The Role of Celebrations in the Workplace

Sure, it's called "work," but that doesn't mean it has to be a drudge. There is a purpose for parties and celebrations at work and it directly correlates to productivity, output, energy, and job satisfaction. Workplace celebrations are an important component in keeping employees happy and focused. Read on to find out more about the role of celebrations and parties in the workplace...

Remember those "spirit" days and weeks from your high school career? The purpose was to improve morale and encourage energy and a feeling of connection. Celebrations and parties at work serve the same purpose. Even if you are not a particularly goal-driven office or employer, celebrations can still boost morale and help employees to feel appreciated and involved in the overall outcome of the company.

It is important to find or develop celebrations that are meaningful to your particular work environment. Just because other companies hold birthday parties or reward accomplishments in a certain way, doesn't mean that your employees would respond to the same events. Celebrations should both reflect the culture and purpose of the organization, and fit the individual personalities who work there. This may mean adapting celebrations and parties over time to adjust to the evolving culture and workforce.

Some suggestions for workplace celebrations may be obscure holidays (how about Boxing Day or a Mardis Gras celebration); celebrations tied to work tasks such as around inventory or after meeting a stressful deadline; and celebrations that recognize individuals such as with birthdays, employment anniversaries and other personal events. Put some energy into seeking out and developing celebrations that truly energize and build morale-instead of the typical holiday party, maybe an evening at the ballet or theatre would be more appreciated. Instead of the established "after work" gathering, maybe a potluck lunch would be better fit. Keep in mind that celebrations in the workplace should improve morale and energize workers, not add another layer of expectation and stress.

The larger and more diverse your workplace is, the bigger challenge it may be to develop appropriate celebrations. You may find it more effective to establish smaller team or department celebrations, in addition to company-wide parties. Sometimes, the opportunity for parties or celebrations can develop organically from within the department or team. Additionally, if you are in a business where you interact with the public in terms of clients or customers, it can be quite energizing to create celebrations that include these people as well.

By: Kori Rodley Irons, December 20, 2006
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