8 tips for planning your company’s year-end party

In companies, the end of the year is usually a special time when managers plan and organise various festive celebrations to show employee appreciation. Planning a company year-end party is no easy task. You have to consider the budget, the number of participants, the party theme, etc. However, with the proper organisation, you can create lasting memories for your employees and strengthen team cohesion. Here are a few party ideas to help you host a successful year-end celebration.

Organising team building activities to celebrate the festive season

Among its many benefits, team building is particularly well known for its ability to improve employee well-being and develop skills such as communication as well as conflict resolution or problem solving.

Of course, holding a team-building event is also a great way to fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration, and uniting teams around a common goal.

When planning the activity, you need to take into account the needs and interests of the participants, as well as the objectives you want to achieve. Team-building activities should be collaborative, like sports, games or team challenges.

For the occasion, you can also take inspiration from the usual team-building activities and give them a festive twist.

Holding a potluck

A potluck is a fun event where participants bring food to share with everyone. More informal than a meal at a restaurant, it can be a very rewarding experience, especially if your employees come from different regions. Agree on a theme to make sure everyone has a good time.

Likewise, find out about everyone’s dietary requirements (for health reasons or religious beliefs, for instance). Your employees will be able to enjoy themselves and get to know each other better in an inclusive atmosphere that is conducive to conversation and sharing. Organising a potluck goes beyond the usual corporate meal and offers a real opportunity for everyone to bond around a variety of delicious dishes. Cohesion in your company will only be strengthened by this moment of sharing.

Setting up many festive moments

Sometimes the festive season doesn’t need to be celebrated with one big event. Instead, consider a series of moments when employees can break the ice in a friendly atmosphere. Plan inexpensive micro-events that will help build collaboration among staff.

Here are some ideas for fun corporate events:

• Quizzes based on a particular theme (TV series, music, historical events, etc.);
• Karaoke;
• Games, which encourage informal relationships and teamwork, as employees from all departments can team up (or compete) to win a prize.

Volunteering in the community

If you are looking for event ideas that will have a real impact on the level of cohesion among your staff, consider a charitable contribution rather than a simple office party. Volunteering not only shows that your company cares about others, but it’s also a way to increase staff commitment.

Christmas and the year-end holidays are times when the importance of helping others is felt all the more: It’s a good opportunity for the whole company to do it together. Volunteering can make a real difference. By working together to support a good cause, you can help make the festive season more meaningful for you and your team members.

There are several types of volunteering you can do, depending on what you want to accomplish. For example, you could ask your employees to help distribute food as part of a street outreach programme or Christmas gifts to underprivileged children on behalf of a charity, or to give their time to the elderly.

Alternatively, your staff could donate their creative and/or professional skills. They could help a non-profit organisation with web development, marketing or budgeting, to name but a few areas of expertise.

Another alternative is to organise a collection of material goods among employees. Whether it’s clothing, toys or even school supplies, this kind of initiative combines business with pleasure. Employees do a good deed while strengthening their team spirit. So much can be accomplished by working together.

Doing a gift exchange

The “white elephant” gift exchange is similar to the famous “Secret Santa”, with a few differences. This team-building activity is guaranteed to entertain and delight employees of all ages and backgrounds. So, how does it work?

All the gifts are gathered and then a first person is picked to choose and open one of the boxes. In the following rounds, the next player can decide to unwrap a new gift or “steal” the one that the previous person opened. This should result in a lot of laughter!

Usually with this game, gifts are supposed to be weird, funny or impractical, but this rule is not set in stone. Employees are free to do as they see fit. You can also choose a theme for these presents. For example, ask employees to bring in a box of their favourite homemade or shop-bought biscuits. This will make the gift-giving more personal and friendly.

You can also organise a Secret Santa gift exchange. It’s a good way of creating stronger bonds and relationships between the members of your team. By taking part in this activity, your employees will have the opportunity to get to know each other’s interests and preferences better and to show their gratitude through small gifts. This will contribute to a more positive working environment, where team members feel closer and valued.

Taking part in Christmas jumper day

As unstylish as they are, Christmas jumpers spark a lot of joy and laughter this time of year. So, why not bring this positive energy to work? Take the opportunity to celebrate with a day dedicated to bad taste.

To capture all the kitschy magic of these jumpers, why not rent a photobooth for the day? Equip it with fun props and strike a pose. During the event, ask your employees to choose the cheesiest and most unattractive jumper to win a prize.

Of course, not everyone will necessarily own this style of jumpers. So, on this day, encourage staff to play dress up and come to work in the most ridiculous outfit possible. As with the jumpers, the person with the worst outfit will then be awarded a prize. These out-of-the-ordinary events make it easier for people to break the ice and start a conversation with each other.

Decorating your office

Decorating your workspace during December is a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit. You can hang up Christmas lights or put up a Christmas tree and decorate it together with ornaments brought in by employees. And make sure to place other festive decorations throughout the premises.

You can also focus on celebrating the New Year and decorate the offices with sparkling elements, such as a disco ball or a countdown clock.

Celebrating the festive season with your employees’ families and children

Involving your employees’ families in the festivities can be very gratifying for everyone, especially if you’re thinking of organising a party for their children, complete with gifts or chocolates! It’s an excellent way of strengthening company cohesion on this occasion.

When planning your year-end party, don’t forget to take stock of the past year, and in particular the traditional end-of-year peak. It’s an opportunity to celebrate successes and recognise everyone’s efforts. It’s also a time to reinforce the feeling of belonging to the company and to motivate your teams for the year ahead.