“My boss told me to have a good day…so, I went home.”
The above is an old joke and as comedy is often the truest reflection of society, it underlines the fact that for way too many people, the workplace is not a place for fun.
I completely disagree.
While there should be standards of professionalism and conduct, good, clean fun not only promotes camaraderie and esprit de corps, but also has been proven to increase overall productivity and retention. As a business leader, I feel it is my duty to set the tone for my company- I set the company culture and corporate environment. I want people to look forward to coming to work, smile when they see it is me calling and have a general optimistic and positive outlook on work.
This is not just for my team. I want the people we work with to get that same feeling. I want the community that I live in and the people I interact with to love what they do and who they are as a person. Positive energy is infectious.
In this blog, I wanted to give you five ideas to have fun in the workplace for Halloween. However, as the end of the year approaches, and we are in the FINAL QUARTER OF THE DECADE, this idea of fun should not be relegated to just one day, or a couple- it should be a common occurrence, a lifestyle of the company in perpetuity. Sure, you and your team have to absolutely grind at times and we all know there are tasks that absolutely suck no matter how much spin you put on it. That is where the fun comes in because it allows you to have the momentum and energy to get through because you know that not every task is laborious and mundane.
So, here are five ideas, specifically for Halloween.
Go Reverse Trick or Treating With Your Team- Pass Out Candy
Last Halloween, my team and I dressed up like various dwarves from Snow White and the 7 Dwarves. This year we are going as “Busy Bees”. We went to other businesses in our suite and passed out candy and spent a very brief moment just bringing a moment of levity to others around us. You would not believe how many companies got into the act and bantered with us. We built relationships that had not existed before and a couple of those businesses have even become our clients. Not saying to do this for the sake of getting business, but it was a nice secondary benefit.
Halloween Games & Contests
In the office, get a catered lunch and invite all the staff to participate in any game(s) that you can think of. Telling a scary story, painting a picture, the best costume- whatever. Give out prizes and reward effort and ability.
Catered Breakfast/ Lunch is a Great Way to “BOO”-st Morale.
Not every company has the luxury for employees to not be working as normal during the workday. If you are (or even if you are not in that segment) a catered breakfast/lunch or just a cake in the break room is always a nice treat. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy. It can be just pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider and doughnuts to something more elaborate. It is the thought that counts, here.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
As a father and business owner, I have had to make sacrifices my entire life when it comes to balancing family and work. I would do my best to make games, performances and other activities for my sons, however sometimes work comes first. One of the things you may want to consider is a pumpkin carving contest. Give each employee a pumpkin with the option to have their family/children help carve them. You can have them take it home and bring it in on Halloween for judging. Recognize the importance of your team’s family time and turn a work thing into a family adventure.
Halloween Volunteering.
One of the things that we often forget while we are having fun, is that sometimes the world is a lot harder for many people. Although you never need a reason to volunteer, there are always holiday events in which people can help. For Halloween, contact a local charity and pass out candy to kids. I know I find in my life, that helping others centers me, recharges me and reminds me to be grateful. This one may not be as much “fun” as some of the other, but to me this is the one best for the soul.
Bringing it all together. Have fun and instill a positive corporate culture. When you do this, productivity, teamwork, sentiment and other areas will improve. Take any of these fun ideas and make the idea last much longer then Halloween and you will reap the benefits. Make every day a day that your employees look forward to coming to work.
Until Next Time,
Your Staffing Partner, Darrin Rohr- President, CEO and Chief Servant
Current owner of HH Staffing and Former Chief HR Officer for several successful Multinational Fortune 500 Companies. Brings fresh perspective from decades of experiences creating Great Workplace Cultures by building high performance teams while leading and managing people from all different backgrounds. HH Staffing is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida and is uniquely positioned to serve both local and national clients.
