Workplace holiday festivities and parties can be tough to tackle, given the inherent stresses of the season. Between shopping for gifts, attending various celebrations and making time for visiting relatives, this season can burden schedules and budgets. If you wish to celebrate with your staff, there are steps you can take to make the festivities available to everyone.
Party Etiquette 
Because a workplace holiday party is a company event, etiquette is an absolute must in order to avoid offending anyone. A few simple rules of thumb are:
- Plan a holiday party—as opposed to a Christmas party—since people celebrate different holidays around this time.
- Clearly explain the dress code for the party.
- Limit drinking (beer and wine only, a limited number of drink tickets and so forth) so there are no sloppy, drunken occurrences.
Additionally, don’t place an extra burden on your staff. The event should be free or cost a very minimal amount so no one is excluded because of budget.
Use Company Time
This is one of the busiest times of year and some people simply cannot give up their weekends, or even week nights, to attend a company party. To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to attend, plan your celebration during work hours. Consider hosting a nice lunch out or reserve the last two hours of a day for the party. If you are opposed to using company time, consider hosting the party in October or January to avoid cluttering your staff’s schedules during the already busy holiday season.
Break the Ice
Some people are comfortable spending time with just their work buddies, but the goal of a workplace holiday celebration should be to encourage more mingling. After all, the party can double as a team-building event. Try breaking the ice with entertainment—perhaps a local band or a game. One of the most popular ice breakers/holiday games is a gift exchange. However, be sure to set a modest budget so more people are able to participate without breaking the bank.
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