subject: Planning the Company Christmas Party [print this page] Planning the Company Christmas Party
After working hard all year, everyone in the office looks forward to the office Christmas party. This is the time when employers thank their employees for all their hard work, and gives everyone a chance to get to know each other outside of the office. Office Christmas parties generate goodwill between the employer and employees; they're integral to maintaining office relations.
If the responsibility of planning the office Christmas Party has fallen on your shoulders, you need to be aware that the execution of the Christmas party directly affects relations between workers and management. Some of the most well-intentioned ideas can have disastrous consequences. Here are some tips for ensuring the office Christmas party goes off without a hitch:
There should be alcohol: some companies try to save money or eliminate organization hassles by holding a dry Christmas party, where non-alcoholic drinks are served. These companies are inevitably held in scorn by their employees. The ultimate social lubricant, alcohol helps people relax and socialize, and adds to the celebratory nature of the party. Employees expect an office Christmas party to provide both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
When providing alcohol, ensure there are at least two options (usually, beer and wine, or two types of wine) and make sure employees have a means of getting home from the function venue without driving. You may like to provide a taxi-card to each employee as a party favor.
Everyone should be invited: In large companies employing a lot of contract workers, part-time or casual staff, or employees spread out in satellite offices, it often seems easier to invite only full-time or onsite staff. This keeps the bill down and helps the party to remain intimate.
However, leaving groups of employees out fosters resentment. Everyone should be invited to the Christmas party, even if that means hiring a different venue or changing from a dinner to a brunch to save money.
Say Thank You: People like to know they're appreciated and acknowledged. How you incorporate this into the office Christmas party is up to you. It could be a handwritten card acknowledging their individual contribution, or a thoughtful gift or a public accolade. Make sure your employees walk away from the Christmas party feeling their hard work is important and appreciated.
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