Having an office holiday party is at the top of your team’s list – but you want to ensure that everyone is having a great time. To start planning the most inclusive office holiday party you can, check out these tips from Nishta Trehun, founder of Berlin-based corporate event planning group The Kitty Party.

The modern office holiday party: inclusive or exclusive?

Office holiday parties certainly aren’t what they used to be. Many employees find their gatherings suffer from low attendance. They may also feel less like a party and more like a gripe session due to the stress at the end of the year.

“Modern office holiday parties are quite time-consuming,” Trehun says. “Many people are unable to show up as people utilize their leaves to take holidays at the end of the year. The year-end also comes with the pressure of wrapping things up, and people are so occupied that they can’t find the hours to commit to a lengthy holiday party.”

One way that teams have thought to solve the problem of office holiday parties is to make them virtual – this allows employees to attend no matter where they may be working from. But those too have their flaws. 

“The attendance in virtual events is certainly higher than in-person ones,” Trehun says. “The only times people don’t get to show up is when they get stuck with their previous meetings, or they’re traveling. They could also be struggling with the Internet, which online events are completely dependent on, but these issues are not frequent, which makes virtual holiday parties a time-efficient and exciting experience.” 

Making office holiday parties inclusive

While some corporate cultures (especially in larger firms) argue that it’s impossible to please everyone, there are definitely still ways to plan out office holiday parties so that everyone on your team or in your department feels like they’re being considered. Additionally, inclusivity doesn’t just mean having options that cater to the various holidays your employees celebrate; it’s also about their lifestyles, preferences, and comfortability with socialization. 

 “I believe we can make in-person events as inclusive as we want to by taking all related aspects into account,” Trehun says. This includes food events that involve meals from different cuisines and cultures held at times that don’t intersect with those who may need to fast for personal or religious reasons.

“Inclusiveness can also come in the form of including a wide variety of games and activities, so there’s something for everyone,” Trehun says. “The decorations can be customized to make them more inclusive; some people prefer the traditional shimmering Christmas lights and trees while some want to celebrate the evolving diversity with a decor themed around the snowy winter or Hanukkah.”

Ideas for your next inclusive office holiday party

To make the most inclusive office holiday office party that you can, try out these tips and tricks.

1. Gather ideas before you plan

Rather than just jumping into party planning, you should get a sense of what your team is interested in. This might be easier to talk about during a meeting than sending out a survey, but either option works to get the most comprehensive view of your attendee’s needs.

“Being mindful of everyone who is part of the event and making sure that their preferences, be it food, drinks, activities, decoration or the entertainment,” Trehun says. “That’s what makes an event truly inclusive.”

2. Do something out of the box 

Rather than just having a Zoom meeting with festive hats, try something fun and exciting, like a workshop, cooking class, mixology class, or dance party. Even if you’re hosting events virtually, there are plentiful opportunities for exciting activities. Trehun’s signature party is that of the ‘Dancing Chef,’ which combines dancing with cooking.

“When the lockdown was announced in Berlin the year before, I found my in-person events, starting to get canceled,” Trehun says. “My tech-savvy partner pushed me to go online, and the dots connected as I was able to incorporate another very dear hobby of mine into my events, which is dancing.”

 3. Make sure everyone has a place

Some team members might be a little more reluctant to participate in events that have an element of silliness, but they should still be able to have fun. That’s why inclusive holiday events should have dimensions – not just one dimension, as socialization is never one-size-fits-all.  

“Our Spiced Drink event is one of our most popular holiday events,” Trehun says. “It’s the perfect balance between learning, storytelling, cooking, and dancing, and people can choose what parts of the event they want to get involved in. Those who want to dance and cook can choose to do so, and those who don’t can simply observe and listen, and I make sure everyone stays engaged.”

This is the same principle for the in-person events that Trehun organizes; whether in large or small venues, she assures multiple activity options.

“People who wish to dance can groove to the music while others can participate in creative and equally fun activities, such as cookie decorating, coloring, crafting, and so forth.”

4. Feed everyone equally

Food is one of the most important features of any party, and inclusive office holiday parties are no different. Some event planners might think it’s too much of a hassle to keep everyone’s dietary restrictions in mind. But it makes all the difference – especially for those with non-traditional allergies.

“We have vegan and allergen-friendly options as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of drinks,” Trehun says, “so everyone’s preferences are kept in mind!”

5. Find the right venue

Lastly, the best inclusive office holiday parties have just-right venues for the group. Some might hate a loud restaurant or bar, and others may not feel the excitement of a quiet office break room. But for every team, there is a middle ground, one that event coordinators have to keep in mind.

“We’ve hosted multiple corporate parties for all group sizes, big and small,” Trehun says, “At in-person events, there can be more engaging activities for people who like getting involved and board games for people who prefer the quiet. Having a larger venue can also allow people to have their own space if they’re not that much of a party person.”