By: Cathie Ericson
It’s never too early to plan the holiday party—and for many fun-loving groups the holiday office gift exchange is a highlight. Here are some ideas for making spirits bright with extra-special holiday office party ideas.
Shake Up the Office Holiday Gift Exchange
“Secret Santa” is fun, but it may be time to add something new to your holiday office games repertoire. Party on with these four office gift exchange ideas that can keep it lively.
Roll The Dice Holiday Gift Exchange
Have everyone bring a wrapped gift under $20. As people enter the room, they take a gift; then you pass around a die and each person rolls. You can make a chart such as:
1 – Unwrap your gift
2 – Trade gifts with the person across from you
3 – Trade your gift with the person to your left
4 – Trade your gift with the person to your right
5 – Trade your gift with a person of your choice
6 – Unwrap your gift
Wacky Office Supply Exchange
If your office is known for its zany culture, you can emphasize the fun with an exchange of desk decor or other office supplies that can make the January workdays a little brighter.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Exchange
While the “Ugly Christmas” sweater trend has peaked a bit, you can keep it fresh and fun by making it part of the exchange. Everyone swaps ugly Christmas sweaters and receivers try to guess whom it came from. The bonus is that if you are invited to a traditional ugly Christmas sweater party thrown by family or neighbors, you’ll have something new to wear in the photos that are sure to circulate on social media.
Office Holiday Good Deed Exchange
What better way to spread goodwill than to have a good deed exchange? You can draw names and do something thoughtful for that person the week before the event, whether it’s bringing in a special coffee in the morning or taking a dreaded task off their plate.
Or, you can request that instead of a tangible gift, everyone makes a small donation to their favorite charity. At the holiday office party, you can have the big reveal for which nonprofits will be receiving holiday gifts from your staff, and it can also let you get to know coworkers a little better through their causes.
The Best Office Christmas Gifts
While it can be fun to celebrate among the team with a holiday gift exchange, you might want to get something extra special for your staff, too.
A fantastic group gift can be an updated brew station with a new coffee maker and selection of gourmet flavors and tasty creamers.
Or consider the absolute best office Christmas gift—the gift of time. Consider offering your team the afternoon off so they can knock a few things off their own lists. If it’s been an especially good year, you can give them a little bonus—a crisp $100 bill is a much-appreciated way to get the shopping party started.
How’s that for a holiday office gift idea everyone is sure to love?
