The Future of Workplace Celebration
Why good intentions don't always create meaningful workplace experiences.
PART 3:
The Forced Fun Trap
This article is a little different from my usual writing.
I normally explore ideas from a place of curiosity.
This time, I'm also bringing a healthy dose of candour.
Because I think this conversation deserves honesty.
Let's talk about something people are already discussing in WhatsApp groups, on Reddit, on TikTok, on LinkedIn, and on the journey home after the event.
They're just not usually saying it in the boardroom.
Here's the uncomfortable truth.
Sometimes, the very event designed to bring people together can leave people feeling even further apart.
Most workplace celebrations are created with good intentions.
But good intentions don't always create meaningful experiences.
And that's the conversation I'd like us to have.
Good intentions don't always create meaningful experiences.
Let's Start With Empathy
Before we go any further, I want to acknowledge something.
Every HR professional, People Manager, and event organiser I've worked with genuinely wants the same thing.
They want people to enjoy themselves.
They want colleagues to connect.
They want the atmosphere to feel positive.
They want people to leave saying,
That was brilliant.
Creating an experience for twenty people is challenging.
Creating one for two hundred is another level entirely.
Different personalities.
Different cultures.
Different ages.
Different beliefs.
Different energy levels.
Different accessibility needs.
Designing an experience that makes everybody feel included is incredibly difficult.
Which is exactly why this conversation matters.
You Can't Mandate Enjoyment
One of the biggest misconceptions in workplace culture is that fun can be scheduled.
It can't.
Attendance can be mandatory.
Enjoyment cannot.
You can encourage participation.
You can create opportunities.
You can design an incredible environment.
But genuine enjoyment has to remain voluntary.
The moment people feel expected to perform enjoyment, something changes.
Instead of relaxing, they begin managing how they appear.
Instead of connecting, they become self-conscious.
Instead of feeling included, they feel observed. Real connection cannot be forced.
It has to be invited.
Entertainment Doesn't Always Equal Engagement
This is one of the biggest distinctions I've noticed over the years.
Entertainment and engagement are not the same thing.
A fantastic band can entertain a room.
A comedian can make people laugh.
A magician can amaze an audience.
A spectacular production can create a real wow factor.
All of those things have value.
But none of them automatically create belonging.
People can watch a brilliant performance and still leave feeling disconnected.
Why?
Because entertainment is something we watch.
Connection is something we experience.
The most memorable workplace experiences don't simply impress people.
They involve people.
They create opportunities to contribute, participate, reflect, celebrate and genuinely connect with one another.
That's where the magic happens.
At UNIKA, this sits at the heart of how we design experiences.
We don't simply ask, "What will people watch?"
We ask, "How do we invite people into the experience?"
Because something changes when people stop watching and start participating.
When performers welcome guests as they arrive, the experience begins before anyone has taken their seat.
When dancers move through the audience rather than remaining on a stage, the performance becomes immersive rather than distant.
When colleagues are invited to learn a routine, celebrate alongside the performers, or become part of the moment, something shifts.
People stop simply watching the moment.
They begin shaping it.
They become part of the story.
Participation creates something far more powerful than observation ever could.
It creates ownership.
It creates stories.
It creates memories.
People rarely remember every detail of a performance.
They remember how it felt to be part of it.
That is the difference.
Traditional entertainment often says:
"Watch us."
The experiences we create at UNIKA say:
"Join us."
Because the most memorable experiences aren't the ones we simply witnessed.
They're the ones we became part of.
Why Some People Dread the Office Party?
Let's be honest.
Not everybody looks forward to the annual Christmas party.
For one person, it's the highlight of the year.
For another, it's something they've quietly been dreading for weeks.
Perhaps they're naturally introverted.
Perhaps they're neurodivergent.
Perhaps they're newly sober.
Perhaps they're grieving.
Perhaps they're pregnant.
Perhaps they're a new starter who knows nobody.
Perhaps they're managing anxiety.
Perhaps loud environments are overwhelming.
Perhaps they're observing religious or cultural practices that make parts of the evening uncomfortable.
Or perhaps they're simply exhausted.
The same event.
Two completely different experiences.
That's why designing for inclusion isn't about trying to make everybody the same.
It's about recognising that everybody is different.
Inclusion Is More Than Accessibility
When organisations think about inclusion, they often begin with physical access.
That's important.
But inclusion goes much deeper than whether someone can enter the room.
It asks different questions.
Can people participate in a way that feels comfortable?
Can they be themselves?
Do they feel represented?
Do they feel welcome?
Do they feel safe?
Do they feel that they belong?
Belonging is rarely created by accident. It's designed through hundreds of thoughtful decisions, many of which are almost invisible.
People Notice Where Care Lives
One of the biggest misconceptions about workplace celebrations is that memorable experiences are created by bigger budgets.
Sometimes they are.
Often they aren't.
People rarely talk about the amount of money that was spent.
They talk about the moments where they felt somebody had genuinely thought about them.
The handwritten welcome card.
The thoughtful recognition.
The menu that catered for different dietary requirements.
The colleague who didn't drink alcohol but still felt included.
The music that reflected the people in the room.
The quiet space for someone who needed a moment away from the noise.
The organiser who remembered somebody's name.
Care leaves clues.
And people notice them.
Just as importantly...
People notice when they're missing
We've all heard the conversations.
"The food was awful."
"There was nothing I could eat."
"It felt like they'd organised it at the last minute."
"I left hungry."
"They clearly didn't think this one through."
On the surface, those comments sound like they're about catering.
Often...
They're not.
They're about care.
Because every decision communicates something.
Even the small ones.
People don't expect perfection.
They do notice intention.
They notice effort.
They notice thoughtfulness.
They notice when somebody has gone the extra mile.
Not because it was expensive.
Because it made them feel considered.
And that feeling lasts much longer than the meal itself.
The Question Every Event Organiser Should Ask
Before deciding on the venue...
Before choosing the entertainment...
Before confirming the menu...
Ask one question.
How do we want people to feel?
Connected?
Valued?
Recognised?
Inspired?
Energised?
Included?
If those are the desired outcomes, every decision begins to change.
The experience becomes less about filling an agenda and more about creating meaningful moments.
That shift is subtle.
But it's transformational
From Performance to Purposeful
The organisations creating the strongest workplace cultures aren't necessarily spending the most money.
They're being the most intentional.
They're asking better questions.
They're designing with people, not just logistics, in mind.
They're creating experiences that reflect the culture they want to build every day, not just one evening a year.
Because celebration isn't really about the venue.
Or the budget.
Or the entertainment. It's about how people leave feeling.
Did they feel noticed?
Did they feel appreciated?
Did they feel more connected than when they arrived?
Those are the questions that matter.
People rarely remember every detail of an event. They remember how it made them feel.
The Future Isn't Less Fun
Let's be clear.
This isn't an argument against celebration.
It's not an argument against dancing.
Or music.
Or entertainment.
Or laughter.
Or joy.
Quite the opposite.
I believe workplaces need more celebration.
More joy.
More shared experiences.
More moments that bring people together.
The difference is this.
People aren't looking for forced fun.
They're looking for meaningful experiences.
Experiences that reflect the culture they're proud to be part of.
Experiences where they feel seen.
Experiences where they feel included.
Experiences that remind them why they enjoy working with the people around them.
The goal was never to create an unforgettable party.
The goal was always to create an unforgettable feeling.
When we understand that, celebration becomes so much more than an event.
It becomes an opportunity to strengthen culture, deepen connection, and remind people that they matter.
And perhaps that's what people have been looking for all along.
Further Reading
For readers who'd like to explore this topic further:
Harvard Business Review: New Research on How to Get Workplace Rituals Right by Junhyok Yim, Anthony C. Klotz, Trevor A. Foulk and Pauline Schilpzand.
Gallup: Research on meaningful recognition, employee engagement and workplace belonging.
Academy of Management Journal: Research into organisational rituals, engagement and employee behaviour
Maxine Anthony
Creative Director and Founder of UNIKA
Maxine Anthony is the Creative Director and Founder of UNIKA, a company that creates experiences designed to elevate wellbeing, strengthen human connection, and inspire people to become the highest best expression of themselves, both in the workplace and in life.
Built on the belief that changing your state can change your life, UNIKA partners with organisations to deliver movement-led wellbeing workshops and high-impact dance and live music entertainment experiences for conferences, leadership events, team away days, learning and development programmes, award ceremonies and corporate celebrations.
Every experience is intentionally designed to inspire a meaningful shift, physically, mentally or emotionally, in how people think, feel, connect, lead and perform.
Helping teams build stronger relationships, healthier and happier workplace cultures, and more fulfilling experiences at work and in life.
If you're rethinking how your organisation celebrates, connects or invests in its people, I'd love to help you explore what taht could look like. Feel free to get in touch to start the conversation.
Let's Start the Conversation
📱 Phone: +44 (0) 7740 070782
✉️ Email: info@unikadanceevents.com
🌐 Website: www.unikadanceevents.com
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