30 Dos and Don’ts for a Killer Halloween Party at Work

Spooky etiquette ahead!

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

The dos and don'ts of a killer Halloween office party

It’s that time of year where things get a little crazy — from spooktacular costumes to magic potions, it can be hard to maintain your professional persona, especially if your boss decides to throw a Halloween party.

To make sure that you still have plenty of fun, and don’t live to regret it, we’ve devised a handy list of 30 dos and don’ts for your Halloween office party!

Let’s get started.

The dos

1. Bring food

If you really want to embrace the holiday spirit, get involved by baking some Halloween-themed goods. Whether it’s a pumpkin pie or caramel apples, you can get creative with food. There are numerous recipes online that are fit for even the most novice bakers!

2. Participate in the costume competition

Every office Halloween party will undoubtedly host a costume contest — it’s a given! Whether you plan on showing up with a homemade costume or a last-minute, Amazon find, be a sport and get involved.

3. Get creative

Skip the clichés this year and get creative with your costume — ditch the witch hat and The Addams Family costumes, and think outside the box! You and your work bestie could come up with costume ideas fit for pairs or groups, and get everyone in your department involved!

4. Turn up

Even if you’re a holiday Scrooge, it’s important to show your face and get involved in the festivities. If you’re not a big fan of fancy dress, invest in an accessory that can be thrown on when the party is about to kick off.

5. Stay away from raunchy costumes

If, on the other hand, dressing up is your jam, don’t wear anything too raunchy, especially since your supervisors will probably also be there. If you wouldn’t want your grandparents to see you in that outfit, it’s probably best saved for a Halloween party that’s hosted outside of your work.

6. Make sure treats are free of allergens

If you’re in charge of bringing treats to the party, make sure to check if anyone attending has any intolerances or allergies. You can also label any snacks that may contains allergens such as gluten or nuts!

Just make sure that allergy-safe snacks are prepared separately from the rest. You may also consider hiring a caterer to make sure everything runs smoothly!

7. Pitch in with the planning

You may not be the designated event planner for this event, but if you love getting into the holiday spirit, don’t be shy to pitch in and get involved with the organization of the party. You could be in charge of the theme, the decorations or the food — whatever your forte is!

8. Enjoy yourself

Even though it’s a work event, you’re allowed to have fun and get a little crazy! So, make sure to socialize with colleagues from other departments, and partake in games!

9. Play games

Games are a great way to break the ice and get the party started. If you’re celebrating Halloween in the office, playing a number of games can be great for team building and employee morale. If you’re stuck for ideas, do some research online for some inspiration.

10. Help with the clean-up afterwards

Make sure to offer help cleaning up to the party’s organizer after the festivities. Don’t be the kind of person to dash off after cracking a dozen party-poppers!

And if the organization of the event was a group effort, it might be a good idea to designate clean-up tasks to everyone — otherwise, it’s very likely that the Halloween décor will be up until Christmas!

11. Compliment others’ costumes

The simple gesture of complimenting colleagues’ costumes and acknowledging the effort and creativity they put into their efforts can enhance camaraderie, make everyone feel included and encourage more participation in future events. A little appreciation goes a long way in creating a positive atmosphere!

12. Stay professional

While it’s a festive event, remember you’re still in a professional setting.

Maintain a respectful tone, avoid inappropriate jokes, and keep interactions friendly but professional. This helps ensure the party remains fun without crossing boundaries or creating uncomfortable situations for colleagues.

13. Respect office space

Be mindful of the office environment during the celebration.

Avoid damaging decorations, equipment or furniture while enjoying the festivities — and stick to designated areas for food, drinks and games to keep things organized and prevent any mess or disruption to the workspace.

14. Dress for comfort

Choose a costume that allows you to move easily and participate in all activities without discomfort. This means avoiding anything that might make you feel too hot or limit your mobility.

Being comfortable ensures you can fully enjoy the party without wardrobe distractions or mishaps!

15. Include everyone

Make an effort to engage with colleagues who may not typically participate in office events — but invite them to join the fun without pressuring them. Inclusion fosters team unity and helps everyone feel more connected, ensuring a more enjoyable event for all attendees.

The don’ts

1. Prank your colleagues

Even if you’re best buds with John from marketing, save the pranks for out-of-office hours. You don’t want to make a scene by taking your prank one step to far!

2. Be a party pooper

Even if you aren’t a fan of Halloween, you shouldn’t be a party pooper. On the days leading up to the event, avoid listing reasons why you see no point in these celebrations. On the day of the event, meanwhile, try to be present, engage with your peers and have fun!

3. Go overboard with your costume

Dressing up can be fun — we get it! But try not to go overboard. You need to have a practical outfit that you can change out of in case an impromptu client meeting is called. You don’t want to carry out a meeting with fake blood dripping down your face!

4. Be offensive

Be sure to steer clear of political or culturally insensitive costumes. They may cause offence and an awkward debate within the office. And, whatever you do, don’t dress up as Trump (no matter much you hate the guy).

5. Wear something that would interfere with your work

If you can’t sit down in your outfit, then it’s definitely not suitable for work. Similarly, you don’t want to be sitting at your desk with a mask over your face for the entire day! Make sure your costume of choice is comfortable enough so that it won’t interfere with your tasks.

6. Use body paint or glitter

Body paint and glitter might seem like a brilliant idea at the time, but it’s not fun when you can’t get it off your skin, out of your hair and off your desk chair!

7. Be too noisy

It might be fun to play a spooky noise every time someone puts their hand in your candy jar, or for your costume to make special noise effect. But after a while, it will get annoying and could interfere with your colleagues’ work.

8. Forget to take snaps

When you’re having loads of fun, you often forget to take pictures at the party. But try to take as many snaps as you can and share them with the rest of your team after the event. You can even share them on the company’s social media pages to show what the company culture is really like (with everyone’s approval, of course).

9. Get drunk on office time

When there’s free booze, it’s easy to get carried away and have one too many. But hold back on the magic potion before you end up making a fool out of yourself!

10. Be too competitive

If you have a competitive streak and plan on joining on all the games, make sure not to go overboard, as this could create unnecessary tension. And if you end up losing, keep yourself in check — no one likes a sore loser, and bobbing apples isn’t an Olympic sport!

11. Overspend

Avoid spending excessive money on an elaborate costume. The goal is to have fun, not to impress with an expensive outfit! And a simple, creative costume can be just as effective.

Overspending might set unrealistic expectations for future events and could make others feel uncomfortable.

12. Ignore safety

Ensure your costume and decorations don’t create hazards, such as tripping risks or obstructions. Avoid long, dangling accessories or sharp props that could harm others. Keeping safety in mind ensures everyone can enjoy the event without incidents or injuries.

13. Bring spooky pranks

While Halloween is known for pranks, scaring your colleagues could lead to discomfort or accidents.

Instead, stick to light-hearted fun and avoid tricks that could startle or frighten others. Respect personal boundaries, and ensure everyone feels safe and included in the festivities.

14. Force participation

Respect that not everyone may want to dress up or join in the games. Encourage participation, but don’t push those who prefer not to engage.

After all, forcing someone to participate can create discomfort and negatively affect the inclusive environment you’re trying to foster.

15. Leave a mess

If you bring food, decorations or props, make sure to clean up afterward. Don’t leave a mess for someone else to deal with.

Helping with clean-up shows respect for shared spaces, and it ensures that everyone can return to a neat, professional environment the next day.

Final thoughts

Halloween office parties are a great way to bond with your teammates and celebrate all the hard work that you do. However, you need to keep these dos and don’ts in the back of your mind to make sure that you don’t have too much fun!

Join the conversation! Can you think of any other office party dos and don’ts? Share them with us in the comments section below!

This article is a partial update of an earlier version originally published in 2018, and contains contributions by Melina Theodorou.