2021 has brought another year of transitions and new perspectives. Most companies have reopened their doors in some capacity. Now the workforce is a mix of on-site and virtual employees, formally called a Hybrid work environment. So, what should your company do to celebrate the holidays when you have a hybrid staff? At Rocket City HR Consulting we have come up with several ideas to make the party a success.
Hybrid Party Options
With companies being hybrid work environments there is a need to party that way as well. The focus needs to be on finding activities that everyone can participate in. The best hybrid holiday events involve activities for all attendees whether in-person or remote. All the suggestions have a virtual component to them to allow for some of the staff to be together and others virtual.
- Movie night – Play a movie that everyone can view. The in-person employees come together to watch on one screen. While the virtual employees can view the same movie virtually.
- Talent or Karaoke party – Allow all employees to share a talent or sing karaoke. This can be made into a competition or just for fun.
- Game night – Choose any game you can play together as a group. Bingo, Pictionary, Charades, Minute to Win-it, or Heads-Up
- Scavenger Hunt – Have everyone collect a predetermined list of items. See who can find and return to the camera first. To level the playing field, choose items that some will find easier based on their location. e.g., in an office and at home.
- Secret Santa – Draw names then have employees purchase a gift for the person they have drawn. The party’s focus will be opening gifts and guessing who the giver is. (Make a financial allowance for the employees who must mail the gifts)
- Trivia party – Have participants compete to answer trivia questions. Employees can be broken up into teams or compete individually against each other.
Hosting a hybrid party gives employees options to decide how they want to participate. Just remember to have activities that make people feel included and accepted.
Fully Virtual Party Options
Did your company try any of these options last year? They are all still great ideas for a completely virtual party for 2021. Using the technology and resources you can host a virtual holiday party without much expense. Here are some ideas from our staff:
- Virtual Cocktail party – Meet as a team via a virtual platform during cocktail hour and share a drink and conversation.
- Virtual Event party – Bring entertainment into your employee’s homes virtually like a magician, band, or psychic. There are online companies that cater to virtual corporate events
- Virtual Costume party – Pick a theme and have everyone dress up. Ugly sweater, dress as your favorite holiday movie character, or a specific decade (60’s, 70’s, 80’s, etc.)
- Virtual Craft Party – Have employees do painting or a craft together while online with each other. Some online companies can be paid to lead the painting or craft. For a creative workforce, this is a great option.
- Virtual Silent Auction – Give each employee a specific amount of credits and they bid for items. Employees bid to get the ‘gift’ they like best, which will have employees bidding against each other for an item (all in good fun).
- Virtual Dinner party– Send food or dinner to an employees’ home and then eat together and talk virtually.
- Virtual Murder Mystery party – There are online resources to help you host a virtual mystery night.
The best part of a fully virtual party is you can mix and match ideas together. For example, you could have a Virtual Costume/Game Night/Silent Auction/Dinner party this year.
If you budgeted money for a party and decided not to have the party, use the money to buy each employee a more expensive gift than normal.
Employees appreciate being rewarded whether it is with a party or a gift. Do not forget to make your celebration inclusive of all employees, onsite or remote. Think outside the box to find ways to include everyone in your holiday and end-of-the-year celebration. Hybrid or Virtual events may look and feel different, but they can still be fun, festive, and memorable.
