How not to screw up a holiday office party…
Friday, December 22, 2023. “Staff Writer” here! Just the best breaking research you can use. Happy holidays!
I’ve been really enjoying reading breaking German social science. The German nation has serious economic challenges, and it’s fascinating to see how a truly conscientious nation manages adversity.
Because I have a degree in labor studies as well as Marriage and Family Therapy, I figure I’d discuss the two factors that contribute the most to employee dissatisfaction at German office Christmas parties. Perhaps it might make sense to several of my clients who own or manage firms here in the States.
When it comes to the office Christmas party, there are four factors linked to employee satisfaction in Germany:
The party should not be held in the office.
The tone of the party should be informal.
A successful office party should offer fun games and activities.
The party should be emblematic of a human-resource sensibility.
2 things to avoid… formality and too much booze…
In contrast, the survey of 359 employees in various German companies revealed that formality and heavy drinking were linked to higher overall dissatisfaction with the office Christmas party.
Professor Hannes Zacher, the study’s author, said:
“The Christmas party as a ritual is a reflection of the organization’s culture, and should be something that celebrates the past year.
The party should be a ray of hope at the end of the year, a nice tradition.”
The goal of decreasing disatisfaction?
Professor Zacher examined both employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction as discrete variables, persuasively arguing that someone who is not dissatisfied is not necessarily satisfied.
Formal parties that involved heavy drinking were linked to higher employee dissatisfaction.
However, dissatisfaction was reduced when:
A selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages was provided.
A short, meaningful speech from the management.
The event expresses an authentic human relations culture.
Professor Zacher provided some tips for organizers of office Christmas parties:
Fun games might included visiting an escape room, karaoke, having a photo box, Secret Santa or some other surprise-inducing activities.
It’s preferable that the surprize gift be in someway personalized to jobs.
Speeches should be short, entertaining and positive, avoiding singling any particular human out.
The firm should pay for the the costs associated with the office party.
Employees should be consulted in the planning of the party.
Christmas spirit is fungible…
Leave it to the pragmatic Germans. Professor Zacher also surprised me by suggesting that the Christmas spirit is not an essential factor in successful office parties.
In fact, in Germany, some enterprises are choosing to hold them in January to avoid the otherwise time-crunched and stressful Christmas week.
Professor Zacher said:
“The Christmas atmosphere is not absolutely necessary.
It’s about getting together in an informal setting and not just talking about work.
This maintains the social glue.”
Final Thoughts…
I want to personally thank my new clients that have discovered me and my new private practice by way of this blog. It’s been a helluva year for me.
But wonderful humans showed up in my life to help see me through. It’s hard to believe how far I have come since March 1, 2023.
I am so profoundly grateful, especially to you, David Reed Brown! And to Grace, My dear son, Dan, Charley, Art, Vanessa, Jade, my therapist of 20 years, Mike Lew, My dear friend Patrick from across the pond, Robbie, Michele Weiner-Davis, Jojo, Rozy, 6 other Mikes, Marly, who advocated for me ceaselessly, Steve, and Meg, my new housemate, who helps me with so much. Thank you all, dearly.
I’m especially full of gratitude for all my wonderful new clients who found me this year.
And to all the researchers! Without them I would not have a blog worth reading.
Special thanks to David, Eli and Brian for their generosity with my follow up questions.
And a shout-out to my friends at Meraki branding in Greece! who are about to give this little website another turbo charge!
Because this is a particularly stressful season, I’ll be available to see you though it too…
I’m not closing for a holiday break. I’m open… and listening… through, and to, the New Year of 2024.
It’s gonna be a doozy!
Be well, stay kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Zacher, H. The company Christmas party and employee happiness. Sci Rep 13, 337 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-27473-y
