KNOWLEDGE

Can we save the Christmas party?

Morton Fraser Partner Innes Clark
Author
Innes Clark
Partner
PUBLISHED:
04 December 2020
Audience:
category:
Blog

This year, perhaps more than ever, we all need to relax and reconnect with colleagues.

If there has ever been a year to celebrate seeing the back of it is 2020.  In any normal year the office Christmas parties would be in full swing by now, some of us would be nursing hangovers and a few of us would be waking up and facing "the fear" of what we might have said or done.  Not so this year, but while some may be quite glad to dodge the annual office get together, for those that relish these events it seems there is no need to despair.  Necessity is the mother of invention and a whole online industry has sprung up in the last few weeks focusing on how we can still celebrate, albeit virtually. 

Given how "zoomed out" we are, this is the time to go that bit further. Asking attendees to dress up (at least from the waist up) as they would for the usual Christmas outing is an easy way to kick start the festive spirit.  But what then?  Suppliers of virtual parties suggest high levels of participation and "surprise packs" that everyone receives in the post are a good way to differentiate this from "another zoom meeting".  Popular choices include escape rooms, virtual horse racing and musical bingo, and one provider has "I'm working from home get me outta here" where participants receive packs in the post with everything they need to play - although presumably not live maggots, insects (or worse) for eating. 

Virtual wine, gin or similar drink tastings, where a non-alcoholic alternative can also be provided, are also popular and in some cases can be combined with virtual tours of the distillery where the drink was made.  While Scotland may be short on vineyards there are plenty of wine retailers with experts who can guide us through the difference between a Rioja and a Shiraz.  There are also a number of micro-breweries and spirit distilleries spread throughout the country who will likely be grateful for the support from local businesses after what has been a pretty awful year for all of those connected to the hospitality sector. 

Virtual parties also have the potential to be more inclusive.  Those who may not relish attending a party may be happier to dip in to an online event knowing they can easily escape if they wish.  It seems most virtual party suppliers also provide for those who may not want to be quite so involved in organised games with chat rooms where they can just catch up with colleagues.  For employees who have felt isolated during the year this can provide a welcome morale boost.  It may also be a time to meet new workmates - and not just those who have joined the company recently.  For organisations with a wider geographical spread a virtual party brings the opportunity to bring everyone together from every corner of the globe.

We are all keen to see the back of 2020 but, with positive news of a vaccine, for the first time in a while it does seem that there is something to celebrate.   As well as boosting morale, Christmas parties have been shown to positively impact team building, bonding and motivation, and are widely seen by employees as recognition of the work they have put in during what has been an incredibly difficult year.  With all the options available we can save the Christmas party despite Covid-19, and the Christmas party might just let us end the year on a significantly more positive note than we expected.

Disclaimer

The content of this webpage is for information only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific advice. Morton Fraser LLP accepts no responsibility for the content of any third party website to which this webpage refers.  Morton Fraser LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.