The purpose of office parties

A company party is a company-sponsored social event for a team, department or company. Parties provide opportunities for employees to have fun, unwind and get to know each other on a personal level. Office parties can also serve other purposes or celebrate a specific event. Some common reasons to hold a party at the office include:

• End-of-year holidays

• Project milestones

• Work anniversaries

• Employee birthdays

• Team-building

• Meeting new team members

Office parties can be held any time of year to boost employee morale and show your appreciation. You don’t need a specific reason to throw a company party. 

How does an office celebration benefit the company?

Office parties are more than a chance to relax. Celebrating with colleagues can have real business benefits. The positive effects your employees feel can translate into benefits for you. Some reasons to organize work parties include:

• Strengthening team bonds. The laid-back party environment encourages colleagues to chat about something other than work. This helps them get to know one another, connect and build trust. Stronger relationships with colleagues can improve how your team communicates and works together. 

• Increasing employee morale. Office parties offer employees a chance to relax and unwind, which can boost productivity when it’s time to go back to work. Celebrations can also help employees feel valued, which can improve morale.

• Providing networking opportunities. Casual mingling can spark new friendships and professional collaborations. Employees also have the chance to build rapport with the management team away from the pressures of work. 

• Making employees feel appreciated. Employees who are recognized and celebrated for their achievements often feel a sense of loyalty to their employer, which can reduce employee turnover.

• Improving the company culture. Celebrating, recognizing employees and allowing for downtime can create a positive work culture for your team. It could also attract more applicants if word gets out that you foster a positive company culture.

How to plan a company party

With some creativity, you can plan office parties that are fun, on budget and aligned with company values. The following tips can help you generate office celebration ideas and organize them into a party your team wants to attend. 

1. Start planning early

Advanced planning is essential for office parties. With a date on the calendar, employees can schedule meetings and business trips around the event. Plus, it gives the party committee more time to secure food, venues and supplies.

Consider inviting your most influential and sociable employees to join the party committee. If they’re excited about the event, they’ll naturally spread enthusiasm throughout the company.

2. Review your HR policies

Before a party, look up the company’s HR policies regarding alcohol and social events. Send out a reminder about proper office party etiquette, making sure to include things like avoiding excessive drinking or extra guests. Following established policies can help you avoid HR issues or complaints from employees. 

3. Identify the purpose

Employee party ideas don’t need a major purpose, but knowing why you’re celebrating can help with the planning process. Decide what you want to recognize or accomplish with the event. If you’re celebrating work anniversaries, you might center the company part around honoring recipients and sharing their accomplishments over the years. 

4. Choose the venue

Work parties often take place at the office out of convenience and affordability. Consider where you have the space to accommodate all the guests and party activities. 

If you have the budget for it, an off-site party is an option. A change of scenery can boost enthusiasm and give employees an exciting break from the usual routine. Options to consider include restaurants, ball games, theater performances and amusement parks. These casual events offer built-in entertainment and can help invigorate work relationships and energize teams.

5. Schedule the work party

Now that you know where you’re holding the party, you can get it on the calendar. If you’re hosting the venue off-site, work with the staff there to see when they have availability. Whenever possible, schedule office celebrations during work hours. That way, you’re not asking employees to take time away from their busy personal lives. 

There are a few exceptions; formal events, company picnics and end-of-year parties typically happen in the evening or on weekends. For these events, encourage employees to invite loved ones to join the fun so they can include people who are important to them. 

6. Choose an office party theme

Break the ice by planning themed office parties. The trick? Choose themes that encourage participation. Classic examples are the ugly sweater holiday party or the ‘80s costume party.

Fun or whimsical themes instantly create a lighthearted mood. Having something to talk about right away can alleviate any awkwardness, take the focus off work and can make socializing easier.

Try these office party themes:

• Throwback (e.g., ‘60s, ‘70s or ‘90s)

• Medieval

• Outer space

• Black tie

• Winter wonderland

• Movie night

7. Add a game or activity

Games and activities can help employees relax and enjoy themselves. Be sure that games are fun, low pressure and accessible for everyone, regardless of age or physical abilities.

For a party with a professional vibe, try a traditional icebreaker option or team-building activity. The activities are still fun, but they also offer work-related benefits. To add an element of fun, look to party classics like photo booths and scavenger hunts.

Other ways to energize an office party include:

• Modifying popular games such as Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy

• Hosting an award show that showcases employee achievements

• Breaking employees into teams for a trivia competition

• Holding a company-wide karaoke party

Any time a party game or activity includes teams, use employees from different departments and levels. Mixed teams create opportunities to meet new people.

8. Throw in a prize or two

There’s nothing like a prize to build excitement for a work party. Prizes don’t need to be elaborate—gift cards for restaurants or online stores can also be good options. You could also consider offering a bonus day off or company swag.

Related: Employee Incentive Programs: 28 Examples for Your Business

9. Serve food

A vegetable tray and sandwich platter are fine, but for a truly fun work party, take your menu planning a step further. Hire a popular restaurant to cater or order takeout for lunch. If the budget is tight, host a potluck so employees can show off their cooking skills. Consider any food allergies or dietary restrictions your employees might have, and offer alternatives for those with dietary needs.

7 employee party ideas for your next in-person celebration

Getting a little creative helps shake things up and gets your team excited about office parties. Check out these ideas for company parties to spark your imagination.

1. Morning coffee and breakfast

When you’re on a budget, swap your morning meeting for an affordable breakfast party. Pick up coffee and juice from a local restaurant, and set out a spread of fresh fruit, pastries and breakfast sandwiches. You can also hire a local coffee shop to set up in the lobby and craft custom drinks for your team as they arrive.

2. Food truck rally

Celebrate the end of a long winter (or hot summer) with an outdoor party. Hire a few food trucks, bring in live music and enjoy the warm weather. You can host the event as a long lunch during the week or a family-friendly blowout on the weekend.

3. Classic (or unconventional) holiday party

A staple at many companies, annual office holiday parties are a great way to boost morale and show appreciation for your employees. From costume parties at Halloween to gift swaps in the winter, there’s an option for every season. To give your team an unexpected treat, try these uncommon holiday party ideas for work:

• Pi Day: March 14th

• Earth Day: April 22nd

• National Doughnut Day: first Friday of June

• International Talk Like a Pirate Day: September 19th

4. Office awards ceremony

An awards ceremony allows you to recognize each employee individually. Make the evening festive with a formal dress code, and ask everyone to bring a guest. Then, hand out employee awards for skills, accomplishments or superlatives, such as “most creative” or “best cubicle decorations.”

5. Afternoon movie

Shut down the office for the afternoon, and rent a local movie theater for a private showing of the latest blockbuster. Put the snacks and drinks on the company credit card, and enjoy a relaxing few hours away from work. For a more affordable option, project a movie onto the wall in a conference room or rent an inflatable movie screen and set it up outdoors.

6. Summer barbecue

Spend a relaxing afternoon grilling and enjoying the sunshine with a summer barbecue. Hold it in the middle of the week or any time the weather is nice. This type of party is an ideal impromptu celebration — just pick up a grill and a load of groceries.

7. Name that character

Get your employees in a celebratory mood by asking employees to come dressed as their favorite TV, movie or book character. For extra motivation, give out prizes for the best costume, most creative costume and hardest to guess costume.

Ideas for virtual office party celebrations

If you work with a remote team, virtual work parties get everyone involved. Try these remote work parties ideas: 

• Virtual tastings. From tea to wine to cheese, virtual tasting events can be a creative virtual celebration. Send tasting items to employees in advance, and bring in an expert to lead the session.

• Online crafting party. Mail craft supplies to your employees to assemble together on camera. During the holidays, DIY gingerbread houses or tree ornaments inspire conversation and friendly competition.

• Virtual scavenger hunt. In this fast-paced virtual game, party-goers must find specific items and present them on camera.

FAQs about work parties

How do you throw a virtual work party?

Virtual office parties often work well at the end of the week—you could plan one on a Friday afternoon, for example. Make sure to let your team members know in advance if they need to prepare anything, such as a cocktail or a snack. If you’re planning to mail out treats for the party, allow extra time to account for shipping delays.

Should employees be required to go to work parties?

Consider making attendance at company parties optional. Encourage your workers to come, but allow them to come and go as they please. Make sure employees know it’s okay to leave work behind for a little while. Some might feel as if they should work instead of attending a party.

How can you increase participation in a party at the office? 

When the food is good and the activities are compelling, you shouldn’t have trouble getting employees to attend. Asking for input from your team can generate more excitement. Make sure you promote the party well so employees know about it and can fit it into their schedules.