If you own a business, throwing a holiday office party should be a yearly standard offering. Surprised to hear it? While it may seem like a holiday bash is a frivolous use of company money, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of ways to honor both your budget and your employees’ desire to cut loose.
Here are 10 reasons why hosting a holiday office party makes sense:
- Familiarity Is Stress-Free Fun
Off-site venues present all kinds of potential problems. Where will everyone park? Is it handicap accessible? How about family-friendly? Is it centrally located? Keeping your holiday party at the office eliminates those wild cards and gives guests a comfortable setting in which to start their after-hour festivities. - People Are More Likely to Attend
Employees who might find a strange or out-of-the-way location daunting won’t have the same hesitation about showing up for a party that’s being held in a spot in which they’re accustomed. - The Rental Fee is Really Reasonable
You’ve already paid rent (or the monthly mortgage) for your office space, so why not put it to good use? The less you pay for an off-site venue, the more money you’ll have in your party budget for important things like food and a full-service bar. - It Never Hurts to Network
Everyone is in a comfortable setting, the budget is under control, and you’ve used all the holiday office party ideas on the Internet to create a killer atmosphere. Now what? It’s the perfect opportunity for all your guests to mingle and chat, something that might be harder to do in a loud restaurant or distracting event space. - It’s a Chance to Show Off Your Brand
Your employees already know about your company’s community service efforts and they see the evidence of your graphic design team’s awesome talents every day, but their plus ones don’t. Open your home base to new faces and you’re throwing a party that doubles as a subtle promotional event (emphasis on the word subtle). - Reframing the Workspace Can Work Wonders
Few people are immune from an occasional case of the Mondays. No matter how cool your office is, working in the same cubicle with the same fluorescent light day after day can be draining. Turning those bland rooms into a stunning space draped in rich-colored fabrics, brightly decorated trees and plenty of snow-dusted garland lets them see the office in a new light—literally. - You Can Choose Your Own Caterer
Whereas off-site event spaces often have binding contracts with designated caterers or mandate that all bookings use their own on-site cooking crew, using your own office space means you’re free to select the best caterer for your needs. - You Won’t Have to Run Yourself Ragged
An off-site party means you’ll have to drive back and forth to the venue to attend planning sessions, help with setup and breakdown, supervise the third-party vendors, and so on. When your party is taking place just down the hall, you can oversee things without neglecting your other duties. - A Big Bash Will Boost Morale
Want to lift everyone’s spirits after a rough year or get them revved up for the next one? They’ll get to see their supervisors as people, not just managers; and learning more about the people you work with is always a good idea. - Your Employees Have Earned It!
Your hard-working staff is the reason your business keeps humming month after month, year after year. The least you can do—besides remembering to hand out their paycheck, of course—is treat them to a photo booth, a few cocktails and some really delicious food.
