5 Important Things You Should Keep In Mind for This Year's Holiday Party

Are you planning your company's holiday party? For many businesses, a holiday party is the perfect way to make their employees feel appreciated and to start off the next year in the right mood. But that doesn't mean it's all fun and games.

1. Keep everyone's dietary needs in mind when planning any meals or desserts -- the most important thing to remember is allergies. Some people may be so allergic to something (such as shellfish or nuts) that simply being in the same room could cause a severe reaction. Other people may be on specific diets, such as vegetarians or those who keep kosher.
2. Providing alcohol may open your company up to liabilities. For many companies, it simply isn't a holiday party without some light alcoholic beverages. But it's ideal to have a professional bartender on the scene, as they are trained to recognize when a person may have had a little too much.
3. It's a good idea not to hand out company bonuses or gifts during the party itself; instead, hand them out when people are heading home from the party (or not at the party at all). If you give gifts at the beginning, people will invariably open them and compare them throughout the party, and this can lead to hard feelings, rumors and other related issues.
4. Always make sure that there's a safe option for your employees to return home. If your party is serving alcohol, the best thing you can do is provide a chauffeur on-site for those who may have had a little too much to drink. Valets can also help by ensuring that anyone who isn't safe to drive can be safely taken care of.
5. Remember that everyone should feel included at a holiday party -- and that means making the holiday party as diverse and inclusive as possible. If you aren't certain how to proceed, your human resources department can help you. You can also create a very neutral holiday party -- but, of course, that also all depends on your company's culture.

If you plan appropriately, a holiday party can be something that your employees -- and yourself -- will be talking about for years to come. You simply need to make sure that you've covered all of your bases.