Blogs

Planning a Holiday Office Party? Here’s What You Need to Know

By Community Manager posted 09-28-2023 12:27 PM

Recommend

While the calendar tells us that fall has just gotten underway, many organizations are already starting to plan their holiday parties. That’s because a fun, inclusive, and safe event requires ample preparation.

The following are some tips to help your organization enjoy a successful holiday party.

Make attendance optional. Not everyone enjoys or wants to attend large social gatherings, regardless of the season. Some employees may have concerns about being in close proximity to others because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Making the party voluntary also minimizes the potential for the event to look like work time and require pay for employees.

Refer to your gathering as a “holiday party” to be inclusive of different religions and cultures.
Communicate behavioral expectations. Send a memo to employees stating that the company wants everyone to have fun at the party but to drink responsibly and act appropriately. A sample communication can be found in this Employers Council whitepaper.
Control the service and consumption of alcohol to reduce your potential liability and avoid uncomfortable situations. Here are some ideas:

- Don’t offer an open bar or a self-service option. Instead, consider handing out a certain number of drink tickets or making it a cash bar, complete with a bartender. They can ID partygoers to ensure they’re of legal drinking age and can stop serving those who seem to be intoxicated.
- Limit the amount of time the bar is open, and ensure it closes at least an hour before the party ends.

- Offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverage options.
- Help everyone get home safely. Arrange alternative transportation, such as Uber or a taxi, for those who drove to the party and may have consumed too much alcohol.

Serve a variety of foods. Some attendees may follow vegetarian or vegan diets, and some may have food restrictions because of allergies or religion.
Remember your remote workers. Many organizations have employees who work from home in different cities or states. Consider holding a separate or simultaneous event via a video meeting platform for those not close enough to the party site to attend in person. (Doing so also provides an alternative for local employees who can’t or choose not to attend.) For remote workers, you may also want to consider alternative ways to help them feel connected throughout the holiday season. This Employers Council article provides a few tips.
Plan fun, engaging activities. Games and gift exchanges are among the many options that can help employees bond and feel involved.

Don’t hang mistletoe. Skip this tradition to help limit the chance of having a sexual harassment case on your hands after the party.

Find more tips about what to do and not do when planning a holiday office party in this Employers Council article. If you have any questions, please email our Member Experience Team.