Office Christmas party ideas for 2021

With some teams still working remotely or in a hybrid format, planning an office Christmas party in 2021 is not an easy task. The year went by quickly, and the holiday season will soon be here. While it might be too early to foresee what will happen next in the coronavirus novel and if booking a venue for an office Christmas party is feasible, it's time to start looking for alternatives.

Office Christmas party ideas in 2021 🎅 🎉

In previous years, we have posted office Christmas party ideas. Now, we've added a new set of work Christmas paty ideas this article, only this time with a twist of social distancing. Thanks to technology, the fun doesn't have to be over. You can still host an office Christmas party, only virtually. Here are some social-distancing friendly work Christmas party ideas:

1. Virtual work Christmas party 💻 🎄

This is one of the more convenient office Christmas party ideas. Only this time you won't need to rearrange the furniture, or go all out on decorations. This is great if you're looking for office Christmas party ideas that are more affordable. 

As mentioned above, a memorable work Christmas party will go a long way to decrease employee turnover. For more specific details about why this is important, check out this article on how much employee turnover is costing you.

To keep things a little exciting at this event, it might be a good idea to host a round of Secret Santa. That way, all the participants can get a nice gift delivered from one of their coworkers at their doorstep.

You can even make an ugly Christmas sweater contest! Your employees will appreciate any effort you take to make the office holiday party one they look forward to, even if it's through a Zoom call. They deserve it, after all.

2. Online Secret Santa 👩‍💻 🎁 👨‍💻

As suggested earlier, you can still host the traditional Secret Santa and deliver a secret present via post to a workmate. After all, everyone has become an expert in online shopping. In fact, there are plenty of apps to make wish lists to make sure you won't miss anyone on your team and choose the right gifts.

To avoid any misunderstandings, it's best to include a price range for the gifts. You can even share it and create a company event via HR software to make sure no one will miss it! Note: ask everyone to update their mail address using a employee directory.

Organise your work Christmas party using checklists 📋  and invite everyone using kiwiHR 🗓 

3. Zoom Karaoke jingles night  🎤 🎶

This office Christmas party ideas requires a lot of participation. Test your employees' vocal skills with a night of karaoke. As if it is not annoying enough, at least you can put mute on. This is definitely one of the more lively office Christmas party ideas. Make sure you keep all of the jingles holiday-themed, though!

4. Gingerbread house decorating party at home 🍪 

Another favourite of office Christmas party ideas is that of a gingerbread house decorating party.

This is a great way to boost team spirit amongst the employees, too. You can even host a sort of competition amongst everyone for some lighthearted fun. 

Do some research to find the best gingerbread decorating materials available in your area. Make sure you buy plenty for this office holiday party and get them delivered on time to be a success.

You can also send some food and drinks during the decorating, too. Of all office Christmas party ideas, this one is sure to inspire engagement.

5. Virtual wine and cheese party 🍷 🧀

Swap pub crawling to a virtual wine and cheese party from everyone's comfort of their living room. Many delivery services can deliver a basket right to your employees' doorstep. Not only will you be keeping the cheer spirits high, but you'll also help your local restaurants and bars.

Restaurants and venues rely extremely on the holiday season for an extra boost in cash reserves to get through quieter months following in January and February. Unfortunately, Christmas party cancellations have shifted what should be a boom time.

This, of course, is one of the office Christmas party ideas for adults only. Do your research to see how you can plan a safe and exciting wine and cheese party. Then, everyone who loves adult-only office Christmas party ideas can let loose in their comfort of their home! Note: don't forget to double check if your team is over the legally drinking age using your people system or HR software.

Making the most of office Christmas party ideas and more with additional HR resources

At this point in the article, you have a thorough understanding of today's top office Christmas party ideas. In today's competitive world and what's been a rough year for all, your employees deserve a stress-free break. Take the time to plan an office holiday party they won't forget, even if it's online. 

Plus, don't forget all office Christmas party ideas are a chance to maintain employee loyalty. That employee loyalty, in the long run, is going to be an invaluable asset to the company. By loosening up and engaging with each other, a proper office holiday party can cultivate genuine bonds between them. 

All of this goes to show why you take the above office Christmas party ideas seriously as a responsible HR manager. In addition, it's essential to continue to keep yourself informed about today's top HR practices. 

Besides, in a survey by Healthline in the year 2015, 44% of participants said that they are stressed during the holidays. Give the employees you manage the break they deserve with the office Christmas party ideas detailed below.

Plus, an office Christmas party is a chance to re-engage and increase employee motivation, even when working remotely. In other words, a work Christmas party is an opportunity to increase employee retention. 

In fact, studies show that 74% of employees work harder when properly motivated. An office holiday party, then, is valuable for this reason and more.

In fact, that's where we can come into play. We encourage you to browse through the rest of our website to see how our expertise in the world of HR can benefit you. To start, check out more information about the HR software we offer today.

Simplifying HR processes is easier said than done. Know how we get it done by starting your kiwiHR free trial!