In addition to rewarding employees for their hard work, staff holiday parties provide an opportunity for team members to bond outside of regular working hours, says Marissa Binstock, lead project manager with Ext. Marketing Inc. in Toronto.
Hectic schedules, flexible working hours and the trend toward employees working remotely have made it more difficult for team members to connect in person, Binstock says. A party provides an opportunity for your whole staff to get together in a social setting.
To make your holiday party a success, here are four tips to consider:
1. Provide a dress code
Nobody wants to be the only one at a holiday party wearing a campy Santa sweater.
In your party invitation, provide a suggested dress code for employees so they will know whether to dress in formal or casual clothing. “I’ve learned from experience that it’s often a concern or curiosity for people,” Binstock says.
2. Offer prizes
Save some room in the budget for entertainment such as door prizes, silent auctions and raffles, Binstock says.
Activities such as holding a raffle every hour can help to break up the evening. “It also encourages attendance when people know there are prizes,” Binstock says.
3. Show staff appreciation
Holiday parties are an opportunity to reward employees for their commitment in the past year. “It’s nice when a CEO or president takes a minute to thank everybody,” Binstock says.
Just make sure speeches don’t take over the evening, she adds. A one-minute toast is thoughtful, but an hour of speeches will diminish the celebratory mood.
4. Ensure everyone gets home safely
Most parties will include a few alcoholic drinks or a bar, but it’s important to consider how people will travel home afterwards, Binstock says.
You can encourage people to drink responsibly, but that’s not always in your control. Binstock recommends providing taxi tokens to ensure that everyone has a way to get home safely.
This is the second part in a two-part series on throwing an office holiday party.
See also: A staff party with pizzazz