The Holiday Season is approaching, and many employees will take time off to recharge themselves after a long and difficult year. Often, companies organize an office party before the beginning of the holidays to create meaningful employee engagement.
According to studies, 73% of employees agree that benefits are an incentive to continue working at their current employer, as opposed to a pay package only. This shift should help you understand the importance of providing an environment with more focus on social wellness and employee well-being. Having a party to ensure your employees feel included and celebrated is always a good idea.
It’s time to buckle down and get your office party-planning hat on. There are plenty of ways that you can do that without breaking the bank or being too much of a micromanager. Let’s take a look at some tips for planning an office party that everyone will enjoy.
- Get Catering
Plan the menu with your catering company. Many caterers offer complete packages, including decorations, tables and chairs, and even entertainment options. This will ensure that everything goes smoothly on the day of your party and that you don’t have to worry about how all these details will work out.
You can also go with a “Happy Hour” concept, where alcohol gets served for some time to ensure there is a celebratory feel in the air. Having appropriate food pairings with alcohol becomes very important. We suggest you explore reliable resources dedicated to happy hour catering to ensure standards are high at your office party.
If you’re planning a large office event with multiple food stations offering different types of cuisine or cuisines from around the world, like Mexican, Italian, Indian, and Lebanese, hire multiple caterers specializing in each cuisine. It will ensure that everyone is happy with what they get served at their station.
- Block Calendars in Advance
You’ll want to pick a day that is convenient for everyone. If you’re planning on having multiple events throughout the year, it’s best to pick a date when there aren’t any other major holidays or events in your company’s calendar.
You’ll also want to pick a time that works for the majority of people in your office and will be accessible to them.
Currently, there are 59 million gig workers in the United States, contributing to 36% of the workforce. Chances are high that your company has gig workers, too. If you want to include them, plan accordingly. If you choose to ask your remote employees to come down to the office, ensure you inform them well in advance. Also, ensure the time suits them, as many of them may have to commute long distances to return home.
- Incorporate a Bit of Potluck
With all those different people bringing something different to the table, there’s bound to be something for everyone in attendance. A potluck is great for showcasing the diversity in your company but only go for a potluck when the team size is small, and everyone is excited about cooking something that day.
As tempting as it may sound from a cost-cutting perspective, relying on a potluck alone for food might derail your plans for a successful party. The reason is the popular items may run out faster, and the ones that are not so popular with the crowds may end up as leftovers.
- Rent Party Furniture and Props
By renting chairs, tables, and plates, you will eliminate the need to worry about space to keep the food trays. Also, if you have a smaller set-up with less space, you can rent as per requirement without needing to buy furniture and block space. This is what many companies are doing right now.
The rental furniture market is growing rapidly with a CAGR of 9.6% and is worth $ 73.19 Billion in 2022. This robust trend should assure you of the myriad choices and price points available to you in this segment.
You can also ask for some extra manpower to serve food and drinks to make sure your team can concentrate on networking with each other without worrying about the service.
A photo booth is also an excellent way for people to have fun at your party. The picture-taking options on these booths provide hours of entertainment as well as great memories that can be shared later with friends and family members.
The photos are also a huge employer branding opportunity. When satisfied employees share photos with innovative frames containing imagery catering to the core values of the company, your brand value as an employer goes up. Invest in some good props to provide opportunities for your brand to trend on social media the next day for the right reasons.
- Get Live Entertainment
To create a memorable party, you should look into having some sort of live entertainment. This can be anything from hiring a band to even hosting a karaoke night.
The point is to get people out of their comfort zones and interact with each other in new ways. If there are talented musicians and singers on your team, encourage them to perform. Only ask your colleagues to perform if they are on board with the idea. Do not impulsively ask anyone to perform, as they may not be ready at the moment.
Planning a party can be a lot of work, especially when you’re trying to please everyone. We hope these suggestions have helped you in making sure your party is one that everyone will love.
The objective of an office party is to give the right environment of social mixing for your employees. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With these tips, you can throw a great event that everyone will enjoy.
