Socially distanced holiday party ideas that are great for office morale.
Well everybody, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…or is it?
This year, the holidays will be a little different. No swapping home-baked desserts. No exchanging impractical Secret Santa presents. And no chance of seeing our usually professional colleagues get embarrassingly smashed at that annual office holiday party.
With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are wondering what holiday celebrations will look like this year…or if we’ll be celebrating at all. With restrictions changing constantly, planning ahead isn’t exactly feasible. Canadians are divided on whether they should cancel holiday celebrations altogether or find new ways of holding on to beloved traditions.
Despite the uncertainty, the benefits of bringing colleagues together to celebrate, connect, and unwind shouldn’t be overlooked.
Top 3 Benefits of Office Holiday Parties:
- Appreciation
Holiday parties show employees they are appreciated, especially in these hard, uncertain times. - Team building
Many employees have been working remotely, making it hard for them to connect with their coworkers on a personal level. Parties, even distanced or virtual ones, provide an opportunity for coworkers to build relationships and feel like they are part of a team. - Recognition
A holiday party is a fantastic time to recognize the employees that have gone above and beyond in the past year. With limited in-person time, managers may not have been able to show that they see and recognize the hard work their employees are putting in.
With safety as our top priority this holiday season, employers need to ensure that any celebrations taking place are accomplished in adherence with all government regulations. If you live in Toronto or the GTA, restrictions are constantly changing and vary from region to region. This makes it extremely critical to monitor the changing state of the pandemic and stay informed of your region’s regulations.
Despite the varied restrictions, planning a traditional holiday party – whenever you are – isn’t recommended. However, with a little creativity, companies can still host holiday celebrations that we’ll all be sure to appreciate.
Christmas Light Drive-thru
Who doesn’t love light displays? With social distancing in full effect this holiday season, drive-thru light shows are popping up all over the place! Polar – Multi-Level Drive-Through Holiday Experience and Nights of Lights are just two examples of epic holiday light experiences taking place around the GTA. Employers can encourage their staff to participate in a Christmas light drive-thru experience at a specific time so everyone can enjoy the experience together while still being apart. The evening can be wrapped up virtually, giving everyone the opportunity to share and discuss their experience over a glass of wine or cup of hot cocoa.
Drive-in Movie Night
It’s all about staying in the safety of our own vehicles this year. Drive-in movie theatres are an awesome socially distanced activity and many theatres rent out their facilities for private functions. Evenings come early around the holidays, making this a family-friendly event. As an employer, you can also opt to create a personalized pre-movie show to play on the big screen that truly showcases your appreciation for your employees. Add in the concession stand and it will be an unforgettable holiday party.
Online Secret Santa
Secret Santa is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited tradition amongst coworkers this time of year. If your office enjoys participating in this gift-exchange, you’re in luck! This is actually a very simple activity to orchestrate virtually. With online Secret Santa generators, it’s as easy as ever to draw names and have them directly emailed or texted to your colleagues. Teams can easily set a price ranges and throw virtual gift-reveal parties where everyone can open the gifts that were anonymously delivered to them.
Virtual Wine and Cheese Party
Wine and cheese pair excellently, whether its at an office party or in the comfort of your own living room. There are many services available for gift basket delivery with a range of products and prices such as Whata Basket. Have a basket delivered to each of your employee’s doorsteps and get together virtually for an evening of wine, cheese, games, and happy workers!
With so many options for virtual and socially distanced holiday celebrations available, maybe this holiday season won’t have to be so different after all!
