The watermelon roll at the Questex Media company picnic, August 2008.
Coming up with company party ideas can be tricky. Increased diversity in the workplace, together with a crackdown on harassment and the need to remain politically correct, have put an end to the bawdy free-for-alls familiar to anyone who's seen movies and sitcoms about the workplace from the 1950s, 1960s and even 1970s. But with a little thought, company parties still can be a lot of fun, particularly if the employees are involved in planning their own parties through ad hoc committees. Does this Spark an idea?
Potluck
The simplest company parties are potlucks, which automatically put the emphasis on food. Plan the party around a theme, maybe tied in to a particular season, such as "Fall Flavors" or "Winter Wonders" party. Divide employees into four groups, either by division or alphabetically by last name. One group brings appetizers, another brings main dishes, a third brings side dishes and a fourth brings desserts. For added fun, have everyone bring along their recipe and assemble the recipes into a booklet that can be handed out to all employees, perhaps with photos from the potluck. Avoid popularity contests or "best recipe" competitions, as these can lead to hurt feelings--and, in extreme cases--complaints to HR or even lawsuits.
Summer Picnic
Summer picnics are a great way to build morale and give employees an afternoon out of the stuffy office and in the warm sun. Public parks make great settings; be sure, however, to see if you need a permit or reservation, which most cities now require for organized gatherings of more than a handful of people. Barbecue burgers or order takeout. Bring along a stereo, and don't forget the games. Focus on team-building games, such as obstacle courses or relays, and stay away from games that could get you into trouble, such as water balloon tosses. A tried-and-true favorite is the baby photo contest. Each employee brings in a baby photo, and all the photos are mounted on a big board. Then everyone has to match the baby with the employee. The winner gets some sort of prize, maybe a comp day or a free lunch.
Holiday Parties
Once an expected end to a successful year, holiday parties are going the way of the year-end bonus. And yet companies can still have fun holiday parties without spending a fortune on catered dinners and expensive liquor. Apply the potluck theme and settle on someone's house as the locale. You can have a gift exchange or "Secret Santa," with a modest cap on gift prices. Each recipient can either keep his gift or trade it away for one that is given later, with the caveat that no gift can exchange hands more than three times.
Stay Active
Take employees' minds off work by taking them out of the work environment and engaging them in some sort of organized group activity. A bowling party at the local alley; a sea cruise aboard a chartered sailboat; a hike followed by a picnic; an afternoon at the local video game arcade; a mini-golf competition; a go-cart rally. The possibilities are endless. Be sure to take lots of pictures to display on the company Intranet or in the newsletter. Ramming the boss's bumper car can be a great stress reliever, while hiking through the woods with your team can be a fantastic bonding experience.
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