6 Wicked Ways to Celebrate Halloween in the Workplace

You might not have thought about celebrating Halloween in the workplace before, but why shouldn’t you? Why should we only be marking the occasion in the comfort of our own homes? It’s one day in the year where people can get creative and turn their hands to something that is more outrageous and laid back than other important dates in the calendar. In this article, we’ll be discussing what Halloween is, why it should be celebrated at work and how you can do it successfully.

What is Halloween?

Halloween is a holiday that is celebrated in most countries around the world on the 31st October, which is the evening before All Saint’s Day. It’s also referred to as ‘All Hallows’ Eve’ and originally, it was dedicated to remembering the dead, including Christian Martyrs and Saints. 

In addition, it can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. Halloween then became the night to light bonfires and dress up in costumes in order to ward off the spirits who will try to make their way home on Halloween night. In more recent years, however, it has become more associated with the macabre, the supernatural and horror. 

While it’s no longer about warding off spirits, it has become more associated with eating sweets and chocolates and getting creative with pumpkin carving. Either way, it’s a fun night to be celebrated as soon as the opportunity arises, so why leave the celebrations at home? Why not take them into the workplace as well? Here’s why you should celebrate Halloween at work:

Spooktacular reasons to recognise Halloween in the workplace

You might be wondering what the point of celebrating Halloween in the workplace is, especially seeing as your employees still need to be productive. But there are plenty of reasons why you should recognise Halloween in the workplace, from a boost of morale and a chance to get creative to having some fun and encouraging teamwork. So why should you choose to recognise Halloween in the workplace? Let’s take a closer look:

It encourages teamwork & collaboration

Depending on what it is you decide to do to mark Halloween, it can be a great opportunity to encourage teamwork and collaboration in the workplace. This is especially important if you have teams that work separately rather than together with other departments. It’s perfect for departments who aren’t used to collaborating at all, and Halloween is the ideal time to encourage that. 

It allows people to get creative

This is the perfect opportunity for everyone in the workplace to get creative in one form or another, which could be just the break they need from their everyday roles. Whether they’re getting creative by carving pumpkin designs or putting their own Halloween costume together to whipping up some Halloween-themed treats and helping to develop a murder mystery plot for your special event, it allows those who don’t ordinarily have the chance to be creative, to get creative. 

Everyone has some fun, therefore boosting morale

Morale is a great way to ensure happiness and productivity in the workplace, and part of boosting morale is to make sure that your employees are having fun. By marking Halloween, you’ll be making sure that everyone can have fun during the spooky season, whether it’s by carving pumpkins or decorating desks in a way that screams creepiness.

6 ways to get into the spirit of Halloween at work

You might now be wondering, after becoming privy to the benefits to be had by holding Halloween celebrations, how you can mark the occasion in style. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know what is right for your workplace. So here are a few wicked ways in which you can celebrate Halloween at work, no matter the industry you work in:

1. Hold a Halloween costume competition

Instead of turning up to work in their usual gear, give your employees the option to come to work wearing a Halloween costume. It could be something that is fun and simple, or you may experience the shock factor with some scary costumes that your workers can surprise you with. See what the imaginations of your workers can do by holding a Halloween costume competition, with a prize for the best dressed.

2. Decorate your desk

Decorating your desk in a way that marks Halloween is a simple and very cost-effective way of celebrating Halloween in the workplace. It’s both non-disruptive and fun for everyone to do. You can even take it one step further and hold a competition to see who can decorate their desks the best and offer a spooky prize to the winner.

3. Have a pumpkin carving contest

Carved pumpkins say nothing to people but Halloween, and there are some extremely funky, excellent designs that are available online by way of a template. Even more fun still is to get the office to come up with different designs on their own. You’ll likely be impressed by what your workers can come up with, from the fun and silly right down to the scary and creepy. 

4. Have a buffet

Nothing says Halloween more than some spooky sweet treats. There are plenty of different dishes and meal options to choose from, and you don’t have to bring in outside caterers either. Ask your employees to bring something in that would make a wicked statement at the Halloween buffet. Just make sure that you’re taking people’s dietary requirements and allergies into account. 

5. Watch a scary movie

An extremely simple way to mark the occasion, it would be a well-deserved break for everyone to get together, turn out the lights and watch a scary film that will have your employees quaking at the knees. Not sure which film to play? Conduct a poll or a survey and allow the whole office to vote on a film they would like to see.

6. Put together a murder mystery event

A murder mystery event is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween in the workplace, and it’s far easier than you might think. As a game the whole office can play, everyone will be able to get involved and have a good time, therefore fostering some collaboration and some ‘outside of the box’ thinking. Do some research into how to host the most seamless, water-tight murder mystery event that the whole office will enjoy. 

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