Happy Halloween. At some client companies, Halloween is a big deal. In one, the CEO came as a drunken old bum with a sleeveless t-shirt, a beer bottle and a fake belly complete with belly button hanging over his trousers. When I first saw him I was speechless with shock and amazement.
To start at the beginning of the story, however, cider and doughnuts are served at 9 a.m. for breakfast. At 10:00 a.m., every person who wore a costume parades around the whole company and through the entire plant. The associates who didn't wear costumes roar with laughter at the sight of the costume-wearers.
Halloween has been important there for many years so some staff members vie each year to wear the most unique costume. No store-bought costumes make the grade, although with any contest in which employees vote, popularity sways the results.
The aforementioned CEO was a sight to behold and he partnered, for the parade, with a man who was dressed as a stripper. The man went to great lengths to place a fake, glittery bikini on a head-to-foot, well-stuffed, skin-colored costume. He truly wiggled and bounced as he walked. Which costumes received the most votes? "The Happy Couple" took the prize.
I dressed as a flower child of the sixties with long, flowing platinum hair with flowers. My jewelry came from Detroit's Plum Street and San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury.
Want to hear something really funny? Most of the staff members are young enough not to have known the sixties. I was asked repeatedly who I was. But, they did like the sixties music I played in the office all day long.
Image Copyright Stanislav Pobytov
More Resources About Team Building
- How to Build a Teamwork Culture
- How to Build Powerfully Successful Work Teams
- 12 Tips for Team Building
- Teamwork FAQs
More About Halloween in the Office
- Celebrate Halloween in the Office
- How Readers Celebrate Holidays in the Office
- Celebrate Halloween at Work
Connect with Susan: LinkedIn | Facebook | Google+ Twitter: @AboutHR | @SusanHeathfield
This was the worst and most unhelpful about article yet. Put the complaining about your drunken boss on your blog next time.
I think it’s helpful. It’s a simple reminder that companies can still have fun with associates with no cost to the company. It’s a great way to remind associates that the CEO/Prez/Owner whatever is a person too. It’s great that CEO was willing to participate. You don’t find that much any more. Thank you for the article.
We also celebrate Halloween in my corporation. We usually do team building games and relay races and each team is given a pumpkin to decorate. Each year – the pumpkins get more elaborate and everyone has fun with it. Our President and CEO actively participates and enjoys the moment with everyone else. My employees look forward to this each year!
By the title of the article I was hoping that some actuall Team Building events would have been suggested. The events describe in this article seem to be individually driven, however it does sound like a fun atmosphere.
Hi Kari,
Thanks for your comment. You would be amazed at how much team building actually occurs when employees are dressing up together, watching together, and voting together. Don’t lose sight of the together. We have also sponsored team pumpkin carving contests. The employees’ children trick or treat through the whole company each year and usually, groups of employees gather together to pass out treats. Here are some additional ideas:
http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuildingholidays/a/halloween_work.htm
Susan