Want to celebrate Halloween with your team? Here are some ideas for remote and in-person parties

Halloween is scary close! Are you planning anything spooktacular for your team? 👻 It’s a great time to do a bit of team-building. Fortunately, at Fingercheck, we’ve done some research for you. Check out some celebration ideas below for both in-person and remote employees.  

But don’t be fearful about payroll – we have that covered for you! Fingercheck Payroll allows you to quickly, easily and effortlessly run your payroll as many times as you need to, without any extra charges. We offer it all – no tricks! We have earned wage access with Pay On-Demand, Next-Day Pay and Fingercheck PayCards, which work like debit cards, as well as direct deposit. 

Quick history lesson

Do you know the history of Halloween? Halloween is a celebration, not a holiday. It’s also not a religious event, according to the History Channel.

It was in the second half of the 19th century that Halloween became popular in the United States. Irish immigrants brought their traditions and those customs spread, starting in the southeast and then nationwide. By the dawn of the 20th century, those traditions included trick or treating, costumes, pranks, and community parties. 

Halloween celebrations at the White House began in 1958 during President Eisenhower’s administration. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower decorated the State Dining Room with skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, and stalks of dried corn, according to the White House Historical Association. 

In 2022, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimated that Americans would spend $10.6 billion on Halloween. In 2021, they spent $10.14 billion. That breaks down to about $100.45 per person for costumes, candy, decorations, and greeting cards. 

But don’t worry! Your office party doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be fun. And to pull that off, you need to determine a few things:

• What’s your office culture? Fun? Serious? Relaxed?
• What’s your team’s “scare factor?” Are they adventurous or afraid? 
• Do you have an event committee? 
• Will your festivities be in person or remote?

Halloween provides a reason – an excuse – to have an office celebration and do a bit of team-building. Having a positive work environment and fun office culture helps keep turnover low, according to Harvard Business Review. 

In-person

If you opt for an in-the-office party, there are all sorts of activities you can offer, depending on your budget. Here are a few ideas:

• Candy bracket 
• Desk decorating/cubicle decorating contest
• Costume contest with a parade
• Office party – bring in food (hot cider, cupcakes, pizza, etc)
• Pumpkin carving contest

Remote:

If your team is remote, you can still celebrate. Here are some ideas:

• Costume contest with your pets, too
• Scariest desk contest
• Guess the amount of candy in the jar
• Halloween trivia contest in Slido
• Virtual party/movie (check the scare factor of your team)

Remember, Fingercheck handles the payroll details so you can focus on growth – and Halloween candy.