The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to bring people together to celebrate milestones, recognize hard work, and strengthen connections across teams. But even the most well-intentioned festivities can create challenges if details aren’t handled thoughtfully. To help you plan a celebration that feels fun, is inclusive, and supports a positive culture, here are five common pitfalls to avoid.
- Overlooking Inclusivity in Themes, Decor, and Scheduling
Holiday celebrations often begin with the best intentions, like choosing a fun theme, picking out decorations, and locking in a date. But these decisions carry more weight than we sometimes realize. The theme, visual environment, and timing all send signals about who the event is for and whose traditions are central. In workplaces where employees reflect a variety of cultural, religious, and personal backgrounds, even small choices, like leaning heavily into specific holiday symbols, can make some feel included and others unintentionally left out.
What to do instead:
- Consider choosing a theme that’s seasonal rather than tied to a specific holiday.
- Use decor that’s festive but neutral; think winter landscapes, lights, or colors rather than holiday-specific symbols.
- Check calendars so you can avoid major religious or cultural holidays when selecting your event date.
Inclusivity begins with the environment you create, and these small decisions can signal to everyone that they’re welcome.
- Limiting Food and Beverage Options
Food and drink are central to most celebrations. While they can be a powerful connector, they can also easily become a barrier when menus don’t reflect the diversity of your workforce. Employees have a range of dietary needs rooted in culture, health, religion, and lifestyle, and these are not necessarily obvious. When certain people feel like they must bring their own food, skip the meal, or awkwardly decline drinks, it shifts the tone of the event and can diminish the sense of belonging you’re trying to build.
Tips to avoid this pitfall:
- Account for a full range of needs. Be sure to offer clear options for differing dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options. No one wants to make a meal out of only side dishes. If it’s a more formal celebration with a plated dinner, ask ahead for dietary restrictions and preferences.
- Label everything clearly. Ingredient and allergen signage reduces awkward and potentially dangerous guesswork.
- Balance alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage choices. Only about half of U.S adults drink alcohol today, the lowest level in ninety years, according to Gallup. Go beyond soda by offering a signature mocktail, sparkling juices, non-alcoholic beer or wine, or warm caffeine-free options like herbal tea or cider. Doing this can also help prevent employees from consuming too much alcohol–and the many risks that can arise if they do.
Thoughtful menu planning ensures that everyone can fully participate in the celebration, not just those who fit into default choices, and stay safe and well too.
- Ignoring an Unintended Impact of Gift Exchanges
Gift exchanges can seem like a small, fun addition, but they often touch on deeper emotional and financial dynamics. The holiday season can be stressful, expensive, and overwhelming, so a workplace gift tradition — even a lighthearted one — may add pressure rather than joy. Employees may feel obligated to spend money they don’t have or reveal personal financial information they’d prefer to keep private. Without options or clear guardrails, these activities can quickly become uncomfortable or inequitable.
Consider organizing another activity, such as a volunteer project or craft session, to ensure everyone can participate in something fun with the group. If you’re intent on a gift exchange, there are a few ways to make it more inclusive and mindful:
- Make it optional and normalize opting out. Avoid language that implies guilt or expectation.
- Make a shift from monetary to meaningful with options like a used book exchange, desk plant swap, craft exchange, or peer appreciation notes.
- Set a clear, low spending limit and stick to it. Communicate it early and remind people again as the event approaches.
- Avoid overly personal categories with themes that require details like sizes, alcohol preferences, or lifestyle-specific items.
Thoughtful adjustments ensure the experience stays joyful rather than stressful.
- Skipping the Reminder About Behavior and Expectations
Workplace celebrations are meant to be enjoyable, but they’re still work-sponsored events governed by the same principles that shape your culture every day. When gatherings include alcohol, unfamiliar environments, or a more relaxed atmosphere, boundaries can blur, sometimes with serious consequences. While most employees naturally behave appropriately, it only takes one misunderstanding or lapse in judgement to create lasting impacts for individuals and the organization.
Be sure to be proactive:
- Send a friendly, clear reminder in advance about your organization’s respectful behavior expectations.
- Reinforce that harassment and discrimination policies apply equally at all employer-sponsored events, whether they’re onsite or off.
- Ensure people know how to raise concerns and that misconduct will be addressed and investigated as it would during regular working hours.
A simple reminder helps create a safe, enjoyable environment where everyone can relax without compromising respect or professionalism.
- Forgetting Attire That Is Still Professional
One of the trickiest parts of workplace holiday celebrations is dressing for an event that strikes the right balance between festive and professional. Without guidance, employees may spend unnecessary energy wondering if their outfit is too casual, too bold, or too formal. Attire influences how confidently people show up, how comfortable they feel around colleagues, and how aligned the event feels with workplace norms.
Set everyone up for success by:
- Considering the setting. Outdoor or active events may require comfortable shoes and warm layers, while formal venues may require dressier outfits.
- Providing clear expectations in advance. Include a line in the invitation encouraging attire that’s festive but appropriate for a professional environment. Consider providing a dress code or suggestions such as cocktail attire, business casual with festive flair, or cozy/winter themed.
This clear communication prevents guesswork and helps everyone feel confident and appropriate.
A well-planned holiday celebration reinforces connection, belonging, and appreciation — all essential ingredients for a strong workplace culture. And while these suggestions are geared toward work-sponsored events, many of the same principles apply to personal gatherings as well. Whether you’re hosting colleagues, family, or friends, thoughtful food choices, inclusive decor, mindful gift expectations, and clear communication help create an environment where everyone feels welcome and relaxed. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can shape celebrations that are enjoyable, respectful, and memorable, setting the tone for a positive start to the new year. If you’re looking to promote inclusion, reduce risks, and strengthen your culture beyond the holiday season, Everfi’s workplace training can help. Learn how our engaging courses empower employees and leaders to create a safer, more respectful environment all year long.