A pay cheque at the end of the month is not the only reward for many UK workers, as the number of perks offered by employers has grown by more than 160% in four years. Workplace perks are a tried and tested way to attract and retain workers and with employers thinking more creatively when it comes to looking after their staff, work parties are on the rise!
For the employer work parties offer a chance to signal what the workplace culture is like, and a way to differentiate themselves from other employers in a highly competitive labour market.
Indeed, work parties are also an ideal opportunity for your team to let their hair down, build stronger out-of-work relationships and enjoy a drink or two (or ten). If you have an upcoming work party to plan and want to ensure it’s a celebration to remember, you’ll need a few fun ideas that resonate with your employees. There’s nothing worse than attending a poorly organised work party and instantly wishing you were at home in front of the tv. In this post, we’ll list a few fun ideas — from cocktail making classes to live entertainment — to ensure your next work party is a big hit.
1. Choose an Interesting Theme
While many work parties are a more casual affair that won’t consist of much more than a few drinks among colleagues, why not up the ante a bit and implement an exciting theme? To achieve this, you can decorate your office (or wherever you host the party) to make it more visually appealing and less corporate, as well as suggest a fancy dress theme to ensure everyone gets into the spirit of things. Although fancy dress may not be everyone’s cup of tea, dressing up is a great way for your team to bond and instantly make the party more hilarious.
2. Private Bar Hire
If you’re looking for a unique way to make your work party a classier and more enjoyable occasion, private bar hire ticks all the boxes. With private bar hire, you will have a mobile bar with a vast range of drinks and cocktails to choose from, a customised menu to suit your needs and also a charismatic bartender to serve you drinks. Doing so offers a vast range of benefits — but one of the best aspects at work parties is a private bar encourages employees to interact more because they won’t have to worry about serving themselves drinks.
3. Cocktail Making Classes
Following on nicely from private bar hire, cocktail making classes are a fantastic way to add delicious cocktails to the mix but also allow your team to learn a new skill. Not only is cocktail making a fun way to engage your party guests, but it also enables you to implement a group activity and competitions. You could even provide a prize for the “most delicious cocktail” and “best-looking cocktail.”
4. Live Entertainment
If you have the budget available and want to do something special for your employees, live entertainment is brilliant for showing your appreciation for their hard work but also providing an experience that will live long in the memory. The great thing about this idea is there is such a vast range of options available, which means you can pick something your team will love and mean more to them. Whether you opt for music, comedy, magic or anything else — there are plenty of ideas to suit everyone’s needs.
5. Office Olympics
If your team thrives in competitive situations and prefers unique experiences, Office Olympics is the perfect solution. This concept became a lot more popular and well-known thanks to an episode of The Office (US), in which all of the employees took part in Olympics-themed activities. The activities you choose will depend on your office environment and the preferences of your team, but it’s safe to say it will be a work party that few will expect and everyone will be fully immersed in. Every Olympics concludes with a closing ceremony, and office Olympics should be no different. It will allow you to hand out medals or prizes and, of course, have a few drinks to celebrate.
