Holiday season is fast-approaching and holiday parties are often a staple of a strong and well-connected office culture. But whenever you get a large group of people together, there is the potential for things to go sideways quickly—especially if alcohol is part of the event. If you’re thinking about planning an office party or event this holiday season, here are a few tips to help you prevent some common challenges:
Minimize alcohol related issues
- Consider serving beer and wine in lieu of hard liquor, and give drink tickets to limit the number of drinks people can have; have mocktails or sodas for those who don’t drink
- Use an event space, or hire an insured bartender so employees don’t serve each other
- If monitoring the number of drinks will be a challenge, consider offering alcoholic drinks during a certain time frame, and close the bar well before the party ends
- Designate a few people on your leadership team to limit their number of drinks so they can keep an eye on others and be ready to offer a ride or an Uber to those who need it
- If you’re hosting the party off-site, check your liability insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in a different location
Make everyone feel comfortable
- Office parties are a great way to help people feel connected to each other and to foster positive relationships across the company
- Have a least one structured activity during the party that everyone participates in; this could be a planned gift exchange, game, or contest—these are all great ice breakers
- Try to group people from different departments together so you can encourage new friendships and collaboration, and break up the traditional “cliques”
Discuss the Dress Code
- “Festive Holiday Attire” is open to interpretation, so send a note ahead of time to communicate party dress codes and remind people about professionalism
- If you’ve had issues with people dressing inappropriately before, make it clear what is or is not permitted
Remind Leaders of the Importance of Professionalism
- Encourage company leaders to set an example for balancing fun and professionalism—this could mean agreeing not to drink, or agreeing to only one drink each
- Coach managers on the importance of making everyone feel included in the fun, remembering those who are introverted or more socially awkward may need a little help to feel at ease
- Agree to have at least one member of your leadership team present for the entire duration of the event to ensure things end well and everyone departs safely
If you’re not sure what kind of party to have, survey employees but give them a small list to choose from so you’re not overwhelmed with suggestions. Ideas we’ve seen include a team lunch or dinner on or off-site, a food truck rental and games at the office, a catered party onsite, a casual potluck style party, or an outing to play a game or do an organized activity.
If you can’t meet in-person, virtual hosted events are a lot of fun too. There are many companies who specialize in this. You can also appoint an especially outgoing person as the host and emcee for your event and let them plan a group activity like a trivia game or a gift exchange.
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