Holiday office parties can be maligned and/or dreaded for a
multitude of perfectly understandable reasons. Sometimes the camaraderie is
forced and employees resent the "gift" of socializing with people
they wouldn’t want to otherwise. Sometimes the party’s so cheap it makes people
feel unappreciated (I remember one workplace where we were "rewarded"
for our efforts with an employee potluck from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the
lunchroom). And sometimes the big blowout comes off as tacky or soulless,
especially when it involves party goers who have a lot to say, a lot to drink,
and not much to eat.
Not all office holiday parties, however, are recipes for social
disaster; in fact, many workers have happy memories of holiday parties, and not
just the ones with the biggest budget or the longest mashed potato bar. Here are some creative ideas to help
your next office party sparkle—and create real holiday warm and fuzzies among
your colleagues:
1. ACTUALLY GIVE BACK
The alumni relations department at the University of Chicago
throws lavish annual Christmas bashes, but interactive content editor Joy
Olivia Miller’s favorite party took place at a different sort of venue: Her
team went to the Ronald McDonald house and cooked together. "We spent
the afternoon chatting and laughing while we made a huge pot of gumbo and sugar
cookies for the families staying there," Miller recalled. "We brought
some drinks and holiday tunes and kept it casual."
To Miller, actually helping meant more than just paying lip
service to charity by asking employees to toss an old winter coat into a bin on
the way into an opulent fete. "I think that one remains so special because
it wasn't a huge to-do at a noisy place: It felt more like giving back because
we actually gave our time, too."
2. GO FOR THE BIG TENT APPROACH
Emily Graslie, chief
curiosity correspondent at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History, is a fan
of the way the museum's holiday parties involve everyone, from staff to interns
to volunteers. Plus, she says, "parties with research and collections
scientists are a blast because it's a jovial time to share stories of
expeditions and discoveries. The amount of history and knowledge contained in a
party like that is a great reminder for why we work here in the first place.
While I love the science, it's really about my colleagues, those people who
pursued obscure passions into novel careers."
"You know what everyone really wants for a holiday party? A day off! Give me $20; I'll get my own dinner and go home and spend it with my family."
Your partner in health,
Certified Health Coach
Wellness Consultant
WELCOA Faculty
Nominated Top 100 Health Promotion Professional
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