There are many ways in which companies can celebrate year end holidays, and the extent depends solely on the budget. If we take a medium-sized firm that cannot afford to throw a Mariot-style ballroom dancing event, the options are still out there as long as you’re willing to be creative.
Food
Good food is always a must, whether it’s take out from a local fast food restaurant or going to a restaurant (the more popular choice, once again depending on the budget). Good take out places are El Pollo Loco, Rubios/Baja Fresh and Chinese like Panda. Hiring a chef to do sushi is never a good idea, unless you have the money to do it right. It would always be cheaper to go out than hire someone to make good sushi. And no one wants to eat boring California Rolls. All of these places do catering, and they send their own people over to do set up and hand out food.
When firms take their employees to restaurants, they need to be cautious of their food choice. Taking a diverse group of people to an all seafood place like Todai, is risky, just like all Indian or all Thai, because it doesn’t accommodate a variety of tastes and health limitations. Some Indian places might be too spicy and Thai places often include peanuts (God forbid one of your employees is allergic!) I would say Italian, and BBQ places are a safe bet, since they offer variety for both carnivores and vegetarians. A better choice might be to go to a buffet, since it’s hard to complain about the selection in an all you can eat place.
Decorations
Once you have good food, decorations are a must, to create a festive environment. Simple things like balloons and ribbons can really make a difference. If the party is at an office, sometimes alcoholic drinks are offered and employees always appreciate it and enjoy the party more. Don’t be like Michael Scott (from The Office show) and buy 7 vodka bottles for 12 people. But an open bar can definitely lift the mood, especially if you have someone mixing cocktails. This is only a good idea if you know your employees won’t get so hammered so they cannot drive home.
One piece of decorations that is often left out is a fondue fountain, and it is cheaper than you would imagine. A small one can cost $40 in Target and would be perfect for a small office. You would also need a couple bags of chocolate and a fruit basket. Not only is a fruit basket helpful for those trying to watch their diet (and they will really appreciate it!) but it can serve as a beautiful center piece and help make the party look fancier. Lastly, you need long thin wooden sticks to put the fruit on before you dip it into chocolate. They can be pre-made (with fruit already attached in different patterns) or have people make their own. Also, don’t forget marshmallows, as they are essential to include in any fondue party.
Make-your-own sundae is a good addition to any desert table, and the level of enjoyment will depend on the variety of toppings. The more fruits, nuts, and candy you provide the more fun this will be.
Games
We all know of the Secret Santa and Yankee Swap games that most offices play, and they seem to work, as everyone ends up with a gift. However, there are many other games that can be played at Christmas parties that require a little more creativity and effort.
The boss can create a Jeopardy-style game using Power Point with questions about the company, or general trivia. Points and prices are a great way to encourage participation. To make it even easier, you can buy a Jeopardy game and play it on a computer with a large enough screen. Conference room might work well here, as they tent to have a projector. The same can be done with Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution if someone has those things at home. It might be costly to have to buy all the accessories that these games require. Both of those games now come for PC and it would be a great way for employees to come together, especially in a younger office.
For an older office, a potluck might be a good idea, especially if everyone brings an ethnic or their favorite dish. Each person can also bring a dish that starts with a particular letter of the alphabet, and this way you will get random food selection that you may not have tried before. The key here is to bring something for every letter, or it defies the purpose.
Charades is always a fun game (where you imitate a word with gestures and the teams have to guess the word), and so it Pictionary. You can also get SceneIt (another computer game that tests trivia knowledge of films- current and older ones).
You can also have games where people guess facts about each other. The host reads out a statement and people guess whom that statement refers to. With this, one must be careful with the information disclosed, as well as being respectful to that information. You do not want to alienate a coworker by something you accidentally blurt.
The key to a good party is open-minded planners, as well as energetic participants, good food, and a festive atmosphere. With a bad attitude any food will suck and any game will be lame. Hence, it takes a good team of people for everything to come together.
Every year companies host Christmas parties that are identical to the year before, same food, same games, and same people. Here are some ideas that might make your next party more enjoyable and memorable.
