Holiday party ideas for offices, shops, restaurants and shift-based teams, with a planning checklist, inclusion tips, alcohol and pay considerations, and budget advice.
A holiday party is one of the few times a year when the whole team, owners included, can relax together. Done well, it thanks people for a busy year and helps people from different shifts and roles get to know each other. Done badly, it excludes some people, creates awkward or unsafe situations or feels like an obligation. Good planning makes the difference. See our glossary entry on the company holiday party.
To record clock-ins, breaks and overtime automatically, see EZTime time and attendance software.
| Format | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catered lunch at work | Teams that cannot easily meet after hours | Run it across shifts or repeat for night staff |
| Potluck | Small teams on a budget | Provide main dishes; make contributions optional |
| Restaurant dinner | Small to mid-size teams | Book early; check dietary needs |
| Activity outing | Teams wanting something different | Bowling, mini golf, escape rooms, cooking class |
| Daytime family event | Teams with many parents | Kids’ activities, earlier finish |
| After-season party in January | Retail, restaurants and others busy in December | Lower venue costs; staff can actually attend |
| Breakfast or brunch | Early-shift teams and those avoiding alcohol | Cheaper and inclusive |
Retail, hospitality and delivery businesses are often at their busiest in December. Many choose to celebrate in January, when the team can relax and venues are easier to book. See our guide on holiday season staffing.
Decide in advance whether the party is voluntary. If you require hourly, non-exempt employees to attend, or the event involves work such as speeches, setup or serving, the time is generally paid work time and counts toward overtime. A truly voluntary event outside working hours, where no work is done, is often not work time, but make it clear that attendance is optional and that nobody will be treated differently for not coming. Employees who set up, serve or clean up must be paid for that time. Record it like any other shift.
Alcohol is the most common source of problems at work parties, including harassment, fights and drunk driving. Employers can face liability for incidents linked to work events. Ways to reduce the risk:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8–10 weeks before | Set budget, date and format; check shift coverage; book venue |
| 6 weeks before | Send save-the-date; ask about dietary needs and access needs |
| 4 weeks before | Confirm catering, activities and transport; plan the schedule |
| 2 weeks before | Send reminders; confirm who is working and who is covering shifts |
| 1 week before | Remind everyone of conduct expectations and ride options |
| After | Thank the team; share photos; collect feedback for next year |
If you give gifts, keep them equal across the team. Cash and gift cards are generally taxable wages and should go through payroll; small, low-value, occasional non-cash holiday gifts can be treated as non-taxable de minimis benefits. Check with your payroll provider. For ideas, see our employee recognition ideas.
A short survey or a few conversations after the party will tell you what to repeat and what to change. Ask whether the time and place worked, whether people felt welcome, what they enjoyed most and what they would change. Pay attention to who did not attend and why: if most of the night shift stayed away, the timing may have been the problem. Write a short note with the date, venue, cost per person, attendance and feedback, so whoever plans next year’s event starts with real information rather than memory.
For businesses that never close, decide who will cover operations during the event and how they will be thanked, for example with a separate meal, a gift or paid time off later. Rotate coverage duty from year to year so the same people do not always miss out. Use our holiday coverage schedule template.
If your team is spread across sites or works remotely, consider sending meal vouchers or care packages and holding a short video call, or running separate small events at each location with the same budget per person. A shared photo channel can bring the events together.
EZTime helps you schedule coverage around the party, let employees swap shifts in the app, and record paid time for anyone who works setup, service or a required event. Learn more about holiday scheduling.
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks before | Pick the date and format; book a venue if needed |
| 6 weeks before | Ask about dietary needs and accessibility |
| 4 weeks before | Send invitations; plan shift cover |
| 2 weeks before | Confirm numbers, transport and alcohol plan |
| After | Thank people and collect feedback |
Small, warm events often matter more than expensive venues. See employee appreciation party ideas.
Many teams use “holiday party” or “end-of-year celebration” so people of every background feel welcome. Mention food options for different diets, alcohol-free drinks and accessibility details. Make clear whether attendance is optional, and if it is, avoid pressuring people who prefer not to come.
Tick each item already planned.
0 of 6. Your party could leave people out. Start with date, cover and inclusion.
Catered lunches, potlucks, restaurant dinners, activity outings, brunches and January after-season parties, plus activities like gift exchanges and trivia.
If attendance is required for hourly employees, or they do work at the event, the time is generally paid.
Use a general holiday or year-end theme, offer varied food and non-alcoholic drinks, choose an accessible venue and a time every shift can attend.
It is optional. If you do, limit drinks, serve food, use trained bartenders and offer rides home.
Often in January, after the busy season, when staff can attend and venues are cheaper.
Cash and gift cards generally are; small non-cash items are often not. Check with your payroll provider.
Because EzTip runs inside EZTime, the tip pool can be split using the same hours that go to payroll. See current plans and what each one includes on the pricing page.