Hosting A Year-End Function To Look Forward To
Another year has flown by and before you know it we’ll be blasting off some fireworks to welcome in the new year. Unfortunately, this is also the period where the year-end slump starts to set in as employees’ energy levels and motivation starts to dwindle. Luckily, you have an ace up your sleeve that is almost guaranteed to lift their spirits: hosting a year-end function to remember!
A year-end function can go a long way towards boosting employee morale if executed properly. This event gives employees a chance to converse with one another outside the boundaries of the office and provides an opportunity for employees to get to know one another better on a personal level. This can help to create a positive company culture as employees start to view one another as friends as well as co-workers.
Hosting a year-end function that truly dazzles your team shows them that the company cares about them and acts as a reward for the hard work that kept the gears turning throughout the year.
There are a few key points to keep in mind when you start planning your year-end function:
Location is Key
The office might be the most practical place for a year-end function but hardly anyone wants to be at work after hours, even if it is for a party! It’s hard to unwind and forget about work for one night when your desk is just around the corner, so it is always advised that you host your year-end function at a separate venue.
You might want to pick a venue that is close to the office as this is already somewhat of a central point for all the attendees. Alternatively, you can arrange transportation services to collect employees from the office and bring them to the venue. Make sure that the venue is able to accommodate the expected number of guests and that they have the right facilities for any activities that you have planned for the day. The use of events management software can be a big help with this as it allows you to keep track of the number of expected guests and helps you plan more effectively.
Don’t Skimp on the Refreshments
You can pull out all the stops, but unfortunately, if the food is bad it will overshadow just about all of your efforts. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to hire professional caterers for the event, but you will have to put some thought into the menu for your event.
You can take a somewhat informal approach and arrange to have a pizza oven at the venue so that employees can build their own pizzas, or set up a spitbraai to the delight of all the meat lovers. With that being said, attendees will most likely have a range of dietary preferences and requirements, so be sure to keep this in mind when deciding on refreshments and food. If possible, find out what everyone’s preferences are beforehand and plan accordingly.
Make it Fun for Everyone
You might have quite a formal affair in mind, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun! Open up the dance floor after the formalities are over and done with or hire a live band to entertain guests and set the mood. Rent out a photo booth accompanied by some silly costumes or engage in exciting team-building events. Let your imagination run wild and gather suggestions from co-workers to help you come up with the perfect activities for your gathering.
Hosting a year-end function is challenging, but you might find that it was well worth the effort when you reap the benefits, so start planning now!
