What a year! If there’s ever been time for teams to celebrate, it’s this Christmas. But can you have a safe, COVID-free work Christmas party? What do you do if employees feel too nervous to join in the celebrations?
It’s OK. We can still do the end-of-year Christmas party. It just needs a little finetuning – like everything else in 2020.
Here’s how.
Tip 1: Keep On Top Of Changes
We’ve had to think on our feet this year and the business Christmas party will be the same. Make your plans. Put policies in place. Then monitor your legal requirements and NSW Health Guidelines.
Here’s a great resource from the NSW Government on what you can and can’t do for Corporate functions of any kind – https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules We’re also here to help you.
Tip 2: Don’t Celebrate In-House
The Premier is recommending businesses go to venues and restaurants to hold their Christmas parties and it makes sense. It’s supporting another small business plus venues are familiar with how many people they can accommodate at one time. So work with them to help your party stays safe.
When selecting a venue, choose somewhere with an outdoor area such as a beer garden or balcony to help support the social distancing rules. If you are celebrating at a restaurant or pub, consider choosing less busy periods such as mid-week dinners or lunchtime celebrations.
Don’t forget that wherever you choose to hold your work Christmas function, you will need a COVID Safety Plan and a COVID Marshall to ensure everything remains safe for your team. We are here to guide you if you’d like some help.
Tip 3: Perform A Risk Assessment For Your Business
If you have introduced split shifts or are limiting on-site numbers to reduce the impact of a COVID infection in your business, you may wish to continue doing this for your Christmas party.
Many businesses are opting for multiple, small Christmas parties arranged by department or function. This way, numbers are kept low while the Christmas celebrations become a time for an entire team to get together. That’s something many teams have missed this year.
Tip 4: Recognise Some People May Be Fearful
COVID-19 has left many people fearful and nervous about gathering in large groups and socialising in general. Your work Christmas party could also be seen as a risky event for them. Recognise this and look for ways to help them remain part of the team. Could you do a hybrid event where some people attend the event online? Would a small team get together work better for nervous staff – allowing them the opportunity to celebrate a tough year with their closest work associates? Or could you make wearing masks part of the Christmas party theme with prizes given to the most decorative mask?
Like everything to do with COVID this year, finding the middle ground helps all staff feel included and valued so your business has a highly engaged and productive workforce next year.
Tip 5: All The Usual Rules Still Apply!
With our collective focus on coping with COVID-19, it’s easy to overlook the essentials of any workplace event such as monitoring alcohol consumption and appropriate behaviour. But they are just as important this year.
For information on what to do to ensure all staff remain “nice” – not “naughty”, read a previous article titled “Let’s ‘idiot-proof’ the world, one Christmas party at a time!”.
Don’t Let COVID Stop The Celebrations!
The work Christmas party should be a sensible but fun occasion, so don’t let COVID-19 stop your business celebrating a tough year. It’s what we all need. The only difference this year is there needs to be a few new rules around what your team can do and where you can celebrate.
To check you have the right policies in place and your compliance ducks in a row, get in touch with End2End Business Solutions on 02 8977 4002.