It’s the time of year when Janice, from accounting, gets geared up to plan the holiday party.  Having staff plan your perfect celebration is not a bad thing, but be mindful of setting boundaries, and we have some helpful tips.

• Ask for Volunteers
  We all have a Grinch in our midst, and forcing him/her to be part of the planning committee is not going to end well.  Willing staff members are more likely to give of their time and talent, if they get to choose to take part. Penny may be jazzed about organizing the food for the pot luck, Denise may love to do the décor, and William may be the connoisseur for the wine.  Whatever type of celebration you are planning, it is best to let people choose how they will be involved.
  
• Limit the Libations
  A festive drink at the holiday party is a common occurrence, and can be an excellent conduit for socializing with your work friends.  If alcohol is served, heed a few pieces of our advice:
  • Get an Alcohol Permit – depending on your venue, you may or may not need one, but it won’t hurt to check with your local Alcohol and Gaming Commission.
  • Use drink tickets – Upon arrival give each guest a set number of drink tickets.  Although some guests may not use them, it is best to limit the intake so no one has too much, and ends up dancing on a table.
  • Provide Transportation – Arrange or an Uber ride, pre-pay for taxi service or rent a bus, and be sure that everyone is home safely.
    
• Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,….Oh My!
  For your holiday gathering, be mindful of the many multicultural celebrations in December.  Some of your colleagues may be celebrating other things during this season, and asking how it would be best to include them can lead to a more inclusive event, and a larger celebration.  Your potluck could be the talk of the town if you invite some new dishes to your table. Imagine your feast including Bibingka (a baked rice dish from the Philippines), an Allahabadi cake (a traditional Indian rum cake), and Bolo-Rei de chocolate (a chocolate pastry from Portugal).

We would love to chat with you about our other winter event ideas, contact us and let’s chat!