattered around.

Cooking Tools
If you have someone who likes to cook, why not get them something cool for their kitchen! Fancy spices and oils are great options if you do not know what they need because this way they can experiment. Otherwise two of my favorite Christmas gifts I’ve gotten have been a French rolling pin (featured above) as well as a Dutch oven (might be more extravagant than what you need for the office).

A stack of colorful ceramic mugs in various shapes and sizes, including teal, orange, pink, and beige, placed on a wooden tray with a round grey coaster underneath.

Giant Mug aka “Coffee Bowl”
Okay I have now moved into Gilmore Girls territory but this can certainly translate to the office. I am a sucker for a giant mug, if it isn’t at least 20oz what even is the point? My next goal is one that is so large it is essentially a bowl and it will allow me to drink almost half a pot coffee in a one sitting. We all know at least one person who needs a hot drink all day long and this will be the beast that holds it.

A cozy gray blanket wrapped with a blue 'Bedsure' ribbon, placed next to a flower and a magazine on a couch.

Cozy Blanket
When in doubt, it is hard to go wrong with a blanket. Now my sister once complained that people kept getting her blankets and I have to say, you can never have too many. You want backups for when they get dirty, maybe ruined and need to be thrown away, have them placed around the house, your pets can get their own, or just need to be extra toasty. My husband actually crocheted a blanket for his Secret Santa this year but there is no harm is buying one for someone.

There are 10 perfect examples for some Secret Santa gifts. Let me know if you have your own tips that you want to pass along. I told you what to buy, I skipped right over a “do not buy” list so if you have some cautionary tales feel free to share as well.

Be on the look out this next week as I want to get one more post out before we are out for Christmas. Since I cannot have a cookie exchange with all of you, I want to include you in on what cookies I’ll be baking this year! I’ll be doing my baking on Monday so look for my personal list, and I expect to get some good recipes in exchange so I can start planning for next year (or I can try them out over the weekend).

Until next week, I’ll see you all around the Breakroom!

Posted in Party Planning Committee, The Office

An Office Thanksgiving

Posted on by Nathan Westerberg

Good morning everyone and welcome back to the Breakroom. The big topic at hand this week is the impending holiday this next week, Thanksgiving Day! While it may not have the same level of decor and festivities as Christmas or Halloween, many offices still see this holiday come up in a myriad of ways. I am here to help navigate through the often murky etiquette and protocols that go into them.

Food Drive
Perhaps one of my favorite events that some offices do is holding a food drive, with those items then being donated to a local shelter. The question comes down to what to donate, as some people have issues with this topic. Some of you may be aware that Dunder Mifflin once tried to host one, and that clip can be found here. The main issue they came across was the donated some pretty terrible items including a dented can of water chestnuts, expired beans, racket balls, and something called “brown.” Darryl and Toby were so appalled they decided to force everyone to eat these disgusting contributions. The goal of a food drive is to provide food for those in need, not for you to clear your pantries of old and disgusting food.

So what should you donate? The best recommendation is simply go to the website of the shelter you wish to donate to (or call them) and they will typically have a list of things that can be donated as well as things they are in need of. Non-perishable is key so typically items that are canned but they will sometimes accepted things that are bagged and boxed. According to Feeding America1, their most common items are:
Peanut butter
Canned soup
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables
Canned stew
Canned fish
Canned beans
Pasta (most prefer whole grain)
Rice (most prefer brown rice)

Again, it does not hurt to specifically check with the organization you are donating to. But there are other ways you can give back. Besides physical items, most organizations will accept money donations so you can organization a fundraiser and donate the proceeds. You can also look into local shelters, churches, and similar organizations that might be hosting Thanksgiving meals for those in need and could use food donations to serve as well as volunteers to assist with the event. It is worth mentioning that we should be striving to give back more than once a year so perhaps this holiday event will urge your office to do this throughout the year.

Holiday Potluck
After a food drive or fundraiser, the other common occurrence is you might do an office potluck and if you are new to these, it is smart to be prepared. It is worth mentioning that these tips can certainly help with even a friends and family potluck-style event.

The key to a successful potluck is the organization of the event. The date and time needs to be made clear so everyone can coordinate around and if it changes, make that known to everyone. Next is the potluck menu which should involve a shared document that people can sign up with what their dish is going to be. This is done so people know what is already being brought and reduces the likelihood you end up with three potato salads, five pies, and several trays of deviled eggs. Some might have a rule that you must bring something to take part in the event but none of the ones I have been to have had that. Not everyone might have the time and resources to contribute and many people are like myself who tend to bring more than enough. I will mention that one rule people should stick to is if you put yourself down for something, you should stick to it. I have seen people who say they will bring on thing but change their mind and end up bringing something that someone else did and it throws of the menu. And please know that it is perfectly okay to buy something instead of cooking if you are not much of a chef. Cookies, salads, beverages, frozen appetizers; these are all great and no one will judge you for not cooking.

A few things to keep in mind, however. If you have a dish that needs to be frozen/refrigerated or kept warm, take that into consideration. Do some recon ahead of time to ensure there is a place that you can store your cold food and you will like need a crockpot if you are doing a hot meal. Another important one is I feel it is good to talk about dietary restrictions, especially allergens. I know people who cannot eat gluten and despite knowing the people for over a decade, no one bothers to try to cater to such allergens. Another big one might be someone who doesn’t eat meat, it is not hard to help cater to such restrictions to ensure everyone can enjoy a proper meal. I cook a meal every week that is gluten free and no meat for people so I can assure you, it is not that difficult.

So you are taking part in a potluck meal and want to whip something up but you have no idea what you an do, I am here with some good recommendations. I am including some recipes for the foods, some I have tried and some I have not, these are meant to give you a starting point.

Barbecue Meatballs
I have done these for a number of events because they are easy to make ahead of time and then just store in a crockpot. They also make create leftovers and can be eaten at any meal, I have even done them for a brunch. Basically you take your favorite meatballs and then get them into your favorite barbecue sauce, easy! My tips include using saltine crackers instead of breadcrumbs in your meatballs, and then I use Sweet Ray’s barbecue sauce but I like to spice it up with some cayenne pepper. I very much appreciate the sweet and spicy combination.

Sweet Potato Chili
Have not done this but it sounds great. Sweet potatoes of any form are a staple at Thanksgiving and by turning them into a chili we have a fun and tasty vegetarian option. Don’t forget to grab some toppings to go along with it!

Mashed Sweet Potatoes
My preferred method of sweet potatoes is mashed. Here is a nice starting recipe, but I will be honest that I throw mine all together. Additionally, I make mine extra sweeet with brown sugar, cinnamon, and topped with marshmallows. Needless to say it’s my husband’s favorite side at the holiday.

Charcuterie Board
Sometimes rather than cooking you an just organize! We all know plenty of people who load up on the pre-dinner snacks so while not get out a board of cheeses, meats, crackers, and vegetables for those snackers.

Pumpkin Pie
You can never go wrong with pie and pumpkin pie is one of the easiest to whip up and can be made a couple days in advance. Here is a standard recipe but almost any can of pumpkin puree will have a recipe as well so no worries. Tip: it is no big deal if you use a store-bought crust. Pie crust is notoriously tricky (no matter what Martha Stewart says) so if you use a crust from the store, you are fine. I recently found gluten-free version that I will be using and because of it, I feel more keen on making my pies extra pretty since the crust is already done.

Stuffing/Dressing
Along with mashed potatoes and gravy, the dressing is my favorite part of a turkey dinner. The difference between stuffing and dressing is stuffing has been inside the bird and dressing is made on its own in a dish. Dressing is the way to go, allows the bird to fully cook and it develops a slight crisp. Use your favorite recipe (this link is close to mine) but the key is that you want to let your bread to sit out a couple days so it gets very dry to soak up the flavors. And it has to be warm so I will say if you cannot use a crockpot or something to get it hot for serving, you can skip it. And I will go to the mat on this one, boxed items like Stouffer’s stuffing are terrible and you should stay away from them. Same goes for instant potatoes, they are not worth it so stay away!

And this, my friends and colleagues, are my hot tips for Thanksgiving in the office this year! I will say that I love being able to talk about food, cooking, and I would say I love talking about planning an event but it is more deciding what it will be. I never feel more seen than watching Angela having to deal with the people assigned to help her in the Party Planning Committee.

Have more tips, please share with us and our readers! Have questions or maybe need some Party Planning or cooking advice, let me know! Email me, message me on Facebook or Instagram or simply comment away and I will be all too happy to help you however I can!

I wish you all good luck this Thanksgiving and as always, I’ll see you around the Breakroom.

  1. Morello, P. (2020, January 14). What to donate to a food bank and what to avoid. Feeding America. Retrieved November 20, 2025, from https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/what-donate-food-bank-and-what-avoid ↩︎
Posted in Coffee Break, Finer Things Club, The Office

Souvenirs of Perspective

Posted on by Nathan Westerberg

Good morning everyone, and welcome back to the breakroom! I do apologize about not getting a post out last week, we spent the last two weeks in France and optimistic me thought I’d find the time to put together a post last week. I ended up finding myself very busy and wasn’t able to get anything together, but did want to put together a special post for my return. Rather than a Breakdown of an office episode, I instead wanted to talk about some of things I’ve brought back with me from my trip.

This is not specifically about physical objects, but rather focusing on the many ideas I had while there on how I want to do things differently when I return. I know we all have those moments when we are on an amazing trip and think about what we want to do when we return. This could be inspiration to take up a hobby, doing afternoon tea every day, maybe an idea on a new tattoo. Too often we lose momentum and let those ideas be cast away as youthful optimisms. Well, I would like to not let that be the case and to help with that I want to talk about some of the specific inspirations I want to cement in my life.

Shelves filled with jars of 'Baba' desserts, labeled with prices and flavors, showcasing various sizes and types.

Food Inspirations
One of my favorite things about going to France is experiencing the food; they truly do have some of the best foods in the world. As someone who loves to cook, I really wanted to bring some culinary inspiration back with me so I could recreate some of it. One of my favorites was going into a sweets shop and getting to try some dangerously boozy rum babas in adorable jars. Rather than trying to figure out how to bring them over to the states, I really want to try to recreate them as a fun Christmas gift. My other big one, which will be trickier, is mastering the art of the French baguette. In theory it is simple but definitely requires proper French flour as the gluten content is much different than here and the states and those with gluten intolerance can actually eat it. Unfortunately, with the current tariffs in place this will likely be tricky. But certainly the culinary highlight was being able to take part in a 5-6 course meal at a 5 star restaurant in southern France. From the drinks to the meal to the dessert, it was potentially one of the greatest meals of my life.

A table set with a cup of coffee and a croissant on a plate, showcasing a cozy café ambiance.

Simple Moments
Rather than do major touristy things in Paris, we mainly just walked around and visited the zoos and aquarium again. Of course, the first thing we did was grab some coffee and a fresh croissant. I think we often put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do big activities when some of the most memorable can be sipping on coffee, enjoying a pastry, and taking in the atmosphere. That being said, I know my husband would say I need to learn to be more “lax” and “go with the flow.” I did struggle in France because I prefer to always have a plan or itinerary and I can sort of fall apart trying to plan on the fly with no clear direction.

A dramatic painting depicting a fiery landscape with a looming historical building in the background, framed in an ornate golden frame.

Artistic Inspiration
I always find myself inspired when I see unique pieces of art (this photo is actually from a previous trip but I found myself looking at my old photos). I feel the emotions and thoughts that went into the art and I feel compelled to try to do the same. While I am not skilled in painting or photography, I do considered myself versed in writing. And I will admit that I have been wanting to actually write more than my blog articles. I have thought about a collection of short stories, trying my hand at playwriting, and I’ve even had a couple book ideas. Besides losing the motivation you get while abroad, the moment you try to make something real you have to admit you care about the project. And that is when you face the fact that you can fail and you have to ask yourself if you are okay with that. Of course, there has certainly been a part of me that wishes I had that special touch and could learn to paint, do photography, draw (one of my book ideas could be a cool graphic novel). But the realist in me knows that not everyone can be good at everything so we learn where our unique skills lie.

A picturesque vineyard with rows of grapevines under a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

Professional Aspirations
More than anything, I did get inspired about being more serious about that next step in my career. I have been too passive the last four years and evidently I need to be much more aggressive and willing to step out of my comfort zone to get the job and salary that I have been working towards and deserve. I need be more thoughtful with where I am applying for, and if I can actually line up an interview I ought to have the confidence to go in and stop playing by the rules. It is easy to try to answer their questions in the way you believe they want to be heard but perhaps we need to have a bit more of our personality come out. It is easy to find a “yes man” but it is individuals who are hard to come by these days. It is interesting the sorts of things that inspire you, but it was seeing so many polished professionals in Paris that made me realize that I do miss that. As much as I love being at home with my puppies, part of me does miss getting to get dressed up and take some pride and confidence in going to work.

I know it is very easy to say you will do something, but it completely different to actually put that into practice. One of my common themes here is to encourage and hype my reader(s) because I firmly believe we need this encouragement. Of course, people like me are always so encouraging because we are also partially trying to motivate ourselves. As Jan Levinson once told Pam, there are always a thousand reasons not to do something. And as Jim later told Pam in that same episode, you have to take a chance on something sometime.

So this is me saying I’m choosing to not let the thousand things keep me from trying to accomplish something meaningful and I am going to design the next steps in my goals. I’m currently in the process of getting a large amount of job applications out to various locations, this being my big project over the weekend. My next goal is continue with this blog and podcast to make that into something meaningful. And I am going to evaluate what the next steps in my writing will be whether I take up writing articles/essays, stories, plays, or experimenting with it all.

For further inspiration, what sort of goals have you received from trips? I think we should make it more commonplace that we come back from trips not just relaxed, but changed for the better. To paraphrase Gandalf the Grey, if you get the opportunity to travel abroad you should expect to not return the same as you were. This should be encouraged because if you return unchanged, did you really learn anything about yourself or the world?

I wish you all an amazing weekend, and I hope you will share some of your own stories from traveling. Until next week, I’ll see you around the Breakroom.

The Office Company Picnic
Posted in The Office

The Office: Season 5, Episode 28 “Company Picnic”

Posted on by Nathan Westerberg

Good morning everyone and welcome back to the Breakroom! I hope you have all had a great week that has led to finally to this Friday. Actually work has been pretty good this week, it was busy but not in the sense that I was dreading having to go into work. Some long days, I actually chose to do a flex day this week where I worked four 10-hour days to take a day off. A friend of ours was up so we decided to do a fun autumn day in town. My famous French beef stew for dinner, then brunch at a local restaurant the next morning, followed by a hiking at Pattison State Park over in Wisconsin for a few hours, and wrapping up the time with some steak off the barbecue and garden-fresh vegetables. For most people this would all sound pretty standard but it made for a great day of not worrying about work or the various stresses in our lives and focus on the positive with people important to me. So this is my recommendation for the next week, take some time to just spend time with people who recharge and inspire you. Too often we find ourselves giving up large amounts of our energy and focus that leaves us drained, the people who take far more than they give. Find those people who you can spend the day talking about anything and everything and focusing on just mutually relaxing. And let one another know how special you think they are and reassure them that they are on the right path. I think we often look for major examples of assurance in our lives, and really it is the small acts of support which is really what we want and need. And of course the key is that you are mutually supporting one another, simply by letting them know what you think of them and spending time with them. And I will mention that a nice nature hike, enjoying the changing leaves, was a pretty great activity.

With that weekly affirmation put out into the universe, let us discuss what has happened at Dunder Mifflin.

So earlier this week, we did have what I believe is one of the greatest pranks this office has ever seen. It was conceived after Michael chose to eat an entire, family-sized chicken pot pie for lunch and then fell promptly asleep at his desk. Jim explained how we could use this opportunity to trick Michael into thinking it was actually 5pm and time to leave for the day (it was actually only 1pm). Erin was carefully to field calls away from Michael, Jim and Pam were updating the times on the clockings and his watch, and Dwight ran out to update the time in his care. We then turned the lights on and began laughing loudly to prompt him awake. This worked so he came out laughing to see what was the commotion, and noticed that it was supposedly the end of the work day and was quick to leave with us. Was this slightly unethical? Maybe, but considering Michael often wastes our time with his antics it was nice for us to do the same. But I do wonder at what point he will notice he is off by four hours.

The real event this week was the Dunder Mifflin Company Picnic, an annual event but on by the company for employees to celebrate. The concept of a company picnic tends to more exist for larger companies, I actually remember going to them as a kid for my dad’s company he worked for. One particular one had tents with music, games, drinks (for the adults), food, and then even amusement rides and other things for the kids. Smaller companies usually do not have these because they’ll likely do many events throughout the year while the company picnic is a pretty large, one-off event. There are going to be plenty of guides online on how to throw one, I am including one courtesy of Indeed to help you walk through what you wish to do. It is great to have numerous events and activities so everyone can find something that they will enjoy. Food and drink is certainly a requirement, that is what makes it a picnic. But a key piece should be allowing people to bring their friends or family. Plenty of people think of their coworkers purely as work associates, so being able to have someone they’re close to makes it a lot more fun.1Another big recommendation I have is that these picnics are meant to celebrate employee’s hard work, and give something back to them. Which is why I am adamant it is important to splurge a bit (obviously within your budget) and make sure they can walk away with food, drinks, and fun. Let us be honest, if you are running one of these large companies you are going to be seeing the reward from record profits more than any of those employees will. So don’t be cheap when it comes to throwing these events for employees who were the source of your rewards.

The Dunder Mifflin picnic had a lot of those same aspects, with key differences between an annual sports tournament and then a performance. For the tournament, each year they have a sport event in which the employees from each branch compete for the trophy. Of course, this also includes corporate and they end to win and Charles Miner is not planning on winning gracefully. Last year was softball which we were doing okay with, until Jim freaked over finding a “dangerous” spider in his glove. I would be freaked out too but not so much that it would throw me off my game. I tend to be pretty competitive with these sorts of things, and that is a danger when it comes to the picnic if doing games like these. You still have to work with them so you want to keep the smack talk limited.

This year’s event was volleyball, which Dwight and Jim became very invested in. Between their tenacity, and Pam revealing she is pretty skilled volleyball player, we were pretty well set to sweep the game. Besides overly competitive people, the other big player you might see is like Phyllis. She was super excited and eager to play, but was very content after the first game and she realized she really was not all that interested in playing more. So she faked an injury so she could be swapped out. We made it all the way to the final game with corporate, only for Pam to trip and hurt herself. She insisted she was fine but David Wallace and Charles asserted that as this was a company event, she should not play until she has seen a doctor. Being our best player, they knew exactly what they were trying to do. Dwight told them to run to the nearest hospital and he would stall them as long as he could. And he did just that, he spent time counting to kicking the volleyball away; it was a masterclass in stall tactics. But in spire of all of that, Jim actually called and told him to swap in the subs. Oddly, Dwight made it sound like he was almost happy about it.

The other big event was a presentation towards the middle of the day in which Michael and Holly had agreed to do a performance. They’d been off working on this all day, and truthfully I was worried about Michael. He’d been nervous about running into her because he still hasn’t given up his feelings. To him, they are truly soup snakes (soul mates). True as ever before, they were able to come up with a great idea and work so well together. They created a skit combining Who Wants To be a Millionaire with Slumdog Millionaire but the questions were thematic around Dunder Mifflin. It was a pretty big hit in many ways, Stanley in particular was laughing it up like it was the greatest thing ever. Everything changed when they decided to do a question about which branch would be closed next. I guess David revealed to Michael last week that Buffalo was going to be closing. This was absolutely on Michael and Holly for thinking this should possibly be a question. But I also question David telling Michael this, if it was not publicly known then he should not be saying a word. It was at this point that the entertainment ended and the mood was pretty dismal and some of us decided to get the heck out of there.

And that, everyone, was this week’s Breakdown! Very short and sweet and certainly what I have the bandwidth for today.

I hope to have a podcast update very soon. Feeling inspired and refreshed from this week we are continuing to work on these, all while preparing to take a two week holiday soon as we return to France. Very much a busy time of the year, which is why it is so nice to find relaxing moments when we can.

Have a great weekend and as always, I’ll see you around the Breakroom!

  1. (2024, November 4). Guide to Planning Successful Company Picnics. Indeed. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/company-picnics ↩︎