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Tips for Hosting an Alternative Office Holiday Party

With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, traditional office holiday celebrations are looking a little different this year. Some companies are stepping back from festivities altogether, while others are embracing virtual alternatives. Whatever direction your organization decides to take, here are some ideas to help you mark the season in a meaningful way. If you're skipping the celebration this year…

1. Give Back as a Team

Consider making a charitable donation on behalf of your company in place of a holiday party. Contributing to a local organization is a meaningful way to lift employee spirits and close out the year on a note of generosity.

2. Send a Heartfelt Thank-You to Your Staff

A sincere, personal email acknowledging your team's hard work this year will go a long way — especially given everything employees have navigated, from working in isolation to managing children at home. A little gratitude can mean more than you might expect.

3. Highlight Your Company's Wins

The pandemic has been tough on businesses, but there's still plenty worth celebrating. Send a message that spotlights your team's achievements and resilience — for example, recognizing how well everyone adapted to a virtual work environment. Focusing on the positives can go a long way in boosting morale.

4. Host an Ugly Sweater Day

Invite everyone to wear their most festive — or most outrageous — holiday sweater to work. Encourage team members to take selfies and share the photos with the group for a simple, lighthearted moment of connection.

5. Send a Virtual Holiday Card

A thoughtful digital card wishing your employees a safe and restful holiday can genuinely warm spirits. Free design tools like Canva make it easy to create something polished and personal. If you're planning a virtual celebration…

1. Bring in Live Entertainment

Hire a local comedian, magician, or musician to perform during your company video call — it's an easy way to inject some energy and fun into the event. Check out this site for inspiration.

2. Host a Cookie Decorating Competition

Order cookie decorating kits from a local bakery — like Sweet Flour Bake Shop — and have them delivered to each team member ahead of the call. Decorate together, then run a quick poll to crown the winner.

3. Share a Holiday Meal Together

Arrange to have a festive meal delivered to your team and enjoy it together over video call. This article has a great roundup of local restaurants and businesses offering holiday-themed menus.

4. Play Virtual Games

There's no shortage of ways to have fun over a video call — holiday trivia, Christmas movie charades, Mad Libs, or "Name That Christmas Tradition" are all crowd-pleasers. Visit this page for a full list of themed team-building activities.

5. Host a Lighthearted Awards Show

Wrap up the year with some laughs by handing out fun, silly awards — think "Best Zoom Background" or "Most Likely to Join a Call First." It's a simple, feel-good way to celebrate your team's personalities and the quirks of a year spent on video calls.

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