INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE OFFICE EVENTS

What is an office party


An office party is a celebration or social event for everyone in the company/department/project team, usually paid for and organized by the company. It is a way for employees to have fun, unwind, build connections and get to know each other on a more personal level.
?
The most common type of work party is the end-of-year holiday.? These gatherings are usually held to boost employee morale, engagement, satisfaction and show appreciation.
?
Office parties should fit within your budget and align with your company values.?


Benefits of holding office parties :


While office parties may seem unnecessary (and sometimes expensive) but it has a perk. Group celebrations often bring real business benefits, some of which are mentioned below:
?
?Strengthens team bonds: When employees have the chance to talk about things other than work, they get to know each other on a personal level which can help build trust and find common ground to connect.?


?Increases employee engagement and morale: Office parties offer employees a chance to relax and unwind, which can boost productivity when it’s time to go back to work. A well rested employee who believes he/she is appreciated for their contributions will always work harder.?


?Provides networking opportunities: While your office party shouldn’t include shop talk, giving employees time to interact in a casual way can spark new friendships and connections that could lead to collaboration in the office. These parties can also help employees build rapport with the management team away from the pressures of the office environment.


?Makes employees feel appreciated: Employees known for their achievements may feel a sense of loyalty to their employer and are more likely to stay at that company longer.?


Tips for a fantastic work party


An office party doesn’t have to be costly, elaborate or extravagant. Even planning the event can be fun if you approach it with the right attitude. Here are some tips to consider when planning an office party:
?


1. Advanced Planning: While an impromptu lunch or celebration is a great idea, most office parties are better when planned in advance. It makes the event a lot less stressful for those alloted the tasks of gathering supplies and food, convenient for those with busy calendars or who travel for business.
?
Ask your employees for input on what they’d like to do to unwind and relax. After all, staff parties are for your employees, and their participation and engagement is the top priority here. To build up excitement for the party, ask enthusiastic employees to help with planning, or create an office party planning committee.


2. Encourage everyone to join.
Consider scheduling work parties during work hours so everyone can be there, ensure that you aren’t asking employees to take time away from their busy personal lives. It shows that you respect their personal time. End-of-year holiday parties, however, often take place after work hours, but it is upto the management and employees.?
?
Additionally, think whether you’ll allow your employees to invite a plus-one. For more formal holiday parties, plus-ones invitations are expected. However, if your office party is during work hours at the office, you may want to limit the party to employees only.
?
3. Add a game or activity.?
Scavenger hunts, icebreakers, board game marathons, photobooths, karaoke, trivia, charades, and similar team-building activities help people relax, do something other than creating small talk, and enjoy themselves. Just be sure that games are fun, low pressure, and that everyone can participate, regardless of age or physical abilities.
?
Many games can be modified for office parties — for example, “Trivial Pursuit,” “Jeopardy,” or “Name That Tune.” Guessing games are also fun. Put names of famous people on post-it notes and distribute them, having each player wear a post-it on their forehead without looking. The objective is to get clues from each person in the room until the person guesses their famous person. This party game can get people talking to one another and working together.
?
Or. host a party showcasing your employees’ achievements. If your party game involves groups, mix teams so employees from different departments can get to know one another.
?
4. Make it a themed party.?
Giving your office party themes can help break the ice. Favorite music eras, tiki nights, carnival themes, or “ugly holiday sweater” days can get employees into a social, light-hearted mood. Having something to talk about alleviates some of the awkwardness that might come with work parties, takes the focus off work, and makes socializing easier.


5. Throw in a prize or maybe an extra paid leave (*wink wink).
Everyone loves a raffle, and prizes don’t have to be elaborate. For example, gift cards for local restaurants or online shopping outlets are always appreciated and can help raise festivity levels. Other prize ideas include a bonus day off, company swag, tech gadgets, a charitable donation on their behalf, etc.


6. Serve good food.
Serving food is another way to make work parties fun, especially since studies show that eating triggers an endorphin release in the brain. Cater, order take out, plan a potluck or if your party is virtual, try giving your employees a food delivery voucher. Make sure you have plenty of options for everyone’s dietary choices (e.g., vegetarian, dairy-free) so everyone can participate.


7-? Get out of the office.?
Another way to make your office party successful is by planning things, instead of forcing them to do something they don’t want to do. Getting out of the office is one way to boost engagement levels and increase the chances that everyone will enjoy themselves. Ballgame, theater event, trip to an amusement park or tour of a local attraction can invigorate work relationships and energize teams.


8. Avoid talking about work.?
Nothing can ruin a good party faster than talking shop in the middle of an event planned to give everyone a break from work. You can bring up encouraging words about the progress of a project, but avoid turning the get-together into a business meeting.




Final thoughts on office parties:?


Office parties are a great way to give employees something to look forward to and show your appreciation for their hard work. Offering a low-stress and fun environment is a great way to keep employees happy and increase motivation throughout the office.
?
There’s no reason you can’t make parties affordable, efficient, and fun for everyone. By doing some planning and research, you can continue to come up with new and exciting events that won’t cost the company too much time or resources. A little bit of fun can go a long way toward making employees happy as well as building a better and more successful company.?