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Setting Guidelines for Celebrating Halloween in the Workplace

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Last Updated on October 16, 2018 / Employee Relations

Multiple pumpkins with silly faces painted on them to celebrate Halloween in the workplace.

HR Question:

With Halloween right around the corner, we’d like to allow our employees to wear costumes to celebrate Halloween in the workplace but we are worried it could get out of hand. What kind of guidelines should we set?

HR Answer:

While celebrating Halloween in the workplace may sound festive and fun, it’s important to remember that not everyone may feel that way. For some, Halloween represents the celebration of Satan. To others, Halloween is merely a light-hearted holiday where we dress up and “trick or treat.”  The real meaning behind Halloween was to wear costumes to ward off ghosts and over time became All Hallows Eve or the day before All Saints Day in honor of the saints. So, it’s important to know how your employees feel about the holiday and if/how they’d like to celebrate. If you’re not sure, just ask them.

All that said, the festivities of Halloween can be a fun team and morale-boosting event in your office – dressing up, decorating your workstation, or sharing treats.  While it still may only be one day, ensuring you set some guidelines for your employees to know what is okay to wear in the workplace on Halloween can help minimize problems.

Things to consider when celebrating Halloween at work

Make it voluntary: Not everyone may be comfortable in participating in the festivities and some may even find the holiday offensive.  You won’t want to make participation mandatory as it could actually create morale issues. Keep it fun and voluntary.

Company culture: The culture of your organization will also impact how you handle the festivities.  How will your customers, clients, vendors, or any other workplace visitors respond to costumes when interacting with you in the day?

Families: Is this a holiday that would allow you to include your employees’ families? Perhaps it is a chance for the kids to come to work and trick or treat among the different workstations or departments. Or maybe you have an evening bonfire with hayrides through a pumpkin patch.

Harassment: Be sure your guidelines to dress up for Halloween at the office include reminding employees of the company harassment policy.  All costumes need to be G-rated to minimize hostile or harassment perceptions. Consider sharing with employees what they shouldn’t do (See 5 Rules for Celebrating Halloween at Work). Just because it is a holiday does not excuse employees from doing anything in violation of the company harassment policy.

Tips for celebrating Halloween in the workplace:

  • Communicate costume guidelines in advance including what not to wear
  • Be sensitive to subtleties and employees’ feelings and perceptions
  • Reflect on previous Halloween celebrations and feedback the company received from employees and customers/clients/visitors
  • Consider alternative ways to celebrate besides wearing costumes
  • Be prepared to discipline if necessary
  • Consider hosting a Fall Harvest Party instead

Low and no-cost ways to celebrate

There are many no-cost/low-cost ideas to celebrate Halloween or Fall in the workplace including:

  1. Office Space Decorating – Employees can bring in their unused decorations from home to keep the cost down. Make it a team event by having everyone help decorate the office and then decorate their individual workspaces.
  2. Costume Theme – Creating a costume theme for everyone to follow may help minimize the inappropriateness (i.e., The Wonderful World of Disney). Consider having employees donate $5 for the ability to wear a costume and donate the money to a local charity.
  3. Potluck lunch – Create a “boo-ffet” for lunch. Make a sign-up sheet for employees to bring the main course, side dishes, dessert, cups, paper products, and/or utensils, and you’ve got yourself a ready-made party.
  4. Pumpkin Carving Contest – This can be a spirited competition between departments and teams. Have a prize for the winner like a gift card to their favorite restaurant.
  5. Collect Halloween candy and donate by sending care packages to the troops.

Did you know that allowing your employees to wear costumes for Halloween may even increase your employee engagement? According to an OC Tanner survey:

  • 73% of those who can dress up at work are highly motivated to contribute to the success of the organization they work for, compared to 58% of those who can’t come to work in costume.
  • 68% of those who can dress up are proud to tell others they work for their organization, compared to 58% of those who can’t.
  • 65% of those who can dress up would recommend their organization to a friend as a good place to work versus 49% of those who can’t.
  • 73% of those who can dress up fully support the values for which their organization stands, versus 58% of those who can’t.

Halloween can be a great excuse to have some fun with co-workers. To make it a success, be sure to set some boundaries and be clear on expectations so that folks understand what crosses the line of appropriateness. And, of course, have a spooktacular time!

At Strategic HR, we offer a variety of team building and team development programs targeted to help get teams back on track for success. Each program is customized to meet the team’s dynamics and needs. Learn more about our Team Building and Development Solutions, or contact us.