Halloween in the Workplace: How Do You Celebrate?
Last year, I did a post on Halloween Fun in the Workplace, featuring a few articles on the subject.
Over the last few months or so, I’ve noticed a lot of hits on that post, suggesting interest again this year in how to deal with Halloween celebrations at work or work-related after-hours Halloween parties. So I thought I’d bring the subject up again for those who missed it.
Start with some suggestions from Mike Erwin, Senior Ghoul Expert for CareerBuilder.com: "10 Halloween Costumes for Work" (originally published last year).
My fave: "Headhunter — Carry a mannequin or doll head around with you, holding it by the hair."
Then some advice:
"Better to use treats instead of tricks to bag some office fun." Some of the tips include:
- All your hard work over the years could be overshadowed by an unintentional gaffe at a company party.
- Besides thinking about how your costume will go over with colleagues, when picking a costume, think about what you’ll be doing at a party. You want to make sure that you can relax and have fun and not be preoccupied with your costume.
- Just like putting too much effort into a costume can backfire, putting little to no work in an outfit most likely won’t help you either.
- The party hosts also must stay within reason. Having a wild and crazy party, and conducting mean pranks on co-workers while top managers are in attendance won’t project the right image.
Along similar lines: "Ghosts, Goblins and Your Job: 6 Ways To Avoid Embarrassing Yourself At Halloween And Throughout The Year." This one starts with a true story:
A pharmaceutical sales representative dressed up as the Grim Reaper and went into an intensive care unit of a hospital on Halloween. He was trying to be funny. Neither the patients nor the hospital staff was amused.
Finally, a serious Halloween-inspired piece by a consultant on image and communication, body language, and presentation skills: Halloween Trick or Treat: Examining Your ‘Workplace Mask’
Some good suggestions, including making a costume party "a revealing, possibly painful process of self-discovery and revelation for every employee that will help them move to a place of greater success and happiness." Wow!
Update Here’s one more: “Top Ten Adult Halloween Costumes for 2006″
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Comments
I really like what you wrote for two reasons. First, it is important to consider the potential “gaffes” and things that can offend other people in the office. That out of the way, I think that a lot of managers discount the value of celebrating a day like Halloween and the impact on Job Satisfaction.
In today’s tight labor market, increasing job satisfaction is an important business strategy. Often, it is the little things, like celebrating Halloween, that really make a difference.
[...] 1. Torn between two lovers. Feeling like a fool. 2. Will The Great Pumpkin be visiting your office this year? 3. Cavity creeps promote a good cause 4. Nancy Drew move over! Amybeth is on the case. 5. Hmmm… The Emperor’s new clothes look kind of sheer. 6. Getting the edge on Dave and Dave on the edge. Or is it deja vous all over again? 7. Its evil, its cunning, its three tales of HR horror! 8. Sigh… Stupid is what stupid does. 9. Wait! You can’t back out now. 10. Recruiting the strippers of tomorrow. [...]
Hey Daddy! I just wanted you to know that I stopped by your blog. I hope you’re all recovering from the cards’ disappointing loss today. Talk to you later!