An office party is a fun method to show appreciation to employees and build rapport among them. Employees can unwind, get to know one another, and bond through a variety of staff party ideas. We’ll talk about the positive effects of workplace parties on productivity and morale and provide some fun ideas for your next staff get-together. Then, we’ll take a look at the annual holiday party and provide some fantastic, low-cost party ideas for the workforce.
What is an office party?
A work party is a get-together of coworkers, either inside or outside of the office, for the express purpose of having a good time. Worker morale can be boosted significantly by throwing an office party where everyone can socialize outside of business hours. It’s a terrific approach to foster a healthy work environment to host regular office parties where employees can mingle and get to know one another. Company unity is strengthened when bosses and workers mingle at the office party.
10 Party Ideas for the Office
There are lots of ideas for staff parties. Here are ten of the best:
1. Scavenger hunt
During the summer, this would be a great thing to do. Think of some landmarks near your office and put people on different teams based on where they are. Then, they get a list of the landmarks they need to find, and they can take selfies to prove they found the object. Keep it close by so that people can find the things quickly and move on to the next.
2. Axe throwing
This is a great idea for a staff party because it will get people out of the office and give them a chance to let off some steam. In recent years, this kind of party has become more popular, and if you plan it with the company, you can make sure everyone has a good time and stays safe.
3. DIY photo booth
This is another idea for an office party that you could do at work. Basically, you need a fun background, some props, and someone who can act as the photographer. Or, if you have a green screen and some tech-savvy employees, let people play around with the computers however they want.
4. Brewery tour
This kind of office party might be a little pricey, but if you can afford it, it would be worth it. With all the craft breweries opening up, it could be fun to get together at one, learn a little bit about how beer is made, and eat some food that the brewery usually provides. This kind of trip is sure to be a hit, and everyone will have a great time.
5. Potluck
If you want a cheap idea for a staff party, you don’t have to look any further. Encourage people to bring a meal to work, and set up a time when everyone can get together to try the different foods. If you’re really organized, give each person a category to fill out so you don’t get too many of the same foods.
6. Unconventional holiday party
If you look on Google, you can find out that almost every day of the year has a holiday or special event. Pick one and have a party at work to honor it.
7. Office awards night
Another fun idea for a staff party is to have a way to honor both individual and team achievements. People can be recognized for their hard work and get to know each other at the same time.
8. Pub quiz night
A great way to celebrate is to have a night when workers can get together at a pub and play a little friendly competition. Depending on your budget, this could be a real office party where the company pays for everything, or it could just be a regular Friday night get-together. Encourage people from different teams to work together to bring people from different departments closer together.
9. Game night
Depending on how big your office is, you could easily do this at work, making it a cheap idea for a staff party. Ask around the office to see if anyone has board games they can bring in. Buy some snacks and drinks, and you’ve got yourself a game night.
10. Paint night
This idea for a staff party can be a simple way for people to have fun and get out of the office. There are a lot of places to choose from, or if you have an artist on staff, they might be able to lead the group. Art is a great way to unwind and relax, and you and your staff can both benefit from it.
Ideas for Work Holiday Parties
Try to think of creative ideas for work holiday parties so that they aren’t the same every year. Here are some unique ideas for a staff party:
- Party with a theme from a certain decade: Have your staff help you decide which decade you want to celebrate and make that the theme of your party. For example, if the theme is the 1970s, you could decorate with disco balls and ask people to dress like they did back then.
- Party with a gift exchange: Instead of a fancy party in the evening, try a simple gift exchange. Make sure everyone buys a gift for someone else, and then open gifts, eat cookies, and drink hot chocolate while having fun.
- DIY decorating party: Get everyone in the office together to help decorate. This is a great way to celebrate a little bit before the holidays start, so you have one less thing to do when things get busy. During the holidays, employees may like having less to do, and it can be fun to decorate the office for the season.
- Karaoke: This can be done in the office or at a bar, but the main goal is to have fun singing and acting silly. If you give the staff enough notice, you could also turn this into a “Karaoke-off” where the staff compete for prizes.
- Tropical beach party: By the time the holidays come around, everyone is already thinking about their beach vacation, so bring the beach to the office. Have a contest for the “Best Hawaiian Shirt” or have a dance teacher show you how to do the Hula.
- Help out at a homeless shelter in your area. Ask a local shelter if your staff can come one night to serve a meal to the guests. Or raise money for a good cause in your area. It can be a great way to bring your staff together and do something good for the community.
The Annual Office Holiday Bash
The company holiday party is a tradition that will likely continue every year, no matter what else your team does during the year. The end-of-the-year office Christmas party is a wonderful opportunity to thank employees for their efforts throughout the year. A few factors should be kept in mind to ensure that the Christmas celebration is memorable for all employees:
One size does not fit all when it comes to holiday observances: Make the company Christmas event accessible to as many people as feasible. For holidays like Christmas, for which not everyone in the office may share a religious observance, it’s important to plan events that everyone can enjoy.
Reserve your location well in advance: Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to prepare if you want to have the office party somewhere else than the office. In order to avoid the stress of last-minute hotel bookings, it’s best to start making holiday plans as early as possible.
When employees are able to introduce their partners to their coworkers, it strengthens the bonds between them. Make this year’s office Christmas party one to remember by giving staff members the freedom to let loose and enjoy themselves.
It’s not necessary to go to great lengths to have a good time. Look for some suggestions for a cheap office Christmas party that won’t leave anyone out of pocket but will still be a lot of fun.
Advice on Throwing a Memorable Work Party
There is no need to go to great lengths or spend a lot of money to host a successful office party. To guarantee the success of your office party, keep the following in mind:
In order to avoid confusion after the party has begun, it is important to arrange everything in advance, from the cost estimate to the decorations. Allowing employees to pitch in as party planners can ensure a successful event that everyone enjoys.
Recognize the financial constraints you face. The planning of the office party will go more smoothly if you know in advance how much money you can allocate to it. If you plan on throwing more than one workplace party every year, make sure you stick to a consistent budget for each event.
Get the word out and have everyone come. The goal of throwing an office party is to facilitate communication and bonding amongst various divisions within the company. Everyone’s participation is key to making the celebration a hit.
Offer rewards or hold a contest to encourage attendance. Employees are more likely to show up if they have a chance to win anything or if they can compete with their coworkers. To increase attendance, offer folks the chance to win something they’d enjoy doing anyhow.
You should try to keep conversations away from the office. Get everyone to take a break from their work and get to know each other.
Be familiar with HR guidelines, and check that the office party doesn’t devolve into anything that would be frowned upon in the workplace. You want everyone involved to have a good time, but you also need them to keep in mind that this is still a business event and adhere to all applicable policies.
The Good That Comes from Having a Work Party
The benefits to a company’s productivity much outweigh the costs associated with throwing office parties. Among the advantages are:
The relationships within a team can be strengthened by throwing a party where everyone can mingle and get to know each other on a more personal level.
In addition to boosting morale, this also has the added benefit of increasing productivity, as it is common knowledge that happy workers produce more. Having breaks when employees may chat with one another has been shown to improve morale, which in turn enhances output.
The most obvious benefit of throwing a company party is the chance it gives employees to meet and get to know one another outside of their usual circles of acquaintance. Increased cooperation and coordination throughout departments is the result.
Workers have a better chance of staying with the company for the long haul since they feel valued. To show your appreciation for your coworkers, throwing a party in the office is a terrific idea.
Conclusion
Remember that spending meaningful time with others is the best present you can give anyone. If you try to create a warm and friendly atmosphere at your office party, you can make sure that it will be one that people will remember fondly.