First published on Thursday, August 13, 2020
Last updated on Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Work Christmas parties get a bad rep. A dodgy disco, bad buffets, and people drinking waaaaay too much…
Even if your Christmas do is a hoot, organising a work night out at this time of year is still a logistical nightmare, not to mention expensive.
Here are a few ways you can get in the festive spirit and bring your team together this year, without the chaos of a Christmas party.
Secret Santa
Secret Santa is a great way to spread some Christmas cheer in your workplace, but you need to put a few rules in place to help it all run smoothly.
First, set a spend limit, so people don’t feel any pressure to spend more than they can afford.
Second, agree on the tone beforehand—or someone might feel a bit short-changed if they’ve spent ages putting together a thoughtful and personal present and get a naff novelty mug in return.
And third, keep it an actual secret. Not knowing who’s your Secret Santa is half the fun…
Create a Winter Wonderland
Decorating your workplace might not be anything new, but if you’re going to do this, you have to do it in style.
Nothing looks sadder than a solitary piece of tinsel hanging up in the stairwell or a shabby old tree with only three baubles on it.
Putting in some effort on the decoration front will not only make your workplace look like a winter wonderland, but will show your staff you care about everyone feeling the festive spirit.
Join in Christmas Jumper Day
Yes, Christmas jumpers are cheesy—but so is Christmas! And Christmas Jumper Day is for a good cause, too.
This year’s official Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day is Friday 13th December. Sign up your workplace for a fundraising pack, get your people to donate £2 for wearing one, and all that money will help children all around the world. How cool is that?
Give back this Christmas
However you choose to celebrate Christmas, or even if you don’t celebrate it at all, it’s a wonderful time to spread cheer in your workplace, and there are lots of ways you can give back to those less fortunate.
You could donate a simple pair of socks to The Great Sock Appeal, an initiative that gives socks to those sleeping rough over the festive period. Maybe ask your staff to bring in food to donate to your local food bank. Or even just get your employees together to write and send out charity Christmas cards.
Small gestures can have a big impact at this time of year, and getting your staff to give back this Christmas is a great way to bring your team together, embrace the festive spirit, and make a real difference.
To keep up with how we’re spreading the Christmas cheer at BrightHQ, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
