The holiday season is usually a time to gather your team together and celebrate the successes of another year. While 2020 presents new challenges to the annual holiday party, there are still ways to honor your employees' hard work while staying safe and having fun. As everyone looks ahead to a brighter 2021, it's important to take a moment to reward their effort, whether it's an in-person, socially distanced event or a virtual get-together full of holiday spirit!
Making Spirits Bright
If your team is small and comfortable getting together in person, an outdoor gathering could provide a way for everyone to celebrate. Guests can sip hot chocolate and spiced cider against a backdrop of colorful holiday lights. Special gifts could include cozy fleece blankets to bundle up while the party goes on. An indoor, in-person option could be holiday dinners in smaller groups. While everyone won't be together, a celebratory meal for each department might feel like a return to normalcy in a topsy-turvy year.
Celebrating From Afar
Of course, celebrating face-to-face might not be an option for everyone this year. However, there are plenty of ways to keep the holiday spirit alive, including virtual Christmas carol karaoke or holiday movie trivia contests. Virtual gingerbread contests are another great way for your employees to come together in spirit for some festive sun. Supply your team in advance with everything they'll need and then have them build in real-time or have each person present their final product.
While your employees may not all be in the same place this year, there are still ways to keep up the magic of the holidays in your celebrations. As you honor your team for all of their efforts this year, keep in mind the struggles everyone has faced outside of their work environment, as well. Gift cards for restaurants or even a hotel for a weekend getaway are some ways you can reward them for all their hard work in a stressful year. Contact The Otesaga for more information on our gift cards, or if you're starting to think ahead to your team retreat for 2021!