Throwing an epic back to work party for your employees

January 31, 2021

Throwing an epic back to work party for your employees

People making a toast at a party.

In the past few months, all of us have gone through a lot. The stress of the coronavirus pandemic, the uncertain economic conditions… All of those had us worried for quite a while. So, while going back to work is a good thing, a lot of your employees are going into it with a fair bit of stress. And the best way to help reduce that stress is to throw an epic back-to-work party for your employees.

How to organize a back to work party for your employees

Organizing a back-to-work party for your employees seems pretty straightforward. You simply get some drinks, some food, and invite your employees to come. Nothing more to it, right? Well, you definitely can go for this option. But, we wouldn’t call that kind of a party truly epic.

If you want your employees to actually relax and decompress before going back to work, you need to address this party with extra care and effort. So, to help you out, we are going to cover the main aspects that you need to tackle in order to throw an awesome office party.

Where to throw the party?

Your office space is usually the best area for throwing a back to a work party. But, unfortunately, it is not always so. If for instance, you move into a new workspace, you won’t have the time to set it up both for work and for a party. Also, keep in mind that we’ve just been through a pandemic.

Therefore throwing an indoor party might not be the safest option. Instead, consider renting out a garden or a balcony for your party. An outdoor party is a much safer option for everyone involved. Plus, your employees will feel much more relaxed if you don’t put them in their usual office right off the bat.

An outdoor party can be a great idea.

People enjoying an outdoor party, showing how you organize for your back to work party for your employees.

Getting drinks and food

If you do opt for a theme, you’ll need to optimize your drinks and food for it. If not, we suggest that you go for the safe options of either pizza or BBQ. Keep in mind that you need to have vegan and gluten-free options, as well as others that your employees might request.

You will also need to provide alcohol-free drinks for those that do not drink. So, make sure to have a wide range of refreshments for your employees to choose from. A neat idea, if you can afford it, is to get a professional bartender to make and serve cocktails to your employees. Alternatively, you can make a large batch of a single cocktail that people can drink. Among the more common choices are:

Pineapple Rose Sangria
Strawberry Pisco Punch
Strawberry Ginger Punch
Watermelon-Hibiscus-Lime margaritas
Vodka Mint Lemonade

Talk with your employees

While you should work hard to figure out how to throw a top-notch back to work party for your employees, don’t shy away from talking to them. You can consider organizing a surprise party for your employees. But, this is often needlessly complicated. They can give you guidelines and ideas that have never even crossed your mind. Furthermore, you will have to consult with them about foods and drinks, so you might as well start doing so from the get-go.

Your employees will start reconnecting while discussing the party.

A girl smiling while typing on her phone.

To do this, we advise you to create a separate group on Facebook, Whatsapp or Viber, where you will discuss your party. Avoid using your regular work platforms as much as possible, as those should be left for job-related communication. Your goal here is to take everyone’s ideas into consideration and combine them as best you can.

Themed or not?

Themed parties can sometimes be quite fun, especially if done right. But, before you throw a themed back-to-work party for your employees, you need to consider what kind of a theme it will be.

Avoid throwing something too outlandish or creative. Instead, stick with something for which people can easily find costumes and be comfortable in them. If you need to get supplies in order to decorate, consider getting them a week or two in advance in order to avoid rushing. You can always store them with companies like Best Movers in Florida if need be. Some themes you can consider are:

80’s.
90’s.
Star Wars.
Horror.

Organizing a decent playlist

While music shouldn’t be at the center of your party, you still need to organize a decent playlist. If you can afford a DJ to help you out, worry not.

Hiring a DJ is a sure way to organize a memorable back to work party for your employees.

A DJ sound mixing.

But if you need to do it by yourself, there are a couple of things to consider. First, start off your playlist with popular songs. Modern pop hits should be more than enough to put people in a good mood and relax them. After that, you can switch to other genres.

But be careful when picking the genre you want to be played. Ideally, you want to consider the age of your employees and what kind of music they like. If the theme of your party is related to music (say 80’s, 90’s, or country), play those songs. If you plan on surprising the ladies in your office with a male stripper, make sure that they are also aware of the party theme.

Final tips to keep in mind

As a manager of your business, it is up to you to be a good host. Try to make everyone feel included and connected. Avoid talking about work as much as possible. If an employee asks you something, feel free to answer. But don’t push the subject or go into lengthy explanations.

Also, try to avoid being in the center of attention. Even if you feel that your employees are naturally drawn to you, trust us, they are not. A good manager knows when to draw attention to themselves and how to use that attention. If an employee has been through a lot or is supposed to leave your company soon, try to mention that if they are ok with you doing so. Your goal here is to ensure that everyone is happy and that everyone is having a good time.