A good work happy hour looks like a normal end of the day, just with a glass in hand and no computer screen. Most of the time people stand, talk to someone who doesn't sit next to them, and eat something. The activity, if there is one, takes a quarter of an hour. Here are 10 short ideas, what to serve, and how to tell when it's better to leave the office.
In the office or out
| In the office | Out of the office | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Everyone's already there | Leave together at the end of the day |
| Prep | Someone on the team shops, sets up and cleans | Food, drinks and setup are ready |
| Atmosphere | Hard to step away from the desk and the screen | A different place, so a different conversation |
| Suits | A short hour, a team of 10 | 2 to 3 hours, a team of 20 to 50 |
For a small team and one hour, the office does the job. When the team grows, or when you want people to really switch off from work, leave the office.
10 happy hour ideas for work
1. Welcome the new people
Whoever joined in the last few months introduces themselves in a minute, on the microphone or just by the bar. Happy hour is the easiest place to get to know them, much easier than a team meeting.
2. A 10-question quiz
10 questions on the screen, all about the team: who gets to the office first, who has the most tabs open. Groups by whoever is standing next to whom, and 10 minutes.
3. Who's in the photo
Everyone sends a photo of themselves at age 10 in advance. Show them on the screen one after another, and everyone guesses. 10 minutes of laughter, and then everyone tells the story behind their photo.
4. Two "most" awards from the quarter
Not an awards night, just two categories: "the email that saved the week" and "the shortest meeting of the quarter". Read them out, applaud, move on.
5. A request playlist
Everyone sends one song the day before. When your song comes on, everyone looks at you, and that starts a conversation.
6. Photos from the quarter in the background
20 to 30 photos from the last few months run on the screen while people arrive. Nobody has to sit down, but everyone stops to look.
7. A toast for a finished project
When the happy hour has a reason, give it a moment: two minutes from the manager and a thank-you by name to the people who worked on it.
8. A guest for a quarter of an hour
A client, an investor or a long-serving colleague from another team tells one story on the microphone. A quarter of an hour, no slides, and then they stay for a drink with everyone.
9. Half an hour of karaoke
Not every team likes karaoke, but the ones who do won't give it up. Two microphones and lyrics on the screen; start with a duet.
10. A holiday happy hour
Before Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah or Purim, the happy hour becomes a holiday toast. There's a separate guide to holiday toasts.
What to serve
Food you can eat standing up
At a happy hour most people stand, so the food should be easy to hold in one hand: sliced pizza, bruschetta, breads and dips. A light buffet that stays out all evening beats one dish that arrives all at once.
Wine and beer
The base of every happy hour. If people want cocktails, they're already planning a longer evening, and that's a different format.
People who don't drink
There are always a few. Make sure there's something they actually like to drink, not just water, so they're holding a glass too when you raise a toast.
When to hold a happy hour
At the end of the week
Thursday after work is the natural time, since the Israeli week ends on Thursday and there's no early morning after it. Wednesday works for teams where some people work from home on Thursdays.
How often
A regular happy hour, once a month or once a quarter, works better than one big event. People know there's another one coming, so whoever missed it doesn't feel left out.
A 3-hour happy hour schedule
- 18:00 leave the office, wine and beer are already on the bar
- 18:20 photos from the quarter run on the screen
- 19:00 two minutes from the manager, and a welcome for new people
- 19:10 one short activity, 10 to 15 minutes
- 19:25 conversation, snacks, music
- 21:00 finish
Happy hour at Ezra
A happy hour doesn't need production, and that's why Ezra has a short track: 3 hours, a light buffet, wine and beer, in a room that closes for one team, for groups of 20 to 50. A projector and fold-out screen for the photos and the quiz, two microphones for the welcome and the toast, and a PA for the playlist.
The buffet is for sharing, all dairy-vegetarian: pizzas from the taboon oven, salads, breads and bruschetta trays. All the details and free dates are on happy hour at Ezra. For a longer evening with a full bar or a DJ, the tracks are on the company events page.
The bottom line
A good happy hour at work is 2 to 3 hours at the end of the day, with wine and beer, food you can eat standing up and one short activity, like a 10-question quiz or a welcome for new people. Have a good drink for people who don't drink alcohol, and finish at a set time. For a team of 20 or more, leave the office.
A 3-hour happy hour at a private bar
A light buffet, wine and beer, a projector and microphones, and the whole space for your team.
Happy hour at Ezra Message us on WhatsAppFrequently asked questions
What do you do at a happy hour at work?
Drinks, snacks and one short activity: a welcome for new employees, a 10-question quiz about the team, guessing childhood photos on the screen or two “most” awards from the quarter.
How long is a work happy hour?
2 to 3 hours, from the end of the working day. A finish time set in advance helps people come.
What do you serve at a happy hour?
Food you can eat standing up, like sliced pizza, bruschetta, breads and dips, with wine and beer, and a good drink for people who don't drink alcohol.
Should a happy hour be in the office or out?
For a small team and one hour, the office is enough. For a team of 20 or more, or when you want people to really switch off from work, go somewhere where everything is ready.
What day should you hold a work happy hour?
Thursday after work is the natural time in Israel, since the working week ends on Thursday. Wednesday suits teams where some people work from home on Thursdays.