Whether it takes place remotely or in person, time together at a work Christmas party is a great way to get your team together to celebrate the wins of a challenging 2021.
There are many companies that are unsure whether to go ahead with their in-person Christmas work celebrations this year. In our opinion, it’s key to do what feels right for your business, while also taking into account how your team feels about it. One of our bespoke surveys is a great way to establish how your team is feeling, but more on that later.
Despite hesitation about whether to go ahead with in-person get-togethers, the health secretary Sajid Javid has said that there is no need to cancel Christmas party plans. Currently, it is up to each individual business to decide how they would like to mark the end of the year.
Why marking the end of the year is so important
By the time we reach December, we’re ready for the final push towards the end of the year and some much-deserved time off. December is about wrapping up (excuse the pun!) tasks and projects so we’re all ready to start the next year refreshed with new ideas.
However, after a busy year, it’s easy to see fatigue and burnout creep into our teams. This is why celebrating your successes at the end of the year, getting the team together and having fun is so important. Not only is it a great way to make teams feel closer, especially if there have been new people joining, but it also changes the focus to end the year on a high.
Tips for hosting a digital Christmas party
After nearly two years of taking socialising online in a variety of ways, from digital pub quizzes to school lessons, it’s clear that when people want to connect and spend time together, it can be done.
If you’re planning to take your Christmas party celebrations online this year, here are a few tips to help make it as smooth as possible, wi-fi connection permitting...
1) Organisation is key – if you’d like to eat together over Zoom or Microsoft Teams, schedule your food deliveries in advance
2) Get creative – think of games you can play together online, or organise a quiz with a few festive twists
3) Try a digital secret Santa – arrange ahead of time and open your gifts together online
4) Include a speech – Christmas parties are a great way to thank everyone for their hard work throughout the year
5) Festive tunes – create a festive playlist that everyone can access, and maybe try some karaoke if you’re brave enough!
We Love Surveys Christmas party plans
According to a recent BBC article, research shows that Christmas parties may be a little smaller this year.
If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that the connection with others matters most to people. While there is not currently a legal obligation to cancel or postpone Christmas office celebrations, for many, they will want to connect and socialise with their team in one way or another.
Our plans this year involve us taking the We Love Surveys team over to Liverpool for a couple of days of seeing the sights, enjoying delicious food, and a few cocktails. We'll be visiting the Beatles Museum which we’re really looking forward to. It's our way of saying thank you to our team after a very busy year.
In terms of ensuring that this event is as safe as possible, we have asked that our small team of six completes Lateral Flow tests beforehand and that anyone who is feeling unwell or had a positive test result does not attend. The safety of our small but talented team matters to us and this is why we are committed to holding this Christmas party as safely as possible.
The importance of connecting with your team
Every member of your team will have different opinions and levels of comfort when it comes to socialising in 2022 and beyond. In order to make decisions based on data and insight, it’s important to collect information from your team regarding how they feel about socialising together as a team and in what venues they feel most comfortable.
This can be a difficult conversation to have, as there is so much uncertainty surrounding the subject. However, a bespoke survey tailored to this very topic is an easy and efficient way to collect the data you need. This is where the We love Surveys team comes in. We will design a feedback solution that is tailored to your exact requirements, and allows you to collect data that is of value to you. To learn more about we can help you, get in touch with us today.
We Love Surveys is here to help you better communicate with your team by giving you the data and insights you need to make the decisions that impact them. From identifying skill gaps to working out how satisfied your team are with their role, communication is key and we’re here to help you with that.
A word from our team
However you’re celebrating with your colleagues this year, we hope you have a wonderful time. One last thing - Merry Christmas from the We Love Surveys team and a Happy New Year!
What to do now
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