🍔🏖️ Labor Day Getaway
Let's take a vacation from routine with a Labor Day-themed retro! Reflect on team efforts, celebrate achievements, and discover ways to work smarter—not harder. Grab your virtual grill and relax as we toast to better teamwork!
Template Columns
🌞 Fire Up The Grill (Start)
Share new practices or tools you want to spark up for even juicier results next sprint.
Base column: Start🛑 Take A Break (Stop)
Identify habits or tasks that have overstayed their welcome and need a permanent holiday.
Base column: Stop🥤 Keep The Party Going (Continue)
Highlight what’s working great—so we can keep it refreshed and thriving all season long!
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Labor Day Getaway retrospective gives teams a refreshing break from the usual by encouraging bold new ideas, retiring old habits, and celebrating ongoing successes.
When to use this template
Use this template at the end of a high-effort period, before a holiday, or whenever your team needs a motivational boost and a chance to refresh working patterns.
How to facilitate
Set a relaxed tone by welcoming the team, explaining the Labor Day getaway theme, and reminding everyone this is a chance to unwind and reflect creatively together
Review the three columns and their fun prompts, inviting everyone to post ideas for new practices (Fire Up The Grill), things to stop (Take A Break), and areas to continue (Keep The Party Going)
Allow quiet time for each member to add cards in every column—remind them to think beyond the obvious and consider process, communication, and tools
Facilitate a group discussion, inviting team members to expand on their notes, share stories, and ask clarifying questions
Work together to spot recurring themes, cluster similar cards, and prioritize which new practices to try and which habits to retire
Co-create clear action items, assigning responsibility and follow-up timelines for any changes, and close by celebrating team wins—maybe with a fun virtual toast or themed image
Pro Tips
Encourage playful participation—using the vacation metaphor helps teams break routine thinking
Use anonymous contributions if your team needs psychological safety
Prompt quieter team members to share by asking specific questions or using chat to gather input
Revisit previous action items to see what can graduate to 'Keep The Party Going'
Wrap up with a positive note to carry over the boosted energy into the next sprint
FAQ
What makes this template different from a standard Start-Stop-Continue?
The playful holiday theme creates an energizing and safe environment, making it easier for teams to voice new ideas and highlight what truly deserves a break.
How do we ensure actionable outcomes from this themed retro?
Focus group discussion on creating clear, assignable actions for both new ideas and things to stop, not just sharing reflections.
What if the team has trouble suggesting things to stop?
Prompt with questions about routines, meetings, or reports that feel like just 'going through the motions' or anything that causes unnecessary stress.
Can larger teams use this template?
Yes, but consider breakout groups for the reflection step, then reconvene to share top ideas and vote on priorities.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–50 min
- Team Size
3-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective