Ahh, the holidays are here again!
\nA time to be merry and to share special time with family.\u00a0 While this time of year is one of joy and
\nfestivity, for employers it is also fraught with risk.\u00a0 This is because even the very best of intentions
\nfor celebrating the holiday season at work can alienate, frustrate and \u2013 to be
\nhonest \u2013 inebriate your employees.<\/p>\n
\n
There are a multitude of stories out there regarding office holiday
\nparties that have gone off the rails.
\nBut that doesn\u2019t mean you should avoid or even scale back a good
\ncelebration.\u00a0 You just need to be careful
\nabout it.<\/p>\n
\n
In an effort to help you avoid common holiday mishaps, here are some
\ntips to help you plan how to celebrate the season with your employees.<\/p>\n
\n
Planning Your Party \u2013 <\/b>Large
\nformal evening events with spouses in tow have long been the standard for many
\ncorporate holiday parties.\u00a0 But these
\ngatherings also can be met with dread (especially when alcohol is involved).\u00a0 Instead, consider a smaller, more personal
\nevent that facilitates more meaningful communication and celebration. This fits
\nnicely within a limited budget as well.
\nConsider giving employees a chance to suggest what format would be most
\nmeaningful to them, such as day versus evening events, with or without family. \u00a0We love a party with skits and games that
\nprovide opportunities for employees to play and break the ice in a safe and
\ncomfortable setting.\u00a0 We\u2019ve had good
\nsuccess with games such as the White Elephant gift exchange, office talent
\nshows, office treasure hunts and holiday pot-luck meals. Volunteer days and an
\nevent in the owner or a manager\u2019s home can be nice, as well.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Booze \u2013 <\/b>Yikes.\u00a0 Let\u2019s face it, it\u2019s never a good thing for
\nsomeone to be drunk at a work party.\u00a0 Not
\nonly can it create embarrassment, it can lead to much more serious employee
\nencounters which, believe us, can create a mess that you don\u2019t want to have to
\ndeal with.\u00a0 Some companies have an
\nestablished culture that includes an open bar at the annual holiday event.\u00a0 Others are moving away from alcohol to avoid
\nembarrassing incidents or to support those who do not imbibe.\u00a0\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking to move beyond the bottle,
\none way to do it is to have a holiday lunch party instead of an evening
\nevent.\u00a0 \u00a0And if an evening affair is held, have the bar
\nopen only for a specific period of time (say 5:00 to 7:00 pm). \u00a0And if you choose to have alcohol at your
\nparty, a word of advice:\u00a0 be the role
\nmodel and don\u2019t over-indulge.<\/p>\n
\n
Family<\/b> –<\/b> The holidays, no matter how you celebrate, are a family
\ntime.\u00a0 But the definition of what
\nconstitutes a family is very broad.\u00a0 For
\nsome, their most important relationship could be with a friend or a distant
\nrelative.\u00a0 As you gather to show your
\nappreciation of your employees\u2019 hard work and their contribution to your
\ncollective success, we would suggest being as flexible as possible in your
\ndefinition of who they may be permitted to bring as their guest.<\/p>\n
\n
Different Celebrations \u2013<\/b> As
\nour nation and workforce become increasingly diverse, it is important to
\nremember that not everyone celebrates the same holidays or in the same way. \u00a0Ask your employees what holidays they
\ncelebrate and consider how those can be incorporated into the company\u2019s
\nfestivities.\u00a0 Consider celebrating your
\nstaff\u2019s religious diversity by asking employees to share an aspect of their
\nfaith or culture (food, decoration, tradition, etc.) that is part of their
\nholiday celebration.\u00a0 Doing so can create
\na meaningful exchange both enriching and fun for the whole team.<\/p>\n
\n