Why this Christmas is more of a family affair than ever
With corporate budgets under scrutiny, the annual Christmas party is evolving. But, far from shelving corporate parties, recognition events and staff incentives, this type of occasion is being revised to include employees’ family members as a more sympathetic way to celebrate in the current climate.
By Liz Taylor, founder and CEO of the Taylor Lynn Corporation
A lavish party right now might feel in bad taste or be unaffordable. But I, along with the majority of the country, also hold the annual Christmas party in the highest regard. It’s a way of recognising the year gone by and galvanising teams for the year ahead. A thank you and a motivator. In short – it's important.
Most teams look forward to it all year, so rather than scale back or hold a jaded low budget version, we’ve evolved our approach as event planners. Combining staff retention events with family occasions creates a reward for everyone. Christmas is all about family after all.
We’re currently in full Christmas party planning mode at TLC, and a large proportion of those events are being organised as family parties. The company managers we’re speaking to still want to thank and recognise their teams, but also are mindful not to appear to be spending wastefully during an economic crisis. The family Christmas party makes perfect sense in this scenario.
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
We have one technology client who places great value on the importance of family in their business. Each year they hold a summer event which is all about bringing families together. During summertime, we’re brought in to oversee their festival style event, a Glastonbury type affair where adults soaked up the festival vibes and children were entertained with fairground rides and stalls while live entertainment wowed the crowds. The feedback at this event is always fantastic, and it’s become a fixture. Many companies are infusing this approach to the festive season too with family led events.
The event industry is dynamic and has always had to flex with the economy or world events. These things are out of our individual control. How we respond is not. We dig deep and find new ways that are creative, and that make sense as society evolves. Right now, a family party is an ideal solution. It achieves success on two levels; rewarding the employee, and adding value because they can see their families being rewarded too.
For the employee it takes away an added cost of Christmas. I think most families feel pressured to attend expensive light shows and increasingly extravagant Santa visits. By developing events that have a family appeal, companies can celebrate with their teams and feel safe that the money is being spent in a way that feels more appropriate. It’s more sensitive to the bigger economic picture.
And the added bonus for event planners? Family events are a whole lot of fun to organise. Imagination can run wild. At Christmas a family event can be even more magical. Bring the light show to your employees. Hire in real reindeer and have mischievous elves cause havoc. Watch ice sculptures created in real time. Dine in igloos or go ice skating. Something a little edgier? Bring in a graffiti wall and have the kids help to design a Santa scene. Or create a Heston style edible, life-sized gingerbread house that guests can nibble at on their way in!
These are blue skies ideas of course – and if budget is the main driver for a family party, then it can absolutely be achieved on a smaller scale. You can forgo the expensive, all night, free-flowing booze and replace with a few drinks for mum and dad and a Christmas wonderland for the kids.
And in actual fact, an indirect benefit to this type of occasion is that the company can manage the cost more efficiently, as generally family events take part at off peak times and people tend to drink less.
Photo by LuAnn Hunt on Unsplash
Photo by LuAnn Hunt on Unsplash
Sunday afternoons and Saturday mornings are ideal for family parties, meaning the expensive prime time venue hire can be waivered. Maybe you look at a different take on Christmas? Offer the food in a more casual style, with freshly baked turkey pies and street food stalls – Yorkshire pudding wrap anyone?
The point is, this is no less of an event, it is more. That's because you are investing more in what matters to employers, which in most cases, is families.
A final thought. For me, the family event is a trend that is set to continue way beyond Christmas. Companies are looking to re-engage with employees and bring their teams together in increasingly imaginative ways. With the focus shifting to employee wellbeing, with flexible working, four-day weeks and more family-focused workplaces being trialled, the UK is edging towards a more Scandinavian approach to working. Family events will undoubtedly be at the core of this ideology.
And don’t forget that summer events lend themselves perfectly to family gatherings too…
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