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On Top of Real Recognition: Top 10 Ideas for Saving the Holiday Party
November 23, 2009
By Roy Saunderson
With high unemployment and a slow-moving economy, the word "party" inevitably raises a red flag. Even so, creating end-of-year holiday cheer is essential for every workplace, but how do you make cheer when corporate cutbacks are reducing employee events? Here are 10 ways.
1. Switch it up with biennial celebrations. Many organizations are trying to keep traditions alive and at the same time conserve costs. One way to accomplish this is alternating an end-of-year party and a barbeque or picnic in the summer.
2. Let employees share in the cost. Your organization can make the most of a challenging situation by sharing the event's expenses with employees. Cover the cost for your employees' party expenses, but ask them to purchase event tickets for spouses, partners, and dates that cover their costs.
3. Keep it simple. Eliminate fancy decorations, table ornaments, and displays in order to focus on the most important aspect of these events—building relationships.
4. Align with community partners. Offer to trade services with a local club or community center by cleaning up its property and improving the appearance of its facilities in order to use them for the employee event.
5. Extend a hand and serve. Choose a charitable organization, such as a shelter or other social center, and provide a holiday meal for those less fortunate. Gather employees at the close to share dessert and celebrate with a good feeling beyond just the season.
6. Potluck a meal. Nothing beats a potluck dinner with assigned menu needs such as appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Each person will bring out his or her best dish, and the wide array of foods will create a warm atmosphere. Make sure to encourage members to bring recipes along, as people always ask for them.
7. Spread the celebration. Rather than having the entire company hold one holiday party, allow various departments to host their own events with budgets at more nominal amounts per employee.
8. Dress up and share treats. If the big dinner party is out of the question, designate a day to invite staff to dress up during work hours. Have the company provide the refreshments and ask employees to bring in some of their favorite holiday treats.
9. Who's got talent? For a cost-saving party that everyone will love and remember, rent a karokee machine or a stand-up microphone. The employees will have a blast going solo or teaming up on songs or inventing comedy. Make it an event of genuine fun and holiday storytelling that will last throughout the season and beyond!
10. Raise a toast. Promote the reason for the season by having the company and employees donate to a charitable cause. Have the company match, dollar for dollar, employee contributions so that everyone can benefit from the taxable donation. Everyone can then raise a toast in celebration of the organization’s ability and good fortune to help others.
Incentive online columnist Roy Saunderson is author of Giving the Real Recognition Way and president of the Recognition Management Institute, http://www.realrecognition.com, which consults companies on improving employee motivation that leads to increased productivity and profits. He can be reached at roysaunderson@realrecognition.com.
— Nielsen Business Media
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