This is the time of year when people start ramping up for the holidays. Children are picking out their Halloween costumes and plotting on how to get the most candy. Adults are planning what to wear to Halloween parties. Where companies allow it, adults are decorating the workspaces with all things creepy and spooky. Perhaps work events such as pumpkin carving contests or costume contests are being planned. Halloween brings out the kid in all of us, and a contest also brings out the competitive spirit in a fun way.
Just make you have a clear policy in place regarding what is and is not allowed, and that the policy is communicated clearly to everyone. Also keep in mind that some employees may decline to participate due to religious beliefs. Participation in these activities should be optional, and that should be clear to all employees to prevent any issues. ASE is having a decorate your space and a pumpkin carving contest – both optional for employees.
Perhaps your company does something to celebrate Thanksgiving. At ASE we once had a Thanksgiving dinner for lunch. It was a lot of fun, was a great way to share personal traditions with co-workers, and we had an amazing feast. We also got to share what we were thankful for in the workplace. Most of us are running fast on a day to day basis so office activities like this give us the chance to slow down and express our appreciation for each other. That goes a long way towards positive office morale.
An article on ezcater.com had several creative suggestions for celebrating Thanksgiving in the office. My favorite was to decorate a wall with craft paper so employees can write down things for which they are thankful. Seeing someone else’s thankful message can help to remind us all of things to be thankful for.
In December we have Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Most companies refer to the activities and celebrations as holiday events to keep things neutral. This time of year can be cause for both great joy and great stress. Just like at home, having office traditions gives employees something to look forward to and can provide a good break from the day to day office business and stress. It also helps to break up the cold, gray days and to give us a break from the stress of the holidays.
These activities can boost morale and help with team building. While many businesses are telecommuting and are using electronic means of communications, it can also be a good way for employees to reconnect in person.
At ASE we have a fun committee that plans at least one fun activity a month. In December we have a few things we do for team building and, of course, fun. We start with a pizza lunch and tree/lobby decorating. It’s something we look forward to and many hands makes for quick work.
Later in the month there is a cookie exchange and a Secret Santa gift exchange, all voluntary of course. We cap off the activities with a holiday luncheon. These activities give us the chance to catch up and get to know our coworkers a little better on a personal level.
As stated earlier, it is important that companies have clear policies regarding the celebrations. No one should ever feel they must participate in an activity. Make sure everyone knows they are included if they want to be, and then let employees decide which activities are right for them.
Sources: imipeople.com, blog.dlvrit.com