There are two types of office parties, the ones that employees look forward to all year and the ones where they contemplate calling in sick the day of. The difference between these two types of parties is simple; one style is fun and engaging and the other is anything but. When you are planning your office party, whether it is an annual event or a regular occurrence, there are many things that you can do to make it better for your employees and the others in attendance.

The first thing that you should focus on is your decorations. Most office parties revolve around the holiday season, so it is a good idea to focus on all things festive. If you don’t have a lot of money, it is easy to dress up everyday items, such as paper cups, with some festive stickers or craft paper. This is a fantastic way to decorate without having a huge budget in place.

You can also set up a fun photo op for guests as they enter the festivities. There are many companies that can supply you with a backdrop for your pictures, or you may want to consider renting one from a photo studio if possible. This will give your guests an activity that they can enjoy as they enter the party and provide them with something that they can take home with them to remember the special event.

No office party can be complete without party games. However, this is one area that you should be very cautious when you are planning your office party. Many people do not enjoy participating in party games, so it is crucial that you plan wisely. Look for games that can make participants feel comfortable and willing to participate. Best of all, offer some great prizes that will get everyone excited. For lower budget ideas, think about offering an extra break time or a gift card from a popular lunch dining establishment.

You can also use party games as a chance to have your employees participate in team building exercises. Not only can these games give employees a break from their busy day to day activities, but they can also help them build better relationships with their coworkers so that your company can be more productive in the coming year.

Another aspect of the office party planning that you need to consider carefully is when you should have your party. Many office parties, especially those around the holidays, are centered on alcohol. It is best to have these types of parties on a Friday evening or a weekend. This way, your employees will be able to have a good time and not need to worry with coming into work the next day.

Your next office party can be a blast, if you are willing to put a little thought behind the planning process. To make it even better, take a survey amongst the people who will be in attendance in order to see what they are looking forward to at the party as well as things that they would enjoy doing. Be sure to keep the survey anonymous, so that you can be certain that you receive honest answers from everyone.