The Christmas Party

For most people, the festive season really is the most wonderful time of the year, with all the celebrations, good food, flowing wine and gifts, with friends, family and colleagues. There aren’t many companies who don’t celebrate the silly season in some way, whether through a simple workplace lunch or an extravagant, multi-day affair, and these can be both a blessing, and a curse.

In 2012, Google employees were gifted with a Chromebook or Nexus 7 tablet, in 2014 received smartwatches, and in 2016 were perhaps disappointed when the company donated gifts to underprivileged kids on their behalf.

Meanwhile, 2016 saw Apple employees receiving t-shirts and other printed goods, while Coles received employee backlask by switching their staff Christmas gifts from Lindt Chocolate to Coles branded mince pies! It seems that Christmas is more complicated than ever.

As with most business decisions, what kind of Christmas party you have needs to be weighed up and carefully considered, with your budget, your company's mission and your employees' preferences in mind. It’s important to ask yourself, ‘What is the purpose of this Christmas party?’ as your planning gets underway, to help you determine exactly what it will entail. It sounds silly, but a Christmas party that’s purely about rewarding staff will be very different to one that has the objective of giving everyone an opportunity to network with clients or bond with employees and their families.

Advantages of having a big Christmas celebration

• It rewards staff: splurging on champagne, catered food, a big venue and engaging entertainment is very clear and obvious way to reward employees, giving them an opportunity to really enjoy the party, indulge a little and get something back for their hard work.
• It offers a bonding opportunity: when the celebration is big, there are plenty of opportunities to bond, connect and form relationships.
• It gives the team a chance to have fun and let loose: just like all big celebrations, having a large Christmas party with lots going on is fun! Isn’t that what the Silly Season is all about?

Advantages of having a small Christmas celebration

• It costs the company less money, at an already expensive time of year
• It can require less effort and therefore the use of fewer company resources
• Smaller events often have a smaller chance of bad behaviour occurring
• It can give employees the chance to be rewarded in other ways. If the Christmas party only takes place over a couple of hours during the working week, they have the option of leaving early and celebrating the end of the year in their own way.

The venue

Selecting a venue for a Christmas party can be tricky, particularly if you have a tight budget and have limited funds. The first consideration: should this year’s Christmas celebration take place in the office?

Advantages of having it at the office

• You have a free venue! If you have a small office this may be difficult and spoil the fun, but if you have the space, why not use it? There won’t be any hire costs associated with using the space and your staff won’t need to travel around the city trying to find the celebration space.
• It means celebrating in an environment in which everyone feels comfortable, rather than a bar, for example, which may make some employees feel discomfort due to religious or person beliefs.

Advantages of having it out of the office

• The party is in a new, fresh and fun location, away from the stresses of the office
• The party can take place out of office hours
  
   

If not the office, where?

If you decide not to host your Christmas party in the office, you now face the prospect of finding a suitable venue, one that everyone will love, that fits within your budget, that is located in a suitable area and offers the food/drinks/activities that you want. Good luck!

Why not start by considering:

• At a restaurant: if you want to spoil your staff with a nice meal but want to keep things intimate
• At a place for an activity: for the adventurous employees, the team that enjoys bonding and the company that wants to reward its staff
• At someone’s house: for a smaller team with an offer from a generous employee
• At a bar: for the team that knows how to party that also has a very brave H.R. department

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

Most companies probably host their Christmas parties at around, well Christmas, but strangely this isn’t always the case. In 2018, David Jones reportedly postponed its Christmas party until January 2019, to ensure the employees stay focused during their busiest period and let loose once the Christmas rush is over.

For most people, the idea of having a Christmas celebration after Christmas is strange, disappointing and completely misses the point, so unless you have a compelling reason not to, celebrate in December. We recommend the last working week of the year, because:

• There often isn’t as much work to do, meaning you won’t impact productivity as much as you otherwise would
• It’s close to Christmas, meaning your employees will be feeling festive
• You and your employees will be able to unwind, relax and celebrate the year when it feels right to do so

Now, who to invite?

The attendee list for your Christmas party will depend entirely on the type of party you’re hosting, whether it be a full day of family-friendly activities or an intimate evening enjoying canapes and champagne. There are advantages and disadvantages to keeping the event just for staff, so be sure to consider all of your options before making a decision. Most importantly, determine what your objective is, or, what’s are you trying to achieve by having a party? You might be:

• Making an effort to reward your hard working employees with a fun and decadent celebration
• Looking for an opportunity to bond with your team
• Attempting to build relationships with your employees and their families

Once you’ve decided what your objective is, choose the best option, which might be:

• Just staff - to keep it within the company and to strengthen team bonds
• Staff and their spouses - to get to know your employees’ partners a little better, and make it easier for host the event outside of work hours so employees aren’t spending another night away from their loved ones
• Staff and their families - to get to know your employee’s kids and partners better, and to take the pressure off babysitting costs for the day or night

Bad behaviour and getting on the naughty list

It’s inevitable at most office Christmas parties that at least one person will end up drunk, someone will say something inappropriate and in extremely unfortunate circumstances, somebody may do something that loses them their job. Office Christmas parties, particularly when they take place during work hours, are a strange hybrid of the personal and professional, and sometimes it can be tricky to know what to allow and how to handle difficult staff.

How to handle bad behaviour

• Speak to the H.R. team prior to the event to identify negative behaviours that are likely to arise, and to determine what is and is not acceptable
• Brief all staff  before the event on what is acceptable, and what is not, and circulate an email with these details in advance
• Limit alcohol consumption where possible
• Provide transport to and from the office, if appropriate
• Have reasonable expectations. Of course some behaviour is inappropriate and should not be tolerated, but be prepared for some tipsy employees dancing like nobody's watching!

Dress-up themes

If you’re truly committed to having the best Christmas party of all time (and I hope that you are), you’ll seriously consider having a themed party, which should naturally include costumes. There’s certainly nothing wrong with a simple Christmas themed Christmas party, which allows employee  to go full Santa or simply don a red shirt. If you’re looking for something a little more exciting, consider another theme, such as:

• Under the sea
• Movies
• 1990s, 80s, 70s or a decade of your choice
• Pajama party
• Animals, insects and mythical creatures
• The Great Gatsby
• Heroes and villains
• Ugly sweaters
• Beach, sand and sun 
  
• Disney characters 
• Memes 
• Seinfeld, Friends, Cheers or another popular television program
• Superhero, Marvel and DC characters 

Office awards

Giving out office awards can be a lighthearted, amusing and sweet way to say thank-you to your employees, have a laugh together and make some funny, albeit harmless, observations about your team. You could honour employees with awards such as:

• Biggest coffee drinker
• Most punctual
• Biggest snacker
• Most prepared
• Loudest talker
• Most likely to each someone else’s lunch
• Most helpful
• Least tech savvy
• Most tech savvy
• Most competitive
• Neatest employee
• Messiest employee

Christmas Party Playlist

If you’re hosting a Christmas party in your office you simple MUST have a fun, slightly annoying and extraordinarily festive playlist to accompany to event. Sure, you should just throw on any old Christmas Spotify playlist or play non-Christmas music (gasp!), but why not put together your own list, with the best, corniest and most Santa-friendly tracks. Here is a list of our favourites:

All I Want for Christmas is You, Mariah Carey
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Miley Cyrus
Carol of the Bells, Destiny’s Child
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, John Denver
White Christmas, Elvis Presley
Deck the Halls, Mannheim Steamroller
Feliz Navidad, Jose Feliciano
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Temptations
Happy Xmas (War Is Over), John Lennon and Yoko Ono
8 Days of Christmas, Destiny’s Child
Do You Hear What I Hear, Whitney Houston
Underneath the Tree, Kelly Osborne
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, *NSYNC
Do The Know it’s Christmas, Band Aid
Deck the Halls, Mark Vincent
What Christmas Means to Me (feat. Stevie Wonder), John Legend, Stevie Wonder
Silent Night, The Temptations
Christmas in Hollis, Run-D.M.C.
What Christmas Means to Me, Stevie Wonder
Joy to the World, Aretha Franklin
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, David Campbell
Oh Holy Night, Christina Aguilera
The Little Drummer Boy, Johnny Cash
Winter Wonderland, Darlene Love
Ave Maria, Beyonce
Little Saint Nick, The Beach Boys
Please Come Home For Christmas, Anthony Hamilton
Jingle Bells, Michael Buble
When a Child is Born, Johnny Mathis
White Christmas, Bing Crosby
Christmas Time, Backstreet Boys
Sleigh Ride, Harry Connick Jr.
Mary’s Boy Child / Oh My Lord, Boney M
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, The Jackson 5
Someday at Christmas, Stevie Wonder
Winter Wonderland, Tony Bennett
Last Christmas, Wham
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Frank Sinatra
The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole
Run Rudolph Run, Chuck Berry
Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Bruce Springsteen
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Dean Martin
Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms

Updating your office furniture

As the year comes to a close and you start to think of the future, consider update your office furniture to match your new, fresh vision for the company. Welcome your staff back with ergonomic chairs, standing desks and modern cafe pieces to make their working hours as safe, compliant and friendly as possible. Some of our top picks are below, but visit Jason L for the full range, or call us to find out more.​

Hawk Fabric Office Chair Medium Back	$157	5 years	Available in multiple colours including black, blue, grey and red  Optional arms available Designed with a two-lever back tilt and back adjustment
Hawk - Drafting Chair Medium Back	$220	5 years	Available in multiple colours including black, blue, grey and red Optional arms available 120 day risk free returns included
Hawk - Fabric Office Chair Medium Back Black Height Adjustable Arms	$226	5 years	Available in multiple colours including black, blue, grey and red Optional arms available Two-level back tilt and back height-adjustment included
Swan White Nylon Office Chair - White Frame	$330	5 year	Ergonomic design Available with a black or white frame Designed with adjustable mechanisms to alter height and posture
Swan Black Mesh Office Chair - White Frame	$313	5 years	Available with a mesh, plastic or fabric back Features adjustable mechanisms and fixed arms
Dove Mesh Chair	$136	3 years	Designed with a two-level mechanism allowing for back and height adjustment Developed with a comfortable mesh back
Ergonomic Ratchet Mesh Back Operator Chair Adjustable Arms Heron	$310	5 years	Available in multiple colours including black, blue, grey and red Optional arms available Seat and back tilt and three-lever ratchet back adjustment
Swift - Office Chair Medium Back	$229	5 years	Best price guaranteed Available in multiple colours including black, blue, grey and red Optional arms available Ergonomic waterfall-shaped design
Swift - Office Medium Back Black Height Adjustable Arms	$229	5 years	Best price guaranteed Available in multiple colours including black, blue, grey and red Optional arms available Tilt and adjustments included
Smile and Enjoy - Executive Mesh Office Chair Medium Back	$693	5 years	Premium ergonomic design Four dimensional padded arms, tension control and gas lift included
Gene - Brown Executive Leather Office Chair White Frame	$1,515	5 years	Executive office chair Leather headrest and steel base Durable and professional
Eames Reproduction - Boardroom Office Chair High Back White	$367	3 years	Best price guaranteed Classic yet modern designed Back tilt adjustment included
Hawk - Laboratory Drafting Chair Medium Back Black Adjustable Arms	$356	5 years	Best price guaranteed Back tilt adjustment and extra foot support included
Swift - Ergonomic Task Chair High Back	$277	5 years	Best price guaranteed Available in multiple colours including black, blue, grey and red Optional arms available High back and adjustable levels included in this ergonomic design

Litewall Panel - Panel Office Desk Office Furniture White Leg	$252	10 years	Available in a range of desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Available in three colours including 1200L x 800W, 1600L x 800W and 1800L x 800W  Optional pedestal
Elements - Modern Office Desk Office Furniture White JC Leg 1000	$352	10 years	Available in multiple desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Optional modesty panel Available in multiple sizes included 1200L x 800W, 1600L x 800W and 1800L x 800W Best price guaranteed
Litewall Panel - L-Shaped Corner Panel Office Desk White Leg	$463	10 years	Best price guaranteed Available in a range of colours including white, maple and weng  Optional pedestal Available in multiple sizes including 1600L x 1550W, 1600L x 1800W, 1800L x 1550W and 1800L x 1800W
Litewall - Student Home or Office Desk White Leg	$237	10 years	Clean, simple design at an affordable price Available in a range of desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Best price guarantee
L-Shaped Corner Office Desk White JC Leg Elements 1000	$490	10 years	Chic and sophisticated design Best price guarantee Available in a range of colours including white, maple and wenge Optional modesty
Sit-Stand Range - Electric Corner Standing Desk Black Frame Left or Right Side Return	$1,320	10 years	Spacious and modern design with sit/stand option Best price guarantee Available in multiple desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Optional modesty Available in multipl colours including 1600L x 1550W, 1600L x 1800W, 1800L x 1550W and 1800L x 1800W
Executive Office Desk Blackjack	$520	10 years	Clean, stylish design Available in multiple sizes including 1600L x 800W, 1800L x 800W Optional desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Two modesty panels available
Elements - Office Desk with Mobile Storage Unit White Leg 1000 Office Furniture	$786	10 years	Available in multiple desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Optional modesty panel available Available in multiple sizes including 1600L x 800W, 1800L x 800W and 1200L x 800W Optional mobile caddy
San Fran - Executive Office Desk Chrome Leg	$725	10 years	Available in multiple sizes including 1600L x 800W, 1800L x 800W and 1200L x 800W Available in multiple desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Three modesty panels available  Laminate desktop finish
San Fran - L-Shaped Corner Office Desk with Black Leg Office Furniture Online	$925	10 years	Best price guaranteed Available in multiple sizes including 1600L x 1550W, 1600L x 1800W, 1800L x 1550W and 1800L x 1800W Available in multiple desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Spacious corner design
San Fran - L-Shaped Corner Office Desk with Chrome Leg	$1,020	10 years	Strong, chrome legs Best price guaranteed Available in multiple desktop colours including white, maple and wenge Two modesty options Available in multiple sizes including 1600L x 1550W, 1600L x 1800W, 1800L x 1550W and 1800L x 1800W

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Petite Single Seater Lounger	$578	3 years	Modern, comfortable design Ideal for a reception area or office space Designed with a steel frame
Drej Double Lounge - Black Leg	$601	5 years	Available in three colours including dark grey, light grey and black PU Modern and stylish design
Lux Double Seater	$751	3 years	Classic design for the luxurious office  Natural wood arms
Drej Single Lounge - Black Leg	$480	5 years	Bold, professional design Available in three colours including dark grey, light grey and black PU
Drej Single Lounge - Chrome Leg	$480	5 years	Available in three colours including dark grey, light grey and black PU Strong chrome legs included Stylish design
Lux Brown Single Seater Lounge	$578	3 years	Ideal for the executive or CEO Light wood arms
Hush Triple Seater Lounge	$2,022	3 years	Unique design, perfect for an informal catch-up or quiet call Steel tubing frame  Comfortable seats three
Wave Plastic Chair - Dart Base White	$114	5 years	Available in white and black plastic Delivered flat packed for ease Ideal for meeting spaces and conference rooms
Wave Fabric Chair - Swivel Base Black	$264	5 years	Available in three upholstered colours including blue, grey and burgudy Ultra comfortable and modern design
Wave Fabric Chair - Sled Base Chrome	$191	5 years	Comfortable and soft design Available in two colours including blue and grey Available in plastic or upholstered varieties
Teddy Plastic Tub Chair - 4 Legged Black	$139	5 years	Affordable option Available in multiple colours including black, light blue and white Synthetic design
Teddy Fabric Tub Chair - 4 Legged Natural Wood	$311	5 years	Available in two colours including black and light blue Made with a dynamic design for comfort
One Seater Reception Lounge Champ	$609	5 years	Inviting, comfortable and luxurious design Made with upholstered genuine black leather and a stainless steel base
Modern Office Single Seater Sofa Wood Frame Fabric Seat Venerdi	$809	3 years	Stunning dark grey leather padding Ideal for reception spaces or offices Natural oak wood legs
Premium Reception Chair Ashtree Wood Frame Fabric Seat Meltin	$499	3 years	Clean, simple design with dark grey seat cover and natural oak wood leg material Made with imported fabric
Visitor / Reception Chair Ashtree Wood Frame Fabric Seat Vernice	$313	3 years	Made with imported, Gabriel fabric Supportive and comfortable design
Cafe Restaurant Furniture - Red	$70	5 years	Best price guarantee Bold colour and comfortable design
Stackable Visitor Chair Plastic Mellow	$50	1 year	Easily stackable Affordable option for meetings and breakout spaces
Cafe Restaurant Chair - Grey	$64	5 years	Polished chrome legs Available in multiple colours including cream, red and mocha
Switch Collaborative Large Counter Table - Black Frame	$1,129	10 years	A wonderful addition to a kitchen, breakout or meeting space Strong, high quality design Ideal for stools
Switch Collaborative Large Counter Table - White Frame	$1,129	10 years	Available in multiple colours including white, maple and wenge Ideal for impromptu meetings or offices with limited space
Counter Height Office Cafeteria / Bar Table Black Leg	$440	5 years	Available in multiple colours including white, maple and wenge Affordable kitchen or meeting table
Sapphire - Tall Round Bar Counter Table Black Leg	$309	5 years	Available in a range of table top colours including white, maple and wenge A cafe-style table for brief chats or lunch dates Ideal for stools
Sapphire Counter Table Black Leg	$751	5 years	Available in multiple colours including white, maple and wenge Stylish, simple and modern design Powder coated steel leg finish
Talent - Wooden Cafe Table Black Leg	$161	3 years	Available in a range of table top colours including white and black Stylish cafe design
Sapphire - Cafe Table Black Cast Iron Base	$299	5 years	Available in a range of table top colours including white, maple and wenge Ribbed and spun stainless steel edge
Square Cafe Table Four Star Barbet Base	$146	3 years	Uniquely design table Available in a range of table top colours including white, maple, inox and wenge
Round Office Table - Barbet Four Star Base	$164	3 years	Available in a range of table top colours including white, maple, inox and wenge Affordable table Ideal for a small office
Replica Knoll Nakishima Straight Chair- Natural Wood	$289	3 years	Classic wooden design Comfortable yet simple
Replica Knoll Nakishima Staight Chair - Black Wood	$289	3 years	Modern yet classic appearance Appropriate for a home or corporate office
Boardroom Table Premium Square Table Indented Chrome Legs Blackjack	$945	10 years	Available in a range of desktop colours including white, black, maple and wenge Available in multiple sizes including 3600L x 1200W, 2400L x 1200W and 1200L x 1200W
Boardroom Table Premium Square Table Indented Chrome Legs Blackjack	$945	10 years	Available in a range of desktop colours including white, black, maple and wenge Available in multiple sizes including 3600L x 1200W, 2400L x 1200W and 1200L x 1200W
Switch Counter High - Wood Frame	$639	NA	Available in a range of colours including white,  maple and wenge Available in multiple sizes including 1800L x 800W, 1600L x 800W and 1200L x 800W
Litewall - Modern Boardroom Table - White Legs	$377	5 years	Available in a range of colours including white, black  maple and wenge Strong, bold design
Resetto - Square Meeting / Boardroom Table White Legs	$480	3 years	Available in a range of colours including white, black  maple and wenge Simple and affordable office table
Switch Boardroom Table - Wood Imprint Frame	$909	10 years	Available in a range of colours including white, black  maple and wenge Affordable yet high quality boardroom table, ideal for an executive team
Switch Meeting Table - Wood Frame	$684	10 years	Unique table for a small team Available in a range of colours including white, black  maple and wenge
Switch Small Round Meeting Room Table - Wood Imprint Frame	$450	10 years	Available in a range of colours including white, maple and wenge Perfect for brief catch-ups
Switch Large Round Meeting Room Table - Wood Imprint Frame	$722	10 years	Available in a range of colours including white, maple and wenge Affordable meeting room solution Available in two sizes: 1350mm D and 1500mm D
Resetto - Round Table Black Legs	$426	3 years	Available in a range of colours including white, maple and wenge Basic office table with supportive base Available in two sizes: 1000mm D and 1200mm D
Resetto - Round Table Wooden Legs	$511	3 years	Available in a range of colours including white, maple and wenge Available in two sizes: 1000mm D and 1200mm D Beautiful wooden design for any setting
Switch Collaborative Large Counter Table - White Frame	$1,129	10 years	Best price guarantee Available in a range of colours including white, maple and wenge Available in multiple sizes including 2400L x 800W, 3200L x 800W and 3600L x 800W
Switch Round Meeting Room Table - White Frame	$533	10 years	Best price guarantee Available in a range of colours including white, maple and wenge Simple, affordable meeting room table
Kody Rectangle Coffee Table	$252	5 years	Interesting and modern design Perfect for a corporate or home office

From all of us here at Jason L, we wish you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year, filled with friends, family, good food, presents and affordable and fabulous office furniture! 

 We will be closed from 21 December, 2018, opening again on 2 January, 2019. 

 Sources

1. The Christmas Party Shakeup: How Aussie Workplaces Will Be Celebrating This Festive Season
Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/blog/aussie-workplace-christmas-party-ds00/

2. Company Christmas Party Ideas: Ideas for Making Your Company Christmas Party a Fun, Successful Event
The Balance Small Business
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/company-christmas-party-ideas-2948292

3. Organising the Christmas Party for your SME
Adzuna 
https://www.adzuna.com.au/blog/2017/10/03/organising-christmas-party-sme/

4. Here's How Google, Facebook, and LEGO Celebrate Christmas in 2016
Medium
https://medium.com/@OakLomon/heres-how-google-facebook-and-lego-celebrated-christmas-this-year-7231437981c3

5. Here Are Apple's Christmas Gifts To Its Empoyees; You Won't Like Them For Sure
WCCFTECH
https://wccftech.com/apples-christmas-gift-employees/

6. How Facebook Keeps Employees Happy in the World's Largest Open Office: Here's how the social networking service makes its massive, single-building office space work to bolster productivity, collaboration, and creativity. 
Inc.
https://www.inc.com/tanner-christensen/how-facebook-keeps-employees-happy-in-the-worlds-largest-open-office.html

7. Coles Christmas gift causes employee outrage as staff given fruit mince pies instead of chocolate
The Courier Mail
https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/coles-christmas-gift-causes-employee-outrage-as-staff-given-fruit-mince-pies-instead-of-chocolate/news-story/75183f0d23c5812b9c43dc9083c9aae7?nk=a41e9a127c77b1f8db0c373c4eba1267-1544676146

8. 21 thoughtful corporate gifts your employees will actually like
Business Insider
https://www.businessinsider.com/thoughtful-corporate-gifts-2018-7/?r=AU&IR=T

9. Christmas Presents and Bonuses for Your Employees: Can the Employer Be Less Generous Than Santa?
Langlois
https://langlois.ca/christmas-presents-bonuses-employees-can-employer-less-generous-santa/

10. 15 Unique and Fun College Party Themes
Seventeen
https://www.seventeen.com/life/g22229925/college-party-themes/