What's the best way to arrange a work Xmas do?

Former_MSE_Joanne · 25 September 2014 at 12:31PM

I've been asked to organise my employer's annual Christmas party but it's a daunting task as there are many people in the company that I don't know very well. How can I come up with an idea everyone will be happy with?

Please note: this isn't my own personal request as an employee of MSE. It was a question we were sent by a MoneySaver and used in our email this week.

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

double_mummy · 30 September 2014 at 9:10PM

have a company vote

offer 3 choices everyone gets 2 weeks to cast their vote most voted choice wins

probably 1 big party with a disco
1 sort of activity thing
1 out of the box idea

elsien · 30 September 2014 at 9:15PM

You won't come up with an idea everyone will be happy with. Just go with the majority and let the grinches get on with it.

Colin_Hunt · 30 September 2014 at 9:20PM

MSE_Joanne wrote: »

I've been asked to organise my employer's annual Christmas party but it's a daunting task as there are many people in the company that I don't know very well. How can I come up with an idea everyone will be happy with?

You should have side stepped that one Joanne.
Whats the budget ?
Last time I did one I settled on a ten pin bowling night, followed by a curry, a couple of drinks at the alley, a couple more with the curry.
I paid the bill and made my exit as soon after the curry as possible, not wanting to be "officiating" when some one was inappropriate, or !!!!!!, or both.

macaroni · 30 September 2014 at 9:23PM

I disagree with the voting idea, it can easily be pretty evenly split and therefore annoying the majority before youve even begun.

Just keep it pretty safe, nothing extreme, if everyone has to pay for themselves think of the lower earners in the company too - you want everyone to be able to go and have a good time.

lostinrates · 30 September 2014 at 9:27PM

If its with out partners then not on Friday but rather on a proper weeknight.

Poppy9 · 30 September 2014 at 9:35PM

You've left it a bit late to get a good place on a Friday, which is preferred day.

You need to:

Decide day or night
Guesstimate the number likely to attend
Ring a few potential venues to see what availabilty they have

You need to consider if you want in City Centre or local to where you work - think travel for drunken party goers! Do you need to organise transport.

We take it in turn in work with me to organise and split duties. i.e. one books restaurant, gets menu order, money in etc. Deposit always payable for large groups so only pay balance on day. Another deals with wine pre order (we ask for discount for pre ordering wine) and another with lifts/taxis from work (always a few drivers).

We only give 2/3 choices but as we do lunchtime the maximum per head we offer as a choice is £25. Last year we had £10 lunch, this year we are having £20 one.

We all pay for ourselves and no partners allowed though ex colleagues who we are still in touch with or those off due to maternity/ill health are invited.

On last work day before xmas leave we all take in food for an office buffet.

torbrex · 30 September 2014 at 9:36PM

To start with.
How much is the boss putting in the kitty?

Not everyone is a christian so avoid anything to do with the religious side of the event, concentrate on the pagan aspects, eating, drinking and cavorting

Feeding all those hungry mouths should come out of the kitty so you need to stike a balance between good food, food that everyone will like and how much of the kitty do you want leftover to buy a few rounds of drinks.

It has been my experience that there should be enough cash left for 3 rounds of drinks, this will loosen the tongues a bit and help to let the newbies get their feet under the table (so to speak).

Lastly the cavorting.
The meal should be had someplace that is within stumbling distance of some loud music and a dance floor, this will satisfy those that want to jiggle about and those that want to watch, laugh and film it on their mobiles to post online the next day

BobQ · 30 September 2014 at 9:41PM

MSE_Joanne wrote: »

I've been asked to organise my employer's annual Christmas party but it's a daunting task as there are many people in the company that I don't know very well. How can I come up with an idea everyone will be happy with?

Well now is your chance to meet them

I would start by booking the venue - it is October - unless you are doing it on the premises.

Is it an evening affair or lunch time event? Sit down meal? Or an activity event?

Unless you are all rich bankers most people will not want the expense of hiring costumes so if you want people to dress to a theme do something people can organise with little expense.

Tigsteroonie · 30 September 2014 at 9:41PM

MSE_Joanne wrote: »

I've been asked to organise my employer's annual Christmas party but it's a daunting task as there are many people in the company that I don't know very well. How can I come up with an idea everyone will be happy with?

Simple answer is, you can't.

Once you accept that, you have to decide how much of a conscience you have, and how much the moaning will bother you.

Personally, I reckon that the poor soul who has to organise the event, should get to select the venue. It's their recompense for having all the grief - that they get to go where they want.

Quizzical_Squirrel · 30 September 2014 at 9:44PM

Don't have a vote on anything as it will alienate the losers from the start. Just tell them what they're doing, like it or lump it. Like children.

Go and find the people who organised it in previous years and ask them where and what they did and what they'd change if they had to do it again.

Then start ringing round all the possible options for a potential booking.

What's the best way to arrange a work Xmas do?

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free