Tag: Halloween

Celebrating Halloween can Make for Happier Employees

Seriously, who doesn’t love Halloween? There’s something for everyone whther it is costumes, games, scares, and of course tricks and treats! It’s definitely no longer a holiday just for children so getting your office in on the fun is a win-win.

Remember the saying about all work and no play? Multiple studies have proven that making sure employee morale is a priority is good for your bottom line . Happy employees are more productive; they are more willing to foster teamwork and are more loyal to their company. And really, who says work has to be boring anyway?
It really doesn’t take much effort to celebrate.

Most everyone in our office already decorates their cubicles and work areas. Add a few decorations and some music in the breakroom (think Thriller, Sympathy for the Devil, Zombie, Werewolves of London and of course Monster Mash) and you’re all set. If you have a TV in a common area you could stream some scary movies (stick to the old classics like Frankenstein and Dracula rather than newer ones like Halloween and Friday the 13th which might not be for everyone due to their gore, violence and adult themes).

Spring for lunch that day or have a pot luck so everyone can bring in their best Halloween themed dish. Candy is of course a MUST! Make sure there’s something for everyone so keep in mind any dietary restrictions your employees might have.

Everyone loves some healthy competition. Have a contest for the most creative costume, best Halloween dessert or scariest decorations and give the winners a prize. If you have some employees that aren’t comfortable dressing up or just want to give everyone a chance at a prize, you can always put everyone’s name into a raffle and give away some gift cards or a coupon for a free lunch from one of the local take-out places.

Whatever you do to celebrate in your office, “don’t be scared” to have fun.

3 Easy Costume Tips to Follow for This Year’s Halloween Office Party

Even though Halloween in the office is all about getting dressed up and having a blast, there are a few costume tips to follow. First you want to make sure you follow the dress code if your office has one. All of the basic office rules still apply even during a party. Follow these three costume tips at your next Halloween office party:

  • Keep it simple – A Halloween office party doesn’t call for a full body costume. Keep it simple by dressing down, so to say. Go for a funny hat or a themed t-shirt. Try not to pick a costume that requires props, they can get in the way of the festivities.
  • Keep it safe – Safety is still important even during a party. When you are on work premises you must abide to the rules. Be safe this Halloween and avoid wearing a mask or any loose fitting clothing that might get stepped on or caught in something.
  • Make it fun – Instead of wearing a mask, wear a crazy colored wig or try to paint your face! Use bright colors to look like a clown, or get creative and do your makeup to look like a hungry zombie.

Corporate Halloween Party Ideas

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Today, many companies are adopting a more relaxed policy towards celebrating Halloween.  Allowing employees to dress up for the holiday is number one for corporate Halloween party ideas.

Ground rules are important.  Costumes should not be restrictive or interfere with the employees’ normal duties.   Of course, anything sexual or revealing would not be allowed.  Otherwise, a few witches, ghosts, and ghouls may actually create a great atmosphere.

Second on the list for your corporate Halloween party would be a few snacks which the employees would enjoy supplying.  Black and Orange cupcakes, ghostly cookies and spider webs (see recipe below) would be welcome treats.

Third would be the great parade.  Decide on a few judges beforehand.  Taking a half hour to parade around the office will help to loosen up the atmosphere.  The prize for the best costume could be something like a $5 gift card for coffee.

You may ask, why go through all the trouble.  Well, consider this – a relaxed employee is a happy employee.  Happy employees are certainly more productive.  By relaxing the corporate atmosphere, you will create a better work environment.

Happy Halloween!

 

Spider Webs

1 8oz pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 can crispy Chinese noodles

1 can peanuts

Directions:

Melt chips in a double boiler.  Add noodles and ½ can of peanuts.  Mix well.  Drop by tablespoon on waxed paper.  Refrigerate one hour.

Decorating Your Office For Halloween

Halloween is my favorite fun holiday.  Children and adults alike excitedly looked forward to this day from many years past and I am sure for many years to follow.  It is important that we bring the spirit of holidays into the office, since we spend most of our day at work.  When we decorate our cubicle and because everyone has their own creativity, the office is glowing with exciting themes.  DECORATING YOUR OFFICE FOR HALLOWEEN is fun and brings pleasure to all who participate.

In my office, we not only decorate but we can also dress-up in our favorite costume, if we choose.  We are actually out of character and changed into a new, and sometimes mysterious unrecognizable character.  It is so much fun that morning watching everyone come through the door.  It is not only a great day for the staff, but, also for the children.  Our wonderful company allows our children to visit our Halloween neighborhood.   Our cubicles are designed to each represent a stop along the way of Trick or Treat Alley.  The little princesses and goblins show off their Halloween styles and get a treat at each desk they stop at.  So, no matter what the weather, Halloween will be a big success in a very fun and safe environment and the employees and their families will not miss out on sharing the Halloween festivities.

Halloween Costume Etiquette In The Office

halloween-office

Halloween is coming up soon and with it all the fun of the costumes we’ve been working so hard on!  However most of us will still be working in the office on the day of as well as the few days before.  Some of our workplaces allow us to wear our costumes for Halloween however you may not be sure if you should.  This is completely normal as the costumes are made for Halloween and not for the office.  Depending on your workplace it may be better not to or to change your outfit to make it suited for work.

Dress code policies differ between companies obviously so the best and easiest way to practice Halloween costume etiquette in the office is to ask human resources or the responsible persons if your costume is okay.  This will save you trouble later on if it is indeed not fit for the office.  Some workplaces are stricter about dress codes than others however so you’ll have a pretty good idea beforehand if you can or cannot wear a certain costume you have in mind.  If you ask and it ends up being okay however this doesn’t mean anything goes. (Unless they specifically said so, which congratulations on your awesome job!)  A Halloween costume you will wear in work should reflect the company’s image and maintain somewhat of a professional standard.  You should obviously be able to work in it, so huge metal Ironman suits are probably not okay. (Sorry guy from Comic Con).  If your costume doesn’t impede your or the company’s workflow and doesn’t violate any policies or reflect badly on the company then you are good to go.  Happy Halloween, can’t wait to see all the cool costumes this year.