Hard to believe it, but the holidays are here yet again! We know you’re in a whirlwind of shopping and decorating so why not take a breather and enjoy the holidays in the workplace? We spend so much of our time there that a little holiday cheer can go a long way! This can also be a great way to bring co-workers together and give people a break from the daily grind.
However, it is important to always keep it appropriate and professional. We have some tips on how to be festive at work without taking it too far!
– Holiday Cookie Tasting: Ask all employees to bring a batch of their favorite cookies to share with the office. The cookies can be either homemade or store bought (no judgment!). Make it even more fun by giving people a break from work to enjoy and playing some holiday tunes.
– Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest: This has become a well-known holiday party theme that is always fun! Why not give it a try at work? Choose a slower day and have all the employees come in wearing their ugliest holiday sweater. It will give employees the chance to express themselves and bring some laughter into the office.
– Trim the Office: Even something as small as a few twinkling lights in the restroom or at the reception desk can lift employees’ spirits! Employers should encourage employees to decorate their doors and windows too. This gives everybody a chance to celebrate the holidays in their own way. You can even promote some friendly competition and give out awards to whoever decorates the best!
– Exchange Gifts (the easy way): Avoid the stress of buying co-workers individual gifts and hold a White Elephant Gift Exchange. Employees don’t have to worry about buying a gift for somebody they don’t know well and can bring something more general. Also, set a price limit so employees don’t have to worry about spending too much or too little. Employees can have fun with this and of course, everyone gets something!
With very little planning, the holiday season can be successfully celebrated in at work. Here at the Treehouse. we love to play (and, admittedly, sing) holiday music, decorate and have a fun holiday party with a surprise destination! It is important to take “work” out of the equation sometimes in order to have a more productive office the rest of the time!
How does your office celebrate this great time of year? We would love to hear some great new ideas!