How to Host an Office Holiday Party that Doesn’t Suck

‘Tis the season for sugary treats, holiday decor and office parties that sap the life out of your employees. Your office holiday party doesn’t have to suck, though. With a few fresh ideas and some planning, you can create an event your staff looks forward to each year.

Your office holiday party should be a perk for your workers and not something they dread. How can you make sure you embrace everyone and keep the party diverse while still keeping things light hearted and fun for all? You can even use your holiday office party as a retention method.

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What Should You Not Do at a Holiday Office Party?

Forbes recently reported around 14% of employees got high and attended an office holiday party. While you want to make your party fun, there are some boundaries you shouldn’t cross as the one planning the party or an attendee.

  • Play any games involving sexually suggestive topics.
  • Plan a party that goes longer than three or four hours.
  • Skimp on the food.
  • Do anything sexually innappropriate or suggestive. A professional holiday office party isn’t the right place for some things.
  • Create work for your employees. They are there to socialize and have fun.

An excellent holiday office party gives people a chance to connect and helps your team form stronger bonds.

Ready to get your party planning on? Check out these top tips for how to host the perfect office holiday party.

1. Go All Out on Food

More than likely, your holiday party will fall in the evening or late afternoon as you wrap up work for the day. People will be ready to eat a meal and socialize. Don’t skimp on the food you serve at your holiday party.

Your best bet is to hire a local caterer to handle all the details. Some companies even provide workers to walk around and serve appetizers or dish up food buffet style. Your largest cost for your party will likely be the food, but it’s also one of the best ways to show your workers how much you appreciate their contributions.

2. Invest in Entertainment

Excellent entertainment sets the tone for your event. Of course, your budget often dictates what you can afford. Hiring a DJ may be more in your reach than a band, for example. You might also want to hire a magician, a company that puts on a murder mystery interactive show or some other type of entertainment.

3. Try Something New

You have to figure out what your employees enjoy and come up with an event they’ll appreciate. If you have a company filled with crafters, they might enjoy an art and wine event. Perhaps your group is more studious and would be thrilled at a trivia night.

You can even gather ideas from your employees and then put a few options up for a vote. You can’t please everyone but you can get close.

4. Play Games

A few holiday party games can help break the ice and also offer a fun way to reward your employees. For example, buy a number of prices of various price points and wrap them in a huge ball of plastic wrap.

Use a timer and let people take a turn and unwrap what they can. They might find items such as a pack of chewing gum, candy, cash, gift cards and a smartwatch. Set a budget for prizes and get creative with the items.

5. Include Remote Workers

PR Newswire reports the results of a recent survey of Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Dell, Microsoft and Google. They found companies are planning events coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 63.6% stated their company is hosting a party for the holidays this year. Around 22% were planning hybrid events, and 24% in-person only parties.

Many offices still have remote workers and the trend seems to be growing. You don’t want to plan an event where your remote employees aren’t really involved but just watch from afar. Either plan separate virtual and real events, go entirely virtual or figure out how to involve those joining remotely.

You’ll have to get a lot more creative to engage remote workers and meet their needs. For example, if you’re serving catered food, can you offer to pay for meal delivery for your remote workers by giving them a DoorDash gift card or some other type of delivery?

6. Adopt a Cause

Perhaps your office holiday party looks less like a fun gathering and more like working for a cause. Ask your employees if they’d rather use the budget to help a local charity and get some paid time off to volunteer.

You can also all go to a local charity together and work to improve it. For example, most nonprofits could use a fresh coat of paint in some rooms or repairs. In addition, you can also avail Cards for Causes’ custom greeting cards that benefit charity. They give 20% of every purchase to the charity of your choosing.

When you adopt a cause, volunteering should be completely optional. People don’t always care about the same charities or may have limitations they prefer not to disclose.

7. Create a Photo Opp

Your employees naturally form friendships as they work with one another. Set up a fun photo booth where people can snap a few photos from the party. You may even want to grab a few for the company newsletter.

Make the photo booth a fun theme, such as old Hollywood movie star props, 1950s or Las Vegas. You don’t have to spend a fortune on your photo booth. You just need a few props, a great backdrop and people willing to snap photos for your attendees.

Forget Work for the Day

Are you thinking you’ll let your holiday office party do double duty and invite a few clients to impress? The event you throw for your workers should be separate from any customer events. Your workers should be able to relax and just enjoy the time. You don’t want them to worry about what they say or do and how it might impact their relationship with an important client.

Talk to your employees, look for unique entertainment, play up the food and have a good time. Holiday office parties are about building memories with your team so you can build on mutual admiration as you work on future projects together.


Eleanor is editor of Designerly Magazine. Eleanor was the creative director and occasional blog writer at a prominent digital marketing agency before becoming her own boss in 2018. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.

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