Tips on How to Host Employee Appreciation Parties

One of the most common and traditional ways to say thank you to your employees is to hold a particular employee appreciation party at the end of the year. Although this might seem like a time-consuming task that can quickly be done in the office, it doesn’t have to be. The following tips will show you how to organize a successful, yet easy, employee appreciation party, as well as how you can get started collecting one on a more intimate scale.

In years past, year-end parties were held at the beginning of January, at the beginning of February, or at the end of April. However, in today’s highly competitive workforce, it is common to see employees hold their thanksgiving parties on the day before the start of the school year. One way to make sure your employees remember how much you appreciate them is to send them out a thank you note a few days before the start of school. This will not only let them know how grateful you are for their service and loyalty but will also provide them with an opportunity to prepare and send out their thank you notes.

As you look through your schedule to see which employees will need to attend, you should take note of those whose absence may be anticipated and should send them out a thank you note ahead of time. For example, suppose you plan to have a holiday party at your office a few days before spring breaks. In that case, you should send out a thank you letter ahead of time so that employees who are travelling can come and thank their families, friends, co-workers, and colleagues for their services and loyalty.

When selecting the right location for your year-end party, one thing that you will want to keep in mind is that your employees can have more fun in a different setting. Many companies set up games, prizes, and food at their end of year functions, rather than throwing a party in an empty conference room. For example, you could host a trivia game or trivia night during the lunch break, or you could arrange for some food and drinks to be served on the sidelines during holidays. You could even rent a large conference room for the reception.

When you are planning your staff’s appreciation party, it might be tempting to purchase a lot of food or drink for the day. However, when it comes to holding an employee appreciation party, you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune. Instead, you might consider hiring a catering company to supply you with great-tasting foods and beverages. This will help you save money and also give your employees a chance to bond with one another and enjoy the festivities.

Finally, before you host your next year-end functions, think about something else that your employees can do to show their appreciation. If you have a large number of employees who work together online, for instance, you can organize a team-building exercise or sport for them. The key is to select activities that are designed to get your employees moving and help them socialize.