Social distancing requirements are tightening up once again, but that doesn’t mean your business can’t host a fun holiday party. Virtual office parties are an excellent way to bring staff and their families together in a safe and meaningful way at a time when social connections are more important than ever before.
To make your online office party a success, BBB recommends making it easy to attend. Use the video app your team feels most comfortable using. If you already use Zoom for weekly business meetings, then stick with that platform for your party. If video conferences aren’t a regular part of your work week, then be sure to include a link to the video app you’ll be using with your initial invitation. Inform your guests ahead of time if they need to download an app and let them know the password to enter the gathering if you are using one.
Choose a convenient time. If your office party is for office staff only, then consider hosting your event during business hours. This is a convenient option for employees who already have to carve out time and physical space at home to work virtually each day.
Keep in mind that most video app software is designed to allow only one person at a time to speak, which is not ideal for large social gatherings. Keep groups to 10 participants or less to facilitate conversation. If your guest list is much larger, consider inviting everyone and then splitting them into smaller groups in breakout rooms.
If you normally cater your holiday office party, consider delivering food to your employees instead. Give individual employees a budget, so they can order their own meal and have it delivered to their doorstep.
Get creative with activities. You can include more than just friendly conversation to keep your guests engaged during your virtual office party. Virtual games are a light-hearted option if your employees are the gaming type.
