Contents
Key points
- An agenda starts from the objective of the offsite, not from the activities.
- Mornings for demanding topics, afternoons for workshops and activities.
- Build in breaks and slack: an overloaded agenda always runs late.
The rules of a good agenda
- One question per session: each block answers a specific question (“what are our priorities for 2027?”) and has a deliverable.
- Vary the formats: plenary, small-group workshops, report-back, informal time.
- Limit presentations: send the figures beforehand and use the time together to make decisions.
- A break every 1 hr 30 to 2 hrs, and a lunch of no more than an hour and a half. The French labour code (Code du travail) requires a break of at least 20 minutes once the working day reaches six hours (article L3121-16).
- A written conclusion: decisions, owners and deadlines, reviewed before everyone leaves.
Example 1: day meeting
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9.00 | Welcome coffee |
| 9.30 | Opening: objective of the day, ground rules |
| 9.45 | Plenary: review and key issues (45 min at most) |
| 10.30 | Break |
| 10.50 | Breakout workshops on 3 or 4 questions |
| 12.30 | Lunch |
| 14.00 | Workshop report-back and decisions |
| 15.30 | Break |
| 15.45 | Team-building activity or action plan |
| 17.30 | Conclusion and departure |
The format in detail: the day meeting.
Example 2: two-day residential seminar
| Time of day | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Arrival late morning, check-in, lunch | Working sessions, decisions |
| Afternoon | Opening plenary, first workshops | Report-back, action plan, conclusion |
| Late afternoon | Group activity (2 hrs) | Departure |
| Evening | Dinner, evening event | — |
Arriving late morning on the first day avoids dawn departures and still leaves time to work. If the evening runs late, remember that every employee is entitled to 11 consecutive hours of rest between two working days (article L3131-1): do not schedule the restart too early the next morning. See the residential seminar.
Example 3: leadership team
- The day before: arrival in the early evening, informal dinner.
- Morning: strategy, in plenary, phones away.
- Afternoon: trade-offs and roadmap; a walk or small-group activity.
- Evening: dinner, one-to-one conversations.
- Next morning: review of decisions, internal communication, departure.
Common mistakes
- An agenda packed from 8 am to 11 pm, with no free time.
- Top-down presentations that take up the whole morning.
- An activity unrelated to the objective, or one that leaves part of the group out.
- No written record of the decisions at the end.
To bring these sessions to life, see meeting facilitation. Describe your project: venues will suggest a running order suited to their spaces.
Sources and method
Information checked on 11 November 2026.
- Article L3121-16 du Code du travail — Légifrance : 20-minute break once the working day reaches 6 hours
- Article L3131-1 du Code du travail — Légifrance : 11 hours of daily rest
Frequently asked questions
How much working time should an offsite include?
There is no single rule. For a working seminar, a focused morning and the early afternoon are often enough; beyond that, attention drops. Keep the late afternoon for an activity or free time, especially on a residential seminar.
Should a one-day offsite include an activity?
It is not compulsory, but a short activity (1 hr 30 to 2 hrs) at the end of the day helps bring the team together and makes the event more memorable. See our team building ideas.
