The perfect Christmas party
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It's that time of year again, there's a nip in the air and Slade are in the shops - which means it's Office party time as well. Johanna Walker, contents and events manager at special occasions website Confetti.co.uk, reveals how you can make your Christmas gathering a real cracker. It's that time of year again, there's a nip in the air and Slade are in the shops - which means it's Office party time as well. Johanna Walker, contents and events manager at special occasions website Confetti.co.uk, reveals how you can make your Christmas gathering a real cracker.
The office party can be many things to many people, but above all, it’s your opportunity to thank your employees for their hard work. Although most employees expect their company will host a Christmas party, it's still perceived as a great way to give employees a boost. Make sure you treat it as such: if possible consult staff on their preferences, turn up on time (and don’t leave as soon as possible) and get into the spirit of things.
Unless you have premises that are just too good to pass over, try to get out of the office for the bash. Firstly, this means no-one can continue working, and secondly, the office may serve to keep some of those company hierarchies going. Employees should be encouraged to mingle freely with others from every department and level - this improves inter-company communications long after the party.
Finding a suitable (and suitably priced) location should be done well in advance. If you have your eye on a local restaurant, book it the summer before. If you need help finding a suitable venue, there are a number of online services that can assist. And don't rule out something more exciting or glamorous – such as a castle, hotel or even a boat. In a recent Confetti poll on office parties, ‘good location’ was selected as the most important feature of an office party, but ‘good food’ was a close second, so this needs careful attention. If it looks like you might have to make a tradeoff between good food and the budget, remember many companies do ask staff to pay a small subsidy towards the party. However, it's best to establish this custom early on as implementing it after five years could destroy all that goodwill you’re aiming to build up.
Themes are the bugbear of the office party. Many companies feel compelled to have a theme, but then find it difficult to execute properly. Themes can also lead to many hours of lost productivity as staff spend hours on the phone and the internet trying to cobble a costume together.
On the plus side, a theme makes it easier plan entertainment and decor, and can also give even the cheapest party a professional look. Colours are a hit because they’re so easy to do. Everyone can find something red or white or gold to wear without too much fuss. Try to avoid ‘The Twenties’ or others that have been done to death.
Should you invite other halves? This comes down to two things – budget constraints and company culture. If the decision isn’t immediately clear to you, take a little informal poll amongst staff. (In our survey, 62% of respondents ranked ‘opportunity for work colleagues to meet your partner’ as the least important feature of an office party!)
Entertainment is often quite a large chunk of the party budget but can often go horribly wrong. If it's not fantastic, or if staff have overdone things on the food and drink front, then the entertainment can often go ignored – or worse, derided. One thing people do love is to see their work colleagues in a different light. So if Sally’s an amateur stand up or John’s in a band, co-opt them.
In companies with more than 50 or so staff, its difficult to get everyone to pay attention all at once. Entertainment such as a close up magicians, who can entertain one small group at a time, will work better. Or think about hiring some arcade games. Parties may seem an ideal time to play some team bonding games, as you’re all together. Resist the temptation: let the bonding happen naturally. This is your moment. Christmas isn’t Christmas without the MD dressing up as Santa. If you want a suitably groaning sack, organise a ‘Secret Santa’ – put everyone’s names in a hat and each employee picks a name and buys a gift (worth less than a fiver) for that person. And finally – the top tip for those boozy office parties this year is to dress the CFO up in a tequila belt. There is no better way to spread goodwill!
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