MISTLETOE & WINE
Will your party feel like the Christmas Pinch?
By EARL STREET - 14/Nov/2008
With the BBC banning Champagne this year for Christmas (not a surprise at £60,000 each year!) and cutting office parties by fifty per cent, the festive season for 2008 will be feeling the pinch on staff parties.
But how are businesses going to make sure that they can still reward staff without breaking the bank or seeming like the Christmas Grinch?
Earl Street Employment has some tips to help you to still enjoy Christmas, keeping staff happy as well as your Bank Manager!
| * | Involve staff in ideas. Explain that the company has to be more conservative this year in the current economic climate and ask for their input on what they think would still be a fun, cost-effective Christmas celebration. Appoint a party planner that can oversee the organisation. |
| * | Shop around. Most businesses will be looking at an added value for their festive packages and you will be able to find a better deal than last year. Also look at holding your parties during off-peak dates to get a discount. |
| * | Staff Contributions. Ask staff if they would be willing to contribute to the party (if you traditionally pay the full cost.) If the staff are motivated by being involved in the plans, they will be more willing to pay their fair share. |
| * | Partners. Look at cutting partners from invitations. It is a generous company that can afford their staff’s partners at the party too, but this year, that may be the one step too far. |
| * | Use the office! If you normally have your party off site, why not be creative this year and ask staff (including managers) to bring in their best cooked dishes and enjoy a homecooked, fun celebration? Or order in favourite pizzas and make your own festive drinks, be creative! |
| * | Scale down. If you normally, have a black-tie dinner, why not swap it for something more fun and down to earth, such as a bowling evening, again, ask for suggestions from your staff. |
| * | Shopping time. If you really can’t stretch to a party day this year, why not give staff an extra couple of hours off, for either an early day to go and hit the shops with a shopping voucher? This could work out less cost per head than a party. |
Some staff will independently organise their own celebrations self-funded, but as long as you follow some of our tips and ensure that you are still embracing the festive season, you shouldn’t come out with the reputation of scrooge.
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