Celebrating at the Office

As the days of the year grow short on the calendar and thoughts turn to sugarplums and a certain man who wears the red suit and commutes by sled, ‘tis once again the season for office parties, gift exchanges, and corporate social responsibility. Holiday traditions have created wonderful memories for all of us. Year after year we look forward to familiar events, food, and festivities that make the season what it is. It’s a time when people come together to share experiences and have a little fun. These experiences need not be limited to your family and personal life — they can be enjoyed in your workplace as well. Many companies do have holiday events and traditions, but not all of them recognize the value and importance they carry for their employees.

So, why not start a few traditions in your office? While the final months of the year may be the busiest, they are also a great opportunity to boost your company’s culture. Outside of the traditional holiday party, there are many ways to spread positive energy throughout your office.

While many employees dread an obligatory appearance at an office holiday party that is more ritualistic than celebratory, some businesses have managed to create meaningful corporate hallmarks of the holiday season. The effort invested in creating an experience that is actually rewarding, fun, and meaningful for employees during the holidays can strengthen the culture of the workplace.

Sharing traditions is an effective team building strategy that helps employees get to know each other beyond their respective job roles. Forming a tradition for your workplace may take a few holiday seasons, but the six suggestions below are a great way to get started this year.

1. Have an employee potluck event.
   • Food is a great way to share cultures and family traditions with others. The meals we ate during the holidays while growing up stick with us well into adulthood and eventually become our personal comfort foods. Employees can make a favorite dish from their childhood and share it with their co-workers. Throwing a potluck is an inexpensive way to expand the traditional fare everyone enjoys and bring numerous holiday traditions together at the same table.
2. Hold a Christmas tree decorating contest.
   • It could be fun for employees to decorate small desktop trees where everyone goes crazy with a theme. Or employees can create an ornament to decorate the office tree.
3. Create a contest to raise funds for a charity.
   • The employees can split into teams and the one with the most creative way to raise the funds wins the contest. The prize could be permission to leave early the day before the holiday break.
4. Have an Ugly Sweater Day contest.
   • Arguably the least fashionable but most fun holiday tradition is the ugly sweater. Turn your casual Friday into a fun competition to see who can find the most outlandishly festive sweater. Let everyone vote on the winner even if they don’t have an ugly sweater so all employees can participate. It’s an entertaining way to relieve the stress that can come with the holidays.
5. Have a desk decorating contest.
   • Let employees show off their holiday spirit by decorating their desks. Employees can come up with any theme they like and the whole office can cast votes for the winner. The lucky winner can receive $100 to donate to the charity of his or her choice. That way everyone wins.
6. Give back as a company.
   • The holiday season is filled with gifts, and giving back truly provides more fulfillment than receiving. The company might sponsor a team building experience such as completing a project for a school or senior facility. Employees can create and serve a holiday meal for the homeless or at a shelter. They could make a donation to an animal shelter. They might participate in a Toy Drive for the needy.

Any of these activities would give employees great memories each year. These experiences would also have a positive effect on the way they feel about their work, their co-workers, and the company culture, and would show them that the company values them.

After the holidays, ask your employees how they enjoyed the special events and what they would like to change or add for the next year. They might come up with some really great ideas!

Eleanor Togneri is the owner of Business ExSellence, Consulting Services and Employee Training. She has over 35 years experience in the business world. In addition to the WIN group she manages a group for business men and women called BEN that has a network lunch each month at Woodside Plantation Country Club. She offers Lunch and Learn sessions on soft skills eight times a year in Aiken as well as custom classes for area businesses.