A company party is a good way to raise moral in the workplace and create an atmosphere of teamwork and camaraderie. While birthdays are often celebrated at the office, a party that does not focus on any particular individual is usually best for increasing morale, especially since people have birthdays quite often, which can make them routine.
Company outings
Company parties that take place outside the office can be a great way for coworkers to relax and socialize without the obvious reminders of work all around them. Some popular company outings are company picnics, bowling, going out to a bar, karaoke or going to an amusement park. Another advantage of company outings is that the families of employees can be included. The drawbacks of going off-site include the fact that the outing is almost invariably done on the employee's time and that at certain venues, employees may split up, or not intermingle or communicate as much as would be desired.
Theme parties
The theme party is one of the most popular types of office parties. While theme parties often involve a holiday, such as a Halloween costume party or Christmas party, they need not be based upon a holiday. Throwing a party based on a theme that relates to the company or the specific work group can be a fun way to have a creative party. For example, a work group of graphic designers could throw a party where they bring in and share old work from their college or high school days. Sometimes the hobbies or interest of workers or inside jokes of the office can be effectively turned into the theme of a party.
Activity oriented parties
A failing of many office parties is that they include no activity other than a theme and some food or drinks, leaving the employees with nothing to do but talk with their coworkers, whom they talk to all the time anyway. Making an activity the theme of a party or having activities prepared as options is a good way to keep a party from reverting to standard water cooler talk. Board games and video games are great activities that are easy to set up, and are things most people are familiar with, though they likely have never played with their coworkers. Running a mock casino or holding lighthearted contests are also ways to facilitate new types of interaction between coworkers.
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