Golden rules for hosting great work parties

As the end of year party approaches, you may be experiencing some concern about whether the team will behave appropriately; perhaps last year there was an incident, or you have a staff member who can sometimes have a little too much fun!  

The end of year party is an opportunity to celebrate the team's hard work and spend time together after a long year and should be an enjoyable event for everyone. However, sometimes it can be difficult to maintain professional decorum when people start to let loose. It is therefore important the practice leaders ensure the safety and comfortability of all guests.

This article provides some guidelines on how to do so without stifling your team's excitement.

• Provide clear, written communication about the details of the party, including: 

  • Dress code.

  • Start and finish times.

  • The practices expectations of how staff should conduct themselves during the event, with reminders of workplace policies that still apply. 

  • Any social media policies. 

• Find a place with plenty of seating and tables.

• Provide enough food for everyone and ensure you ask the team to confirm any dietary requirements for them and their guest(s).

•  Make sure there are drinks on hand that will suit everyone's tastes and include non-alcoholic options.

• Make sure there is plenty of water readily available.

• Keep the music at an appropriate volume so people can talk without shouting over it.

• Make sure someone is in charge of monitoring the event and making sure all attendees are behaving appropriately.

• Encourage employees to go home at a reasonable hour by sending them off with a parting gift or some other token of appreciation.

• Ensure your party is located somewhere convenient to public transport or catching an uber/cab. 

  
  

After a long year, it's great for your team to come together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. Following these useful tips will ensure everyone enjoys their end of year celebration with no worries about what happens when you all return to work! If you have any additional questions or need clarification on anything discussed here, you can reach out to Bethan at HR Solutions by emailing hrsolutions@primepractice.com.au.