How Do Parties at Work Impact Employee Engagement?

by Angelica Wedell on October 28, 2021

Happy Halloween from Polco. Parties and Employee Engagement.

- By Angelica Wedell -

Investing in employees can mean a lot of things. We know from The National Employee Survey (The NES) for local governments that contribution, fit, and compensation are key for retention.

But we’ve also found that supporting a positive organizational culture also matters to job satisfaction and even productivity. After all, the happier employees are with the workplace, the more engaged they likely will be.

Although we research and assess local government workplaces, we see these characteristics are important to all organizations - including Polco. So we love our workplace traditions like annual Halloween parties. We decorate cookies and vote on our favorite funny and creative costumes.

I, for one, look forward to holiday parties like this. These events help me feel more connected to my coworkers. They even counter feelings of burnout, leaving me energized and motivated to help my team succeed.

See the 2021 Polco Halloween Photo Album

I find that many folks on the Polco team agree.

In your opinion, what's one way that parties at work impact employee engagement?

“Having good friends at work is one of the top drivers of employee engagement. Parties create bonds and friendships!” - Michelle Kobayashi, Senior Vice President of Innovation

“Work parties make space to get to know your co-workers beyond their professional role. This can strengthen a working relationship and a sense of loyalty to the team. And it’s a bonus to discover a new friend.” - Ann Michelle Hill, Office Manager

“Parties offer a chance for employees to relax and build relationships with coworkers, which helps boost morale, productivity and contributes to a healthy company culture.” - Lisa Dowling, Vice President of Sales

“Parties provide a space for people to connect with each other as individuals. This helps foster empathy for and with each other and a willingness to go the extra mile when needed.” - Tracie Anderson, Vice President of Technology