Holiday office parties are a great way for people to come together socially in a relaxed atmosphere to let loose and unwind with fellow employees. If in charge of planning the work Christmas party, first decide if it will be held during normal business hours or after hours.
Whereas some companies choose to hold their parties at a hall or restaurant at night when work has ended, others choose to hold the party in the office during work hours. If choosing a restaurant, try to reserve a banquet room. This way everyone can stay together without interference from other diners.
Office Christmas Party Ideas
If having it at the office, determine how food will be presented. Will the event be catered or will one person be in charge of purchasing food and bringing it in? If the budget is next to nothing, create a sign up sheet and ask everyone to sign up to bring in a dish for the party. Suggested items include appetizers, main courses, side dishes, salads, fresh fruit, desserts and beverages.
If alcohol is going to be involved, take caution that no one drinks too much. Don't forget about paper plates, napkins, utensils and plastic cups. If setting everything up on one table, be sure to include a festive table cloth and centerpiece.
Office Xmas Party
Want to spice things up a bit? If finances allow, consider turning the regular office Christmas party into a themed holiday party. There are many fun themes to choose from. Further information can be found in the article Corporate Party Themes – Company Party Ideas.
Music always provides a festive touch to any type of celebration. Be sure to include some Winter Music and Songs to get everyone into the holiday spirit. Don't forget about decorations. How elaborate these are depends on the office budget. String lights are nice. So are candles as long as they are displayed safely.
If room allows, a small Christmas tree would be pretty. However, keep in mind that all employees may not celebrate Christmas and therefore be careful not to put up any decorations that could offend them. Also for this reason it might be better to call this a holiday party instead of the Christmas party.
Hosting a Office Holiday Party
It's pretty common to do a gift exchange during a holiday party. Unfortunately, all too often people get stuck with gifts they really don't want. In order to avoid this, try the following idea. First, establish a dollar amount that people can spend on a gift. Remember that everyone's budget is different for the holidays. The amount of $10 usually works well.
Next, print out an information form and have each employee fill it out. Suggested information can include:
- Name
- favorite color
- favorite holiday treat
- hobbies
- Do you collect anything?
- Please write down five gift selections you would be happy to receive.
Once everyone has filled out their forms, collect them, fold them up, place them in a box and have everyone pick one out. This way each person has an idea of what to buy for the gift exchange and can feel good knowing that the person receiving the gift will enjoy it.
Office Christmas Party Games
Many offices enjoy playing at least one or two party games during their holiday celebration. Keep games simple as not everyone likes games. One idea is to fill a glass jar with individually wrapped mints or candies. Have each person get a piece of paper and write their name and how many pieces of candy they think are in the jar. The winner is the person who comes closest with their guess. Be sure to give the person a prize. After the game is over, pass around the candy jar so everyone gets a piece.
Another idea is to secretly tape a candy cane under each person's chair. Number each candy cane. Separately write each number on an individual piece of paper, fold up and place in a box. This game is like a raffle. Choose someone to host this game and have them pick out pieces of paper and call out the numbers.
Each person who has their number called wins a prize. Determine in advance how many people can win a prize to make sure there are enough prizes to go around. If the office staff on the whole enjoys playing games, try some holiday charades. This can include holiday music and movies.
When planning the party, don't be afraid to ask other employees for their input and suggestions. Don't forget to ask for help, either! A work Christmas or holiday party should be all about having fun and enjoying each other's company.
Janis Masyk-Jackson - I'm here to seek out the truth about some of life's mysteries. There is nothing new about New Age beliefs. These are beliefs that have ...
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