How do you plan to host your holiday office party this year? Since many employees are still working remotely, a virtual office party is a great choice. If the thought of hosting a virtual holiday party seems overwhelming, don’t worry. We have got you covered! You can still organize a fantastic holiday office party this year and say, “Cheers!” Here are some practical tips to help you plan and host your virtual office holiday party.
The Covid-19 pandemic created a lot of change in the workplace. Quarantines and lockdowns pushed most companies to pivot to virtual. Now we are in the second wave of the virus as the holiday celebrations begin.
How do you plan to celebrate your holiday company party this year?
Since many employees are still working remotely, a virtual office party is a great choice.
If the thought of hosting a holiday party on zoom seems overwhelming, don’t worry.
We have got you covered! You can still organize a fantastic holiday office party this year and say, “Cheers.”
Here are some practical tips to help you plan and host your virtual office holiday party.
Organize Ahead
Don’t make the mistake of not planning!
While virtual parties may seem more manageable than non-virtual parties, without the right planning, things can get out of hand quickly. Use a spreadsheet to plan and stay abreast of each of the activities.
There are numerous logistics involved when planning a virtual meeting, and your spreadsheet will help you organize better and stay on track.
Choose the Right Time and Date
Don’t forget about the date and time. Make sure everybody or most people will be available to attend the party.
To ensure your employees’ full attention, your holiday party should not coincide with the holiday itself. Additionally, ensure the time is convenient for team members in other time zones.
An easy way to decide is to take suggestions from your team. Ask them about a suitable time and date.
Choose the Right Platform
Pick a virtual location suitable for everybody.
At this point, your employees are familiar with virtual meetings. So there should be minimal challenges in providing instructions to your team about connecting to most of the popular video conferencing apps.
Consider the time and people limit of the platform. Zoom is a likely choice because of its flexibility.
However, your employees may be tired of Zoom by now. So, consider other virtual locations like Houseparty, Facetime, or Google Hangouts.
Whatever platform you decide on, do a test-run! And test-run some more! Be sure there won’t be any technical difficulties during your party.
Don’t Forget to Send Out Invites and Reminders.
Use your invite to get employees excited about the party!
Be creative with your invites, whether it is an e-invite or physical invite. Set a festive tone with your invite. That way, they can start looking forward to the party.
Don’t forget that your invite should contain the party’s time, date, and virtual location. And send reminders to keep your employees anticipating the event.
Pick a Theme or Do Something Out of the Ordinary
Pick a theme for your virtual party!
Think of hosting the virtual holiday party as an opportunity to do something extra-ordinary. Here are some party themes or ideas you can consider for a virtual office party.
Whatever you choose, make sure it is virtually stimulating and engaging.
Send Physical Gifts
Show your appreciation for your employees with gifts. Hosting a virtual holiday party should not stop you from sending a physical gift.
Send the holiday gifts ahead of the party to your employees. To avoid delivery problems, make sure you have the correct mailing address and send well ahead of the event date to ensure sufficient time in transit, taking into consideration the holiday shipping delays.
Play Games and Provide Entertainment.
Just like other parties, provide entertainment and games!
Games will keep people engaged in the party. You can even provide gifts to the winners of the competitions and games. Here are some office party game ideas you can choose from.
Take your entertainment a step further. Book entertainers like musicians, magicians, comedians for a remote show. Doing this will make your virtual party experience more worthwhile for your employees.
You can still create the perfect virtual company holiday party experience for your team. All you need is the holiday spirit and a little planning!
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Lisa
