Mariah Carey or Bing Crosby? Vodka or Coca-Cola? Ugly sweaters or elegant affair? When it comes to company holiday parties, as well as holiday parties hosted at your home or community center, there are many considerations to make. To make the planning easier on you, and to be sure people will enjoy themselves, it helps to create a holiday office party survey.
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Company Holiday Party Survey
A company holiday party survey is a questionnaire distributed to employees to gather feedback and insights about company-sponsored holiday parties. These surveys can be conducted before or after an event to understand preferences, evaluate satisfaction, and improve future events.
While holiday parties were largely canceled during the pandemic, they’ve made a comeback, with approximately 64% of U.S. companies holding in-person holiday parties, the highest percentage since 2019. This year, the U.S. party and event planning industry is projected to generate $6.9 billion in revenue in 2024, reflecting the significant role of corporate events, including holiday parties, in this sector.
Why Conduct a Holiday Party Survey?
Companies, and even individuals holding holiday parties at their home, send – usually via email – Christmas party surveys for a number of reasons.
- Understanding Preferences: Surveys help party planners learn what employees value most, such as venue, food, office party activities, and themes.
- Encouraging Participation: Including employees or guests in the planning process can increase engagement and attendance.
- Gathering Feedback: Following the party, planners can see what worked well or not so well in order to put on a better event the following year.
- Showing Care: Asking guests, particularly in the workplace, what they’d like in a party shows that the company values employee input.
- Optimizing Budgets: By focusing on elements employees appreciate most, people and companies can save money by not spending it on unnecessary items or venues.
- Ensuring Inclusivity: More and more, companies want to align with diverse employee needs and preferences. This could be as simple as asking whether to call the event a “Christmas party” or a “Holiday party,” so those who celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanza – or who don’t celebrate at all – don’t feel excluded.
Holding a contest at your office Christmas party or within your neighborhood? Be sure to check out these other blogs!
- How To Create An Ugly Sweater Contest Survey
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Common Topics in a Holiday Party Survey
Here are some common topics to include on a holiday party questionnaire before and after the event.
Before the Event
- Timing: Preferred date and time (e.g., weekend vs. weekday, evening vs. daytime).
- Venue Options: In-office, offsite, virtual, or hybrid.
- Food and Drink Preferences: Catering styles, dietary restrictions, and alcohol availability.
- Entertainment: Music, games, gift exchange, speeches, awards, or other activities.
- Themes: Feedback on potential party themes or dress codes.
- Party or Bonus?: Some companies may choose to give employees a bonus in lieu of a party if the consensus is for that instead.
After the Event
- Satisfaction: Rating the overall experience, food, entertainment, and venue.
- Engagement: Whether employees felt included and appreciated.
- Suggestions: Ideas for future improvements or changes.
- Attendance Barriers: Reasons why some employees may not have attended.
Create your FREE Holiday Office Party Survey Now!
10 Holiday Office Party Survey Questions
Here are some questions to consider asking on your office holiday party survey.
- Would you prefer a small bonus or a holiday party this year?
- Bonus
- Party
- If we host a holiday party, would you plan to attend?
- Yes
- No
- Unsure
- What type of holiday party would you prefer?
- In-person (offsite)
- In-person (in-office)
- Virtual
- No preference
- Which date works best for you?
- Weekday during work hours
- Weekday after work hours
- Weekend
- What kind of food options do you prefer?
- Buffet
- Sit-down meal
- Snacks and appetizers
- Food trucks
- Any dietary restrictions? (Please specify): ___________
- Would you like alcohol to be served?
- Yes
- No
- Doesn’t matter
- What type of music do you prefer?
- Holiday music, of course!
- Top 40 (enough of the holiday music!)
- Classical music
- What type of party activities would you enjoy?
- Games (trivia, bingo, etc.)
- Live music or DJ
- Karaoke
- Photo booth
- Awards or recognition ceremony
- Gift exchange
- Other (please specify): ___________
- If we hold a Secret Santa gift exchange, what amount should people spend?
- Under $10
- $11-24
- $25-49
- $50 and up
- What type of dress code would you like?
- Casual
- Business Casual
- Elegant/Formal
- Ugly Sweaters
- Themed (please specify): ___________
Office Holiday Party Survey Example
Here’s an example of an office party survey created with SurveyLegend. It has a festive background and uses a variety of types of survey questions to engage employees or potential guests.
Post-Christmas Party Questions
Here are a few questions you may want to ask employees or guests after the party is over. These can be rating questions, yes/no, multiple choice, or open ended questions.
- How would you rate the holiday party overall?
- Did you enjoy the venue?
- How was the food and drink selection?
- What was your favorite part of the event?
- What activities or entertainment would you like to see in future events?
- Do you feel the holiday party reflects the company culture?
- Is there anything you think we could improve for next year?
- Would you attend a similar event in the future?
- If you wouldn’t attend next year, why not?
Conclusion
With nearly 65% of companies hosting holiday or Christmas company parties, it’s important to let employees have a say in the matter. Not only does this make holiday party planning easier, but it also lets them know that they have a voice. While the latter is not as important for a holiday house party, the former still applies, making the host’s job easier. SurveyLegend surveys are perfect for company parties, as they’re fun to create, fun to take, and allow for a lot of creativity. Start today for free!
Have you hosted a holiday party in the past? How about attended one? Would you consider surveying employees or guest before a holiday party? Let us know in the comments.
Create your FREE Holiday Office Party Survey Now!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Employees may have mixed feelings about company parties. Many enjoy them as a chance to connect and celebrate with colleagues, while others may feel awkward, obligated, or concerned about personal time being impacted. The overall sentiment usually depends on how well the event is planned and aligned with employee preferences, which is why a company holiday party survey can help.
Many employees would prefer a monetary bonus that they can use as they see fit. However, preferences can vary depending on the workplace culture and individual values; some employees may like parties for the social interaction and team-building opportunities. Surveys can help companies gauge what their employees value most.
Including a survey for a holiday house party can be a good idea, especially if the event involves a lot of people or a diverse group of guests. The survey can help ensure the event feels personalized and enjoyable for everyone.For smaller, more casual gatherings, simply having open conversations with guests about their preferences may be enough.
