Let’s not beat about the bush: 2020 has been a year that few of us will forget. And not in a good way. The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down, and whilst news of potential vaccines means that there’s an end in sight, we still have some way to go before normality resumes.
Which brings us to the office Christmas party. Ongoing restrictions and social distancing rules mean that in-person celebrations have been cancelled this year. This may seem like a minor inconvenience given the major sacrifices and losses we’ve experienced, yet ending 2020 without the annual office festivities feels like another blow. It’s another missed opportunity to socialise with co-workers, toast the year’s achievements, and, ultimately, have a little fun – something we could all benefit from right now.
But all is not lost. Whilst teams can’t attend a physical office Christmas party this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate full stop. Getting creative and embracing your digital workplace technology will allow your staff to enjoy the Yuletide season from the safety of their own homes. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Create online Christmas quizzes
Everyone loves a good quiz, and they’re a regular fixture at our own Christmas parties at Claromentis. You can easily build your own online quizzes using your e-learning software, and then host your quiz live over video conferencing where staff can form teams and compete. Use digital prizes such as intranet badges to reward the winners, and share the good news on your internal social channels to encourage further engagement.
Host a postal Secret Santa
Old-fashioned snail mail has never felt more essential this year, with more parcels being delivered in 2020 compared to those pre-pandemic days. Indeed, there’s something rather special about receiving a gift in the mail, especially right now.
So this year, make your Secret Santa gift exchange a postal one. Start by sharing the details on how staff can take part on your intranet news channels, then set up an intranet poll to gauge who would be interested in taking part. Remind staff to check that their address is up-to-date on their intranet user profiles as well, to ensure they receive their presents in time!
Design a festive intranet
This year, many have decided to start Christmas celebrations a little early in an effort to dispel the gloom of 2020 and bring some festive cheer to their day. Trees and decorations are already up in a lot of people’s homes, so why not apply that thinking to your company intranet too?
Using intranet design tools, you can create your own festive intranet theme in just a few minutes. Pick Christmas-themed colours, add a cheerful background, and include a “Countdown to Christmas” widget to build excitement. You could even turn it into a competition, where staff submit their own Christmas intranet design for a chance to win a prize.
