6. Decide on Alcohol Consumption Levels and Limits
For years now, organizations have been limiting the alcohol at holiday parties for a variety of reasons This cap is one of the easier ways to control the budget, and it limits distraction from the message of the event.
Still, most employees don't want to attend a company party that doesn't feature some form of alcoholic beverage. For this reason, you want to narrow your booze selection or even create cheap signature cocktails to reduce costs and keep intoxication levels down.
You might also consider limiting the menu to only wine, closing the bar early, or offering drinks only during the meal to help cut costs further and limit the risk of employees getting too rowdy at a company event. In any case, you should definitely check your insurance policy to make sure you're covered if any issues arise from alcohol consumption.
7. Remind Employees of Proper Etiquette
The best advice for everyone who attends a holiday party is to make sure you remember etiquette for arriving and making others feel comfortable. But it's also a good idea to lay out any specific ground rules in an office-wide memo beforehand.
Etiquette mistakes to avoid at the holiday party include avoiding excessive drinking, eating, complaining, arriving too early or leaving too late, wearing improper attire, and bringing excessive guests—all of which can not only impact others' experiences at the event but also company costs.
Although an annual company holiday party is meant to bring the team together and lower inhibitions around the workplace, remind your guests that they still represent the company even when attending this after-work event, and are therefore expected to behave in a manner suitable for the workplace.
8. Consider Setting up a Gift Exchange
In general, many organizations include a gift exchange between employees at their holiday parties. However, if the organization is larger, perhaps this is best left at the departmental level rather than at the all-employee event. Organizing on such a scale can prove difficult, especially if you're unfamiliar with certain departments and their employees.
However, if there is a gift exchange, it's a good idea for the host or organizer to put a financial cap on the gifts—perhaps $10—to avoid awkward issues associated with gift pricing.
Additionally, setting up a "white elephant" or similar type of all-inclusive gift exchange where everyone in the company is invited to participate on an individual level could help prevent organizational nightmares where one guest doesn't receive a gift because another forgot to bring one.
9. Consider If Fundraising Is Right for Your Event
Food, clothing, and toy drives are part of the culture in many organizations, and some even encourage cash donation drives. Still, consider whether your company-wide employee appreciation party is the right venue for a fundraising opportunity.
While it’s very useful to highlight a particular cause for the Christmas party, it may be helpful for the organization to encourage only noncash gifts and in-kind donations that may benefit the charity being supported. This way, everyone is allowed the option to offer a gift at a value that fits their own personal budgets.
10. Evaluate Vendor Sponsorships for Your Event
Some people may think getting vendor sponsors is a great way to offset the costs of their annual holiday party; however, event planners and their clients may want to stay focused on the party objective of appreciating employees rather than outsourcing costs to sponsored vendors.
Employees often feel that the cost for these special events should be covered from an employer's operating budget. If the organization cannot afford to host an appreciation event for its employees or if it’s not part of the business plan for any reason, then the employer shouldn’t seek outside revenue to cover the cost through sponsorships.
Original Article By: The Balance Small Business
