How Office Holiday Celebrations Can Encourage Employee Engagement

Today is Halloween; a fun and exciting holiday for people of all ages thanks to the endless supply of candy, fun costumes, month-long scary movie specials on TV and more.

Should your company choose to participate in some office festivities, it can be a special time to bond with coworkers, boost morale and even incorporate an element of family by inviting children and partners to attend, as well. Including safe and inclusive holiday celebrations to your corporate culture will add to the overall office vibe and leave employees feeling further motivated, which contributes to overall employee morale.

With younger generations like the Millennials and Gen-Z taking over the majority of today’s workforce, it’s important to keep in mind that many current employees and prospective talent are searching for companies that encourage the “work hard, play hard” mentality and allow for employees to maintain a work/life balance. 

In-office holiday celebrations are a great way for employees to come together and take a break from the hustle and bustle—bringing life to work. In addition to the annual end-of-year holiday celebration, adding year-round festivities, planning casual office gatherings or hosting volunteer-based charity initiatives allow employees some recreational time to connect with co-workers. These small company efforts can help transform a corporate culture and strengthen your loyal employee base, thus increasing the overall attitude and employee experience within your organization. 

Corporate Holiday Celebrations

When it comes to holiday celebrations, there are many options for fun activities that can be easily incorporated into the workday. In the spirit of today’s Halloween celebration, Rymax will be hosting our annual Halloween Costume contest complete with point-based prizes, followed by a party for employees to attend with their children and families. The office festivities include a photobooth where co-workers can take snapshots and print pictures together to hang in their office spaces, a pumpkin decorating contest, kid-based activity stations and a time for employees to gather around company-sponsored food and drinks.

Best Practices

From a business perspective, hosting the holidays at the office doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. Decorations can be purchased and then stored away for reuse year after year. Small parties only require snacks and beverages, or you can even take the potluck approach and have employees bring in some of their favorite dishes and treats to share. 

Of course, no matter what type of gathering you’re planning, there are some best practices to keep in mind for celebrating corporate style. Always be mindful and respectful of employees’ beliefs, keep things non-denominational and inclusive and always maintain a level of professionalism. If you’re hosting contests, make sure there are rules for participating, and always make celebrations voluntary so employees do not feel pressured to participate. 

Consider Holiday Volunteering

Beyond the idea of holiday parties and decorations, some companies may also decide to take part in philanthropic initiatives during the holidays. For next Halloween, consider taking a few hours away from the office to visit a local Children’s hospital and dress up in costumes to help encourage children who may not be able to get out and trick-or-treat the traditional way. Host a coat drive by encouraging staff to donate cold weather gear to local families in need or consider implementing a “Giving Tree” into your end-of-year plans where employees can voluntarily purchase gifts for organizations such as Toys for Tots.

With Thanksgiving coming up, maybe consider organizing a visit to a food bank where employees can sign up to spend time serving others less fortunate. Incorporating volunteer initiatives within the workforce will leave employees feeling empowered with a positive sense of purpose having been a part of something bigger than their usual day-to-day. 

Holidays and celebrations do not only need to be celebrated at home. Companies can take an active role in bringing this feeling and attitude into the workplace.  A professional or corporate holiday gathering or volunteer initiative can help empower team members, encourage camaraderie, and improve overall engagement.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, we encourage our clients and partners to think about what you could incorporate into your employee engagement program to make the office a little extra fun, philanthropic and festive for all. Contact Rymax to learn more.