The annual office holiday party is one of the high points of the year for many teams. Not just because the holidays are around the corner, but also because it’s an opportunity for your company to come together and celebrate the past year.
Corporate holiday parties are an important part of company culture. They’re a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy each other’s company, free from the everyday stresses of work.
Let’s explore some of the best office holiday party ideas to help you get the most out of your year-end event.
Why is an Office Holiday Party Important?
Company holiday parties are a proven employee recognition strategy and a great way to show appreciation for the hard work your team members accomplish throughout the year. They help create a strong sense of camaraderie and give everyone an opportunity to relax and have some fun. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to get creative with team-building activities and reward programs.
Here are a few additional reasons why office holiday parties are important:
- Recognize employee achievements
- Create new relationships between coworkers
- Demonstrate gratitude to staff for their hard work
- Opportunity to reward through gifts, prizes, and awards
6 Ideas to Level Up Your Company Holiday Party
Holiday parties don’t have to be a huge extravaganza that breaks the bank. Oftentimes, it’s the simple, fun activities that people will remember most. Here are some ideas to help make your office holiday party memorable and fun for everyone.
1. Organize Catering
Everyone knows parties are better with food. And when it comes to catering options, there’s a wide range of options to choose from based on your budget.
For a more affordable option, host a holiday potluck and invite your employees to bring their favorite dishes. If you go this route, consider giving employees a small stipend to pay for the ingredients – after all, they’re effectively catering your party for you!
If business is booming and cost is less of a concern, treat your team to a meal at a local restaurant or hire caterers for an in-house event. Many restaurants have private dining rooms perfect for hosting corporate holiday parties. Alternatively, go the casual route and hire some local food trucks to come to your workplace.
2. Help Out a Local Charity
The holidays aren’t just a time for celebration – they’re also a time for giving back. Including some form of charitable component to your holiday party allows your business to give back to the community.
You might ask employees to organize collections for a local food bank or participate in a toy drive for low-income families. You could even make it a competition between different teams or departments, with prizes and company swag available for the most generous teams.
Alternatively, you could set aside a whole day. Give your team free time to volunteer with a charity of their choice in the morning, and then invite them to celebrate with the rest of your business in the afternoon. It’s the best of both worlds.
3. Think Outside the Box for Entertainment
Every great party needs some form of entertainment. Needless to say, there are endless options for you to choose from, and you’ll need to use your knowledge of your team to pick the best option.
Consider sharing a poll with team members asking them what types of activities they’d be most interested in. Don’t be afraid to think differently – bringing in a DJ is always fun, but there are more creative options that your team might love even more. You could opt for an office Olympics competition to get your team’s competitive juices flowing, or go with a holiday-themed scavenger hunt – the only limit is your creativity!
4. Party On The Clock
Hear us out here. We’re not suggesting that your employees roll up at 8 a.m. ready to party. But equally, a party that starts at 8 p.m. can be off-putting to many people: from parents to those who value their beauty sleep.
If you host your office holiday party after work hours, you can unintentionally make it hard for some of your employees to attend. They might have to arrange childcare or change up their routine to make it work.
Instead, consider a half-day holiday party. Everyone can come to work as normal in the morning, and once you hit lunchtime, the fun starts. If people want to continue on to a happy hour in the evening, that’s up to them, but you’ve made sure everyone can enjoy themselves during work hours.
5. Encourage Your Team to Dress Up
You know what doesn’t scream holiday cheer? Business casual. So, invite your team to dress up in their finest holiday outfits. It’s a fun conversation starter and you can even turn it into a competition – an ugly Christmas sweater contest, perhaps? Allowing your employees to wear more casual clothes helps them relax too, making your party feel less like a work event and more like, well, a party!
6. Distribute Thoughtful Employee Holiday Gifts
Hosting a corporate holiday party isn’t the only way your business should show its appreciation to employees over the holiday season. There are a few key ingredients to a great party, most of which we’ve talked about here: food, entertainment, fun. The one we haven’t mentioned yet? Gifts!
Surprising your employees with a thoughtful corporate holiday gift is a fantastic way to show your gratitude for their hard work throughout the year.
Ready to Start Planning Your Corporate Holiday Gifts?
An office holiday party is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays with your employees, bringing everyone together to create new experiences your team will cherish. Keeping the office holiday party ideas shared here in mind will put you on the path to throwing a party your team will remember for years to come.
As you make your preparations, don’t forget your employee holiday gifts. If you need some support, reach out to a GoDelta Brand Consultant. We’ll help you pick the best gifts for your team and handle all the logistics to ensure everyone has a smile on their face this holiday season – including you!
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