Having an Office Christmas Party can be a challenging experience for the planner, let alone having to cater to all the employees! Office Christmas Parties can be frustrating for employees, especially having to deal with everyone’s different personalities and interests. The good new? It is absolutely possible to throw a Christmas work party to encourage a positive work environment and get employees excited!
Ideas That Are More Likely To Get Employees In The Holiday Spirit
Let’s face it, themes! Christmas themes tend to encourage employees to gather, it gives employees a reason to interact and get to know each other beyond the holiday work parties.
Winter Wonderland is a safe bet if employees are going to To attend the Christmas Work Party, especially if the employees are going to. it is festive and can usually be done at a small budget. String up some holiday lights and fake Christmas decorating, and you have a perfect “Winter Wonderland”.
The Great Gatsby’s aura works for Christmas parties too. Everybody needs to justify wearing their fanciest dresses once without being cringe. The twenties’ glamour is perf for that. Not to mention the jazz bands that you can book for an affordable price. You can also get art deco decors without too much difficulty. Just make sure to book a venue with space for everyone to actually move around.
Everyone enjoys James Bond casino nights. It gives people something to do and, more importantly, a distraction to talk with people they don’t know too well. You can actually rent casino tables, or you can get cheap sets and run it by yourself. Just be sure the fake money is customised for the theme of the night. It relaxes people to know they won’t stuck in a dull conversation with someone from accounts they don’t know. They’ll be focused on whether to stick or twist.
The one thing about the theme though, is make it optional. Some people like fancy dress others would rather make it a walk in the park. It’s a good thing to make sure all groups feel comfortable for your party.
Activities That are More Fun and Less Mandatory
Holding office parties where people are just told to drink and socialise is boring. The fun ones are the ones that give people more choices.
Photo booths are great options. With the ability to be silly or just stand by the side quietly and let the good time mr. selfie take the photo, its a great option to give. Get some glasses or props. The more serious ones tend to be the ones to stand and after a drink or two take the props and take some photos.
Having a live performance rather than a prerecorded set is a lot of fun. More and more people are then able to participate. Jazz bands or smaller acoustic settings are good options to give multiple people the ability to preform and to have a good time. If you have a smaller budget, a company scatter of musicians is great!
Set some rules around secret santa. Have a smaller budget around $10 and set a firm rule that you can’t get people anything that is considered mean. For example, the mug saying, “World’s Okayest Employee” is not a good option.
Mix up the quiz rounds by keeping them short and varying in subject. Also include facts and trivia about the year at your company and general knowledge. It’s nice when someone cracks a joke and the whole team can relate.
Keeping It Inclusive
Make sure your colleagues feel welcome and included, regardless of whether they drink alcohol or want to stay until midnight.
Make sure to provide non-alcoholic drink options too. And please, no orange juice and tap water. Be sure to include alcohol-free cocktails and assorted soft drinks. Many team members may be driving, pregnant, or just choosing not to drink, and they should not feel out of place.
Make sure there are food options for all, and don’t just include a couple of vegetarian dishes without any thought. Check in advance to gather what people need, and provide enough selection so no one is just stuck nibbling on a side salad.
Timing is huge when planning holiday parties. In most cases, a Friday afternoon party (around 7pm) is more suitable than a Saturday night. Parents are able to attend, people keep the rest of their weekend free, and you avoid the pressure of a huge night out.
The Remote Team Challenge
Remote employees shouldn’t be ignored or stuck on a video call during office holiday parties. Consider splitting your budget to conduct smaller regional events rather than flying everyone to the London office for one large event. Remote workers can be sent a party box filled with drinks, snacks, and decorations, and a shorter virtual call for games or a quiz can be conducted prior to letting them join the in-person events.
You don’t need to pull major financials or overdo everything when it comes to office Christmas parties. It’s about thinking about your actual team, and what they would enjoy for a holiday party. Remote, if possible, and what would give them a true break from work prior to the holiday rush. Having it done right would make them rather excited for the next party or holiday in advance, rather than already trying to find an exit.
