Company summer parties give the employees an opportunity to relax and have fun with the other co-workers and your boss has finally realized that a summer office party is a great way to boost morale and camaraderie and you have been chosen to organize it. Never organized an office party before? Don’t worry, unlike winter office parties, the summertime is full of activities and venues to choose from. We have some great tips on how to make it a party that will make summer last a litte bit longer.
Budget Confirm with your boss the budget, the scale of the party and if families can attend. An event manager should opt for sponsorships if finance is tight.
Crowdsource using the office chat system There is nothing worse than an office party that is out of step with everyone’s taste in music and food. Use the company email or office chat system to put out a poll on what food and drinks everyone wants and/or are allergic to and what music they want to listen to.
Get Help Organise the more social staff members into a committee. Not only will they give you input for party ideas, but by making them part of the process, you can guarantee there will be less grumbling about the plans made. Solicit ideas from employees by either collecting answers on a short questionnaire or setting up a suggestion box.
Planning the entertainment If you have the budget, book a live band or DJ for the party.
Confirm the venue of the business event before announcing the date.
Other affordable options:
Have a picnic in the park You spend all your time at the office with the same set of people. No w you are expected to socialise and have fun with them. Suggest to your boss to make Friday a half day and have everyone meet at the park nearest to the office. People will be more likely to bring food for the picnic when they know they are getting the afternoon off. If your office is not near a park, you can have a rooftop party.
Bar or Restaurant Rent a room at a bar or restaurant, or send someone over in advance to reserve enough space at the bar or restaurant for your group. If you are inviting family members of employees, choose a place that is family-friendly.
Your House If your house is big enough and your company is small enough, invite the company employees and their families over to your house on a weekend or weekday afternoon for a casual barbecue.
Encourage everyone to get guests This is another one of the interesting ways to liven up an office party. You all know each other from working together. Add some spice by encouraging everyone to bring at least one guest, ideally their spouse. New people bring new excitement.
Food Unless it’s a potluck, you will need to plan proper party menu for your hungry guests. Finger foods and cocktails always top the list when it comes to summer party favourites.
Activities You need to have a slew of fun-filled activities that ensures maximum, teamwork, participation and fun.
The Party Theme Deciding on a theme is a great starting point. Something unusual yet not too obscure usually works best, and once you have chosen a theme you can get creative with decoration ideas. A theme will also help to narrow down your choice of food and music!
Dress Code A clear dress code will make your guests feel at ease and help them decide what is suitable to wear to avoid embarrassing situations of under or over- dressing
Social Media Media is now pervasive. Consider limiting its access to your event, unless you want photos of your senior managers doing spontaneous endorsements of their favourite beer or other beverage uploaded onto the world wide web.
- Ask employees to refrain from taking photos, or videos of the event
- Create a social media policy obligating employees to obtain approval before posting company information and pictures on their individual profiles or on the company profile, making it easier to monitor the organisation’s image.
Tip: Never leave important details to the last minute. The more rushed you are to get something together, the more likely you are to let a little detail slip by that could cost you a lot. Only leave simple things to the last minute, if you have to leave anything at all, and make sure you always follow checklists to avoid overlooking something.
Company parties are a great way for employees to get to know one another and a great way for organizations to reward and appreciate their employees. However, with many potential liabilities and dangers that could arise it is important for organizations to be proactive and establish clear expectations and policies for the party. With everyone on the same page, the party will go more smoothly, and a good time can be enjoyed by all.
Happy celebrating!
