An office holiday party is an event that many people look forward to all year long, as it’s an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with colleagues outside of the work environment and have some fun. Furthermore, it’s also a chance to build trust, increase morale and strengthen relationships.
There are certain best practices you need to keep in mind to ensure the event will be a success and that all those attending will have a great time while also keeping it professional.
Please keep reading to find out what they are.
Guest List
✅DO: Allow for a plus-one
❌DON’T: Invite too many people from outside the company
Allowing employees to bring a spouse or a friend will help increase your attendance rate and make your office holiday party feel more like a fun social function (as opposed to being an extension of the working environment).
Furthermore, this is likely also to help guests feel more relaxed and more comfortable, which will lead to them being more open and more willing to interact with one other.
However, your guest list should mainly be made of company members. This is, after all, a company event, so try to avoid inviting too many people who don’t work at your company, as it could create a sense of exclusion and make the attendees feel like they’re outsiders.
Holiday Party Etiquette
✅DO: Remind guests of company policies
❌DON’T: Encourage excessive drinking
Before a company holiday event, it’s good to send a reminder so that all those invited know your company policies regarding alcohol and drug consumption, harassment, and event safety. This can be done via email or brochures.
But there are also specific preventive measures you can take to avoid inappropriate or dangerous behavior.
As the person responsible for planning the event, you need to be aware that holiday parties can increase the number of employees who drink too much and then later regret their actions.
Limiting the amount of alcohol being served at your office holiday party is a great way to prevent irresponsible behavior and any gestures or activities that may cause gossip or controversy or make guests feel uncomfortable.
You could try to offer each guest a limited number of drink tickets and only serve beer or wine (hard liquor should be avoided due to its high alcohol content).
Attendance Policy
✅DO: Encourage people to attend
❌DON’T: Make attendance mandatory
It’s important to ensure that all team members are aware of the event and feel welcomed. It’s okay to encourage all employees to attend the party, as you’ll want everyone to feel included.
However, keep in mind that nobody likes feeling pressured into doing certain things – not even if it involves a fun event such as a company party. While an office party is not typically geared to specific religious beliefs, consider that some employees may not want to celebrate.
The reasons for this can vary. For example, some of your employees may be experiencing problems in their family lives, grieving, or don’t feel comfortable taking part in social gatherings involving lots of people.
Make sure that everyone knows attendance is encouraged yet optional.
Entertainment
✅DO: Invest in high-quality entertainment
❌ DON’T: Wait until the last minute to book entertainment
It is important to invest in high-quality entertainment to make your holiday party more memorable and fun for your guests. This is also a great way to show appreciation and reward employees for their hard work throughout the year.
The good news is that there are many entertainment options suitable for this type of event. Clean comedians, music acts, and magicians; could add more value and more excitement to your event.
However, securing entertainment for your event shouldn’t be an afterthought to get your pick. Ensure that you have booked entertainment in advance so you don’t scramble at the last minute.
We Can Help You Plan a Standout Office Holiday Party!
Here at the Grable Group, we have a large selection of premium entertainers which you can book to ensure that your next company party will be one for the books.
Start browsing now, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (615) 283-0039 if you have any questions.
