2020 office Christmas parties will look different
Cameron Beswitherick just received an email about his annual staff Christmas party. He says he couldn’t be more underwhelmed.
This year, instead of the regular holiday party, his office will be holding an event over Zoom in conjunction with another office in Ontario, says the Bedford, N.S. resident.
The agenda is pretty vague, but he doesn’t think it will last very long.
“It actually kind of just seems like a Christmas-themed Zoom meeting,” he says.
Many workplaces on the East Coast, like Beswitherick’s, are struggling with what to this holiday season.
Stephanie Walsh, from St. John’s, N.L., is on the social committee at her office and says they are having discussions on exactly what they can do that correlates with public health guidelines.
DIFFERENT CELEBRATIONS
Tanya Bevan, general manager of the Quality Inn & Suites Downtown in Charlottetown, P.E.I., says their facility is offering holiday parties but they are operating under the COVID19 regulations of having fewer than 50 people attend. No dances or bars are allowed.
Although they are open for business, Bevan says the demand for parties is far lower this year. In fact, there have been a lot of party cancellations from groups that had previously come year after year.
“Head offices are not allowing companies to plan parties,” she says.
Walsh’s office Christmas party is going ahead but she says there will several modifications, and things will not look like they have in past years.
For example, their tree decorating party has turned into a day-long event. Each employee is asked to put their ornament on the tree throughout the day instead of doing it at the same time. Their usual games lunch - where the staff would get together in the boardroom and play games - will be done from their offices and games with be emailed. Examples of games they are now planning will include Christmas-themed Bingo, word scrambles, and name the Christmas movie, she says.
“We are foregoing our regular Christmas lunch as our group is too big and instead we will be dispersing the funds reserved for the lunch as a gift card of each employee’s choosing,” says Walsh, noting she chose Sobeys for her gift card.
The Christmas craft will now be done in individual offices. The social committee will purchase the necessary supplies and individually bag them, says Walsh. Each employee will make them in their office and can send a picture around once finished.
Walsh says they will still have their ugly sweater contest but instead of getting together to judge them, it will be done via photos which will be emailed around the office.
Finally, Walsh says, they have always done a Christmas Eve potluck in the past, but they are still working on the details of what that will look like this year.
Most of all, they are trying to make the best of the situation, she says.
EXPERT SUGGESTIONS
Nancy O’Halloran is the owner of BraveHeart First Aid, based in Kentville, N.S., which sells first-aid equipment across Canada. She’s weighed in with some other ideas on how to make office Christmas parties align with COVID-19 health protocols.
A month ago, O’Halloran says, restrictions would probably have been looser, but now with the slow rise in cases in the Atlantic bubble, we need to be more cautious.
Companies should start, she says, by considering whether to have events with those outside our bubbles. Instead, she urges organizations to consider hosting a variety of events leading up to Christmas, to help build morale, much like Walsh’s team is doing.
Consider having an ugly face mask competition, judging based on the best holiday theme, most colourful, best homemade, or ugliest. The winner, she suggests, could win a gift basket of personal protective equipment, including hand sanitizer and masks.
Another idea, she says, is to pick five favourite Christmas movies and motivate staff to watch, then talk about them or have a quiz. Consider hosting a virtual talent show, where everyone submits a video demonstration of their skill, or holding a COVID-19 friendly hot chocolate bar to boost morale.
O’Halloran highly recommends companies consider doing a charity drive this holiday to give back to the community.
“Everyone has been hurting so much these days,” she says.
If businesses are doing gift exchanges, O’Halloran suggests gift cards, especially one from local businesses. This also helps prevent having people touching and wrapping gifts.
If employers are looking to reward their staff, O’Halloran says this is the time to look at wellness programs. Employers could pay a portion of a gym membership or investigate other mental health programs. Employers should be looking at self-care as well, she says.
Money typically spent on holiday meals should be given back to employees, O’Halloran suggests. This could be through gift cards, as Walsh’s office is doing, or by supporting local causes.
REMEMBER PRECAUTIONS
If offices are still going to go out for a Christmas event, O’Halloran says to limit the number of people going. Pick a restaurant where you can safely socially distance. At the event, make sure there are lots of tables with hand sanitizer.
When it comes to food, at a venue or the office, O’Halloran says to be careful there is no double-dipping, and try to avoid handles or ladles that everyone is touching. Think instead, she says, of individualsized servings.
One of the most important pieces, says O’Halloran, is to watch the alcohol intake. When people are drinking, social distancing goes out the window, and people are not usually aware enough to wear their masks properly. You also don’t want people to get in taxis at the end of the night without their masks, she says.
To combat this, think about having a curfew on drinking
– a time to cut people off drinking during the night, or better yet, have your party during the daytime. There is less drinking during the day, and therefore it’s easier for COVID-19 regulations to be followed.
Along with the Christmas event plan, O’Halloran says each organization should have a COVID-19 plan, as is required in P.E.I. Make sure people read it before the holiday event so they know what is expected of them. This is especially important, says O’Halloran, if partners are also invited to the event.
“It’s tricky,” says O’Halloran. “We are trying to bend the rules in vulnerable times. It worries me.”
Overall, O’Halloran says that as business owners, when you are out in public for an event like a holiday party, you are being observed.
“Everything we do, we need to be role models,” says O’Halloran. “Remember your business reputation for safety is critical.”
Go online:
Gathering guidelines PEI: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/ health-and-wellness/new-normal-gatherings-guidance?fbclid =IwAR1Wrn0eDNo3fRJ9hST I2NjrjDreEFKNy2GyTwdP50F Q7Qz3MU2gGHVZnCU
PEI Operational Plan Template: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/publication/ covid-19-operational-plantemplate