6 ways to save this holiday perk
December 1, 2009 by Christian SchappelPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter - benefits, Latest News & Views, Management, Money, Pay and benefits
One thing employees look forward to every year: the company’s annual holiday party. But with the way businesses have cut spending in this economy, can this morale booster be saved? Yes!
Here are six ways you can create holiday cheer on a budget:
- Share the cost with employees. Cover the cost for your employees to attend, but ask them to purchase event tickets for anyone (spouses, dates, etc.) they wish to bring.
- Host a potluck. Rather than pay an expensive caterer, ask employees to prepare their best dish. You could even make it a competition in which employees vote on the best appetizer, main course and dessert. The winners could then be given a small prize. Make sure participants bring their recipes — people always ask for them.
- Divide it up. Rather than hosting a big party for the entire company, allow various departments to host their own low-budget events.
- Dress up and share treats. If a big dinner is out of the question, pick a workday and invite staff to dress up during business hours. The company can provide refreshments and ask employees to bring in their favorite holiday treats.
- Provide a helping hand. Choose a local charity and volunteer to have employees provide a meal for the less fortunate. Employees can gather afterward to share dessert and celebrate.
- Give employees the afternoon off. If a celebration just isn’t feasible, could you give employees an extra afternoon off around the holidays? Send out an e-mail that says, “In lieu of a holiday party, we invite you to spend an afternoon with your loved ones.”
Is your company doing something to celebrate or boost morale around the holidays? Let us know what it is in the Comments Box below.
Tags: charity, holiday, low-budget, morale, volunteer
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
Interesting. When asked, most studies show that the majority of employees actually dread going to the company Christmas party and would rather do away with it. You should do your research before you make presumptive cases for things like company Christmas parties.
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
We are a small company part of two other company’s, most of our employees have worked here for years. We all look forward to company lunch’s we don’t have big parties but do love our long lunches.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I’m with Larry, who likes the company parties? But unfortunately you have to go even if they say it’s voluntary. Don’t ever believe you have a choice of going if you want to move up or even stay at a company.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Times are tough. ECI and CPI are waaaay down. Small Businesses can ill afford extravagant parties. Annual pay raises are minimal for staff, and/or capped for executives & managers. However, hard working, dedicated & loyal employees (at all levels) deserve a good holiday party. So, I splurge each year and provide a big blow-out for all of the employees and their spouses (significant others). I’m with Amy on this – Everyone has a good time, and morale is very high afterwards. I guess it may be a factor of location, food, beverage, entertainment, as well as a caring employer.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
For Thanksgiving our company provides the “main course” but does a pot luck for everything else. This has worked wonderfully everyone looks forward to it every year. Then for Christmas we used to have the whole party where you bring your spouse with a live band ect., but that became way to costly. So two years ago we switched to a nice lunch for employees only then give them the rest of the day off. We pick a nice restaurant that is not normally open during the lunch hour which allows us a “private party” at a fraction of the cost. In our case we also do trades outs, we give them some of our product and they give us a discount, they can then take our product and give to their employees/vendors as gifts at their Holiday Party. Works out really well, bartering comes in very handy.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I work for a non-profit, but we have a Morale Committee that Hosts numerous fund raisers during the year and we raise the funds to give our employees a Very Nice Christmas Party plus a small Cash Gift or Gift Card. They Love It and Everyone Feels Rewarded!
December 10th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Usually the company party is after hours, which means time away from families. Hopefully this year it will be during regular business hours with would make it a benefit that employees might want to attend.
One way to save on costs, which we do, is to use trade.
PS, just chiming in about whether it’s mandatory or not. While they say it’s voluntary, our performance reviews actually have a section for how many events you attend, go figure.
December 11th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Last year when there were no bonuses we tried having a lunch at the company instead – turned out to be more work and almost as expensive as our usual party!
Like several of the other commentors we tailor the event to our company and keep it short. So we have appetizers and soda at our local Pool Hall – everyone can play pool or darts for free. We have a little tournament and give prizes. We don’t track who comes, but we hand out the bonuses and yearly rewards at the party. We get good comments about the event every year and people missed it last year.
So you just need the right venue and event for your group – less formal and more social is usually a lot cheaper and more enjoyable. And what’s that quote from Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol? Something about how little it actually cost old Feziwig to throw his annual party and how much enjoyment it gave!
December 11th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I am sure people who do not like their job or the people they work with like Larry and GTS do not enjoy company celebrations…. What I have seen during my 15 years of experience is that people look forward to the end of the year party….