Are you gearing up for your annual summer company event? Whether it's a lunch in the office, a concert in the park, or a day at the local amusement park, here are some things to remember when putting together your company event.

• Don't wait until the last minute! Be sure to start planning well enough in advance for the event and communicate the date to employees as soon as possible. Employees are more likely to take vacations in the summer, and you want to give them enough of a heads up to plan accordingly.

• Make sure you choose food that all of your employees can enjoy. For some it may be a religious reason, or a personal choice to avoid certain foods, and you want all of your employees to be able to enjoy the event.

• Make sure that management and executives are visible and that they show an interest at the event. There's nothing better as an employee than to have the president of the organization ask, "Would you like another scoop of macaroni salad?

• Make sure the event is something that all can enjoy, not what management thinks employees will like and appreciate.

• Be sure to communicate whether employees can bring guests and children, or whether it is an employee-only function. It is very embarrassing for the employee, as well as for the company, to show up with their guests (not to mention children) and find that there is not enough seating, food and/or appropriate activities!

• Be careful about serving alcohol. We highly recommend that alcohol not be served at all. However, if you do choose to serve it, be sure that all of those attending are old enough to consume alcohol and that they don't leave the event under the influence. Also, keep in mind that events with alcohol tend to stir up the potential for sexual harassment.

• Make sure you have a first aid kit nearby. You never know when you might need it. Also keep in mind that injuries incurred at company events may be considered workers' compensation.

• Not all employees are comfortable in large social gatherings. So make sure that there are activities that involve different tastes and interests, and be sure not to pressure anyone into attending.

• It's important that employees feel the event is at a convenient location. Employees don't want to spend a whole day getting to the event.

Eileen Levitt, SPHR is our vault recruiting expert and president of The HR Team, Inc. in Columbia, Md. She can be reached at (410) 381-9700 or elevitt@thehrteam.com. Ann Seeney is a human resources generalist for The HR Team, Inc. Keep up with human resources trends and issues, subscribe to "The Team Player", The HR Team's free monthly newsletter. Just click the link to send a subscription e-mail: team-player@aweber.com.