clad kids to take the streets in search for candy corn and fun-sized chocolate bars.

Every year, the celebrations for Halloween seem to get bigger and bigger, and with its rising popularity comes the want to mark the spooky season in the workplace. And whilst this can add a bit of festive flare to the office and create opportunities for team building, it’s important to keep a few things in mind so to avoid any HR horror stories:

• Fancy Dress – dressing up has become a staple for Halloween. This tradition initially stemmed from the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, where it was believed that the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and to ward off these spirits from staying behind, people would dress up to hide their identity from the dead. Nowadays, Halloween is used as a fun excuse to throw on a costume, and if employees are given the option to do this, it’s important for employers to reiterate their dress code policy to ensure that all costumes remain appropriate. Equally, make it clear that ‘controversial’ characters and offensive/outdated costumes will not be tolerated.
• Health and Safety Scares – it’s highly likely that if you are dressing up for Halloween you are probably decorating your workplace for Halloween too – so be sure to keep health and safety regulations in mind when doing so! Be mindful where you might be hanging ropey spiderwebs or if you will be using some candles to make a spooky ambiance (in this case, we recommend battery-powered ones!).
• Halloween Party – when planning a workplace Halloween party, it’s crucial to ensure it is inclusive and accessible to all employees. Avoid planning activities that could unintentionally exclude certain groups or individuals – for example, consider dietary restrictions when planning snacks, and make sure the timing of the event allows for participation from employees who might be working different shifts. Equally, if you are going to include a costume contest, make sure to have multiple categories that employees can win to encourage creativity and avoid creating this perception of what a ’good’ costume is – instead, celebrate your team’s innovativeness!
• Be Mindful of Diverse Perspectives – some employees may choose not to celebrate Halloween for religious or cultural reasons, and so it’s important to take this into consideration when planning any festivities around the holiday. Ensure that you are creating a culture where participation is optional and non-participation is respected.
• Potential Harassment Issues – Halloween can sometimes open the door to inappropriate behavior in the workplace, so employers must be proactive in reminding employees that all workplace policies, especially those related to harassment and discrimination, are still in full effect during the Halloween period. Pre-Halloween reminders can be a great way to set the tone, and this can be as simple as a friendly email that reinforces the company’s commitment to maintaining a professional and respectful workplace during any and all celebrations.

Halloween allows for a bit of fun and innovation to take place in the workplace, but only if managed correctly. If you want support on how to avoid any HR horror stories over the Halloween season – or during any festive season – then please get in touch with us today via our website. Or, you can book in a 1-hour consultation with one of our seasoned HR professionals for instant advice through our OrgShakers CL!CK consultation service.

Happy Halloween!