SurePayroll Insights Survey: Despite Economy, Small Businesses Want to Party

Most small business owners are confident they can afford to treat their offices to end-of-year celebrations

GLENVIEW, Ill. —November 17, 2008 — According to a survey conducted this month by online payroll service SurePayroll, most small business owners are prepared to end 2008 in celebration. The survey found that despite the economic challenges of recent months, six out of 10 small business owners are planning to hold a holiday office party and eight out of 10 of them are confident they can afford it.

Not only are business owners going ahead with holiday parties, they aren’t cutting back on the scope of the events. Seven out of 10 business owners who are planning parties said they are spending as much or more money on this year’s party as they have in the past.

"It’s been a tough year for the business world, but most small business owners realize how essential it is to thank their employees for their hard work,” says SurePayroll President Michael Alter. “A holiday party is the perfect opportunity. Business owners might cut other costs during tough times, but most budget for end-of-year celebrations because they are a much-needed spirit-lifter for everyone in the company."

Making your office party stand out

While 56% of business owners said they have typically held their parties at restaurants, some respondents offered up stories about how they have made office holiday celebrations especially unique.

Out-of-the-ordinary celebrations included everything from throwing a bowling party and attending a concert, to having a pie-eating contest and going to a casino. One business treated its employees to a timed downtown shopping spree where individuals were given $250 to spend only on themselves. The owner awarded a special prize to the employee who spent the closest to $250 without going over.

“Any office celebration is going to boost morale, but employees definitely appreciate extra creative ideas,” says Alter. “It shows that employers care about their staff so much that they are willing to go the extra mile to make the holiday season special.”

Tips for a successful office party

As part of the survey, small business owners also recounted moments that quickly turned the party from simple fun to outrageous or awkward. Here is what some of the respondents had to say:

• “One of the male members of our staff led a conga line in a grass skirt and coconut bra.”
• “A secretary lost her shirt for a substantial amount of time.”
• “Santa’s pants fell down to his boxers.”
• “I heard that the accounting girl and a sales person got a little tipsy and then, well, you know…”
• “The boss attempted to ‘pick up’ my date! And by ‘pick up,’ I don’t mean physically.”

According to Alter, party planning is the key to help avoid the worst, and hope for the best:

• Think about who’s on staff – “Considering who makes up your team can have a huge impact on the success of your party. Does your business have a large number of young single workers, or are they older workers with families? This will ultimately influence the decision about party location and activities that will most appeal to certain groups.”
• Survey the office – “Unless you’re planning a surprise, ask your employees what they’d like to do to celebrate the holidays. Their ideas might not be what you expected, and there’s no better way to ensure they will attend and have a good time.”
• Choose your location wisely – “If you choose a venue that allows for the consumption of alcohol, anticipate that there may be employees who take it a bit too far. Encourage carpooling and designated drivers or plan for appropriate transportation, if necessary. This will help ensure the safety of all your workers. If you’re in a public setting, the way your employees celebrate may ultimately reflect upon your business. It’s often a good idea to make employees aware of what your company does and does not condone in a holiday party setting.”
• Keep it lighthearted – “If you notice an awkward situation developing, sway the conversation in a different direction. If that doesn’t work, pull the offending individuals aside and talk to them on a one-on-one basis to prevent the drama from becoming a company-wide spectacle.”
• Delegate responsibilities – “Small business owners often find themselves without enough time to get all their work done, much less plan an office party on their own. There’s nothing wrong with asking various staff members to help out. In fact, it will most often lead to a better party.”

About SurePayroll:

SurePayroll is the online alternative to ADP® and Paychex®. SurePayroll's service and team members are dedicated to providing an easy, convenient online payroll service at a price small business owners can afford. Tens of thousands of customers rely on SurePayroll to process payroll wherever they want in as few as two minutes.

In addition, SurePayroll offers small businesses solutions for managing 401(k) plans, health insurance, workers' compensation, HR compliance and employee screening. For accountants and banking partners, SurePayroll provides private-label services that enable them to offer payroll processing to their small business clients.

Over the last decade, SurePayroll has received numerous prestigious awards for its innovative technology and outstanding customer service, including recognition from PC Magazine, Inc. 500, Accounting Today, the Stevie Awards and many others.

For more information, you can visit http://www.surepayroll.com, call 877.954.7873 or follow us on http://twitter.com/SurePayroll.

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