It’s that time of year again; Christmas is almost upon us. As a PA, organising your annual festive party is no doubt rising up your to-do list. Research conducted by Love Energy Savings has uncovered exactly what the British public love about their annual work Christmas party – something that has become a tradition in many businesses.
Here’s what they found out:
- More than one in four people stated that their favourite thing about festive get-togethers was being able to socialise with colleagues.
- 24% of people said it was the food and drink that enticed them to take part every year.
- One in 10 people said they enjoyed the opportunity to bond with colleagues in a less formal environment.
- Finally, 7% of people said they relished the opportunity to get out of the office and do a fun activity during this most wonderful time of the year.
However, unpredictably, an overwhelming 31% of people said their work didn’t throw a Christmas party at all. This was a surprising discovery given that restaurants and venues start encouraging businesses to book their parties as early as August; an annual Christmas do is something that many staff just come to expect.
While some people may think of a big party as an unnecessary expense, by not throwing one you may actually be missing out on a huge opportunity to get your members of staff in one place, interacting and engaging with one another in a fun environment.
Phil Foster, Managing Director of Love Energy Savings, commented: “Employee engagement is a hugely important part of our business, and it really helps to transform a company from good to great. We know that our staff pull out all the stops and work incredibly hard all year round to make Love Energy Savings a success, and we believe that they deserve to be rewarded, relax and celebrate at the end of the year.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a huge party. In fact, if you’re a small business, something more intimate and friendly will do far more good for your engagement and happiness levels. Try and think of some ways that your staff can bond with one another, and it will have knock-on effects for the rest of the year.”
Love Energy Savings has compiled top tips for making your next Christmas party a huge success.
Here’s a few ideas:
- Paintballing – It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s certainly a tick in the team-building box. If the weather’s not on your side there are plenty of places to shoot paint indoors.
- Cooking/mixology classes – What’s better than a traditional Christmas dinner? Learning how to perfect one yourself! Or, if you’re feeling particularly merry, book your staff onto a cocktail-making class and find out who prefers it shaken or stirred.
- Book an exercise class – Whether it’s Zumba or a HIIT workout, get those bodies moving and endorphins flowing with a pre-meal workout. It also gives everyone an opportunity to burn off enough calories to eat as much as they want later.
