10 Tips For Throwing A Successful Holiday Office Party

By: Laura Mohammad
December 6th, 2011

The holidays are a fun time of year to show your employees that they’re appreciated and boost company morale. Throwing an office party is a great way to add value and enjoyment to the season, and if done correctly, can translate into better business performance.

To ensure your holiday fete is a success, consider these ten tips for planning an appropriate office party:

1. Venue. Marketing expert and blogger Shannon Mouton advises managers to make it easy for employees to attend by choosing a nearby venue. “No boat cruises,” she says.
2. Attire. Attire should be business or business casual, Mouton says. “No one wants to change clothes at work or go home and come back out.”
3. Food. Offer a wide variety of foods, including vegetarian, gluten free, Halal and Kosher, if possible. This will make employees and guests with special dietary needs more comfortable.
4. Gifts. “Forgo gift exchanges, Secret Santa, Yankee Swap and so on,” says Mouton. “Just because folks are working doesn’t mean they have extra money for gifts.”
5. Guest list. Your employees and their families should be your top consideration. Kelsey Recht, founder and CEO of Instevent.com suggests daytime or early-evening events for families with young children, and later events if your staff is largely young professionals and single adults.
6. Alcohol. Recht suggests planning activities and/or games to include non-drinkers and families. Also, entertainment can take the focus away from alcohol and provide something everyone can enjoy, Recht says.
7. Attendance. Make it clear whether attendance is expected or is truly voluntary. This can help reduce anxiety among employees who cannot or do not wish to attend.
8. Child care. “Think about lower-paid workers who may be invited, and consider offering child care,” says business coach Don Nations.
9. Company policy. “A brief review of company policies may be helpful prior to the party,” Nations says, “such as guidelines about public displays of affection, whether workers are allowed to date, etc.” Also, if the gathering is going to have a particular theme, “provide some suggestions regarding appropriate and inappropriate attire,” he says.
10. Cab rides home. “If alcohol is going to be served or allowed to be brought in, consider offering cab rides for those who would be better off not driving,” Nations says.

A well-planned party can be fun and be an effective tool for building relationships in your organization. If you outline your expectations well in advance, everyone can relax enjoy their time together.

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