The holiday season is a time for joy, gratitude, and coming together. For companies that outsource their workforce or have remote teams, celebrating the holidays can present unique challenges. However, the importance of holiday celebrations in boosting team morale and fostering a sense of togetherness cannot be underestimated.
In this article, we will explore creative and engaging ways that companies with remote and outsourced teams can celebrate the holidays despite physical distances. One popular approach is to outsource to the Philippines, where teams are known for their strong sense of community and festive spirit, making virtual celebrations even more meaningful.
The Challenge of Creating a Festive Atmosphere In A Remote Setting
One of the significant challenges faced by companies with remote or outsourced teams is how to create a festive atmosphere when team members are scattered across different locations.
Traditional office parties may not be possible, but with a little creativity and technology, it’s possible to bring the holiday spirit to virtual spaces.
From virtual holiday parties to interactive activities, we will delve into a variety of ideas to make your remote holiday celebrations memorable.
To help you out, here are some ideas you can try:
Virtual Decorations
Encourage team members to decorate their home offices or virtual meeting backgrounds with festive decorations like holiday lights, ornaments, and garlands.
Provide virtual backgrounds featuring holiday scenes or company-themed decorations for video conferences.
Virtual Costume Days
Designate specific days for team members to dress up in holiday-themed attire, whether it’s ugly sweaters, Santa hats, or elf costumes.
Organise costume contests and award prizes for the most creative or festive outfits.
Festive Playlists
Collaborate on a festive playlist that team members can listen to during work hours.
Host virtual dance breaks where everyone can join in on a quick dance party to their favourite holiday tunes.
Virtual Fireplace or Yule Log
Share a link to a virtual fireplace or Yule log video that team members can play in the background during meetings, creating a cosy and festive ambience.
Interactive Virtual Advent Calendar
Create a virtual advent calendar that team members can open daily to reveal holiday-themed surprises, such as inspirational quotes, trivia questions, or small virtual gifts.
Holiday-Themed Background Music
Play soothing holiday background music during virtual meetings to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Virtual Office Secret Santa
Organise a virtual Secret Santa gift exchange where team members can exchange virtual gifts or e-gift cards.
Encourage participants to personalise their gifts with festive messages and virtual wrapping paper.
Festive Slack or Messaging Channels
Create dedicated Slack channels or messaging groups for holiday discussions, sharing holiday recipes, or posting photos of festive decorations.
Virtual Cookie Exchange
Coordinate a virtual cookie exchange where team members bake and share their favourite holiday cookie recipes.
Host a virtual tasting session where participants can show off their creations and enjoy some sweet treats together.
Virtual Holiday Themed Trivia
Organise virtual trivia games with holiday-themed questions. Team members can participate individually or in teams.
Offer prizes for the winners, such as gift cards or company-branded holiday swag.
Gratitude and Appreciation
Encourage team members to share what they are thankful for during the holiday season, whether it’s work-related accomplishments or personal moments of gratitude.
Host virtual appreciation events where team members express their appreciation for their colleagues.
Virtual Awards Ceremony
Recognize outstanding team members with virtual awards for their contributions and achievements throughout the year.
Present awards during a virtual ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments together.
DIY Craft Workshops
Arrange virtual DIY craft workshops where team members can create holiday-themed crafts together.
Provide instructions and materials in advance to ensure everyone can participate.
Virtual Game Nights
Organize virtual game nights featuring holiday-themed games like virtual charades, Pictionary, or holiday trivia.
These game nights are a fun way to relax and bond with team members.
Virtual Team Lunch or Dinner
Order food delivery for team members and host a virtual lunch or dinner party where everyone can eat together while catching up and celebrating.
Virtual Talent Show
Invite team members to showcase their talents, whether it’s singing, playing musical instruments, or performing holiday-themed skits.
Host a virtual talent show where everyone can appreciate each other’s skills and creativity.
Holiday Themed Backgrounds and Filters
Use video conferencing platforms that offer holiday-themed backgrounds and filters, allowing team members to add a touch of festive fun to their virtual meetings.
Share Holiday Recipes
Encourage team members to share their favourite holiday recipes, cooking tips, and photos of their homemade dishes.
Create a virtual cookbook featuring these recipes as a keepsake.
Holiday Storytelling
Invite team members to share their favourite holiday memories, traditions, or stories during virtual gatherings.
Create a sense of connection by learning about each other’s holiday experiences.
Virtual Holiday Card Exchange
Organise a virtual holiday card exchange where team members can create and exchange personalised digital holiday cards.
Encourage heartfelt messages of goodwill and appreciation.
Ideas for Virtual Holiday Parties and Events
With more and more companies turning to remote teams and working setups to keep business running, finding innovative ways to celebrate the holiday season is more important than ever. Whether you’re part of a remote workforce, have a geographically dispersed team, or are simply looking for unique ideas to bring holiday cheer to virtual events, we’ve got you covered.
Here, we’ll explore a plethora of creative ideas and suggestions to make your virtual holiday parties and events unforgettable, ensuring that distance doesn’t dampen the festive spirit.
Virtual Holiday Gatherings
Virtual holiday gatherings offer a unique opportunity to bring remote teams together in the spirit of the season. With themed virtual backgrounds and engaging dress-up themes, these online celebrations transport team members to a winter wonderland or cosy cabin for a memorable virtual holiday experience.
Zoom parties with themed virtual backgrounds
Embrace the virtual setting by hosting a Zoom party with festive virtual backgrounds. Team members can dress up according to a specific holiday theme and use virtual backgrounds to transport themselves to a winter wonderland, a cosy cabin, or even the North Pole.
Dress-up themes and guest invitations
Encourage team members to dress up according to a chosen theme, whether it’s ugly sweaters, holiday characters, or favourite holiday movies. Send out creative digital invitations to build excitement and anticipation for the virtual gathering.
Themed Virtual Games
Virtual games can also be used to create that holiday air for your team. Here are some ideas you can use for your own virtual gatherings and parties.
“Blizzard Truth or Dare” and other holiday-themed prompts
Spice up your virtual party with holiday-themed games like “Blizzard Truth or Dare.” Create a list of fun and festive truth or dare prompts related to the holiday season. Participants can take turns choosing a prompt and completing the challenge.
“Undercover Santa” and similar group games
Organise a virtual gift exchange game like “Undercover Santa.” Each team member draws a colleague’s name and secretly becomes their “Santa,” leaving surprise virtual gifts and clues throughout the holiday season. The big reveal can take place during the virtual party, adding an element of suspense and excitement.
Ugly Sweater and Holiday Mask Competitions
Encourage team members to unleash their creativity by hosting virtual contests for the best ugly sweater or holiday mask. Participants can showcase their designs during the virtual party, and everyone can vote for their favourites.
Decorating Contests
Transform remote workspaces into winter wonderlands by organising a competition for the best-decorated home office. Team members can deck out their workspaces with holiday decor and share photos during the virtual party.
This not only fosters a festive atmosphere but also promotes a sense of pride in their remote workspaces.
Interactive Activities and Team Building
Another thing you can add to your virtual holiday parties is interactive activities that also have a touch of team building in them. Here are some great choices you can pick from:
Holiday Trivia and Icebreaker Events
Inject some friendly competition and team bonding into your virtual holiday celebrations with holiday-themed trivia. You can organise icebreaker events and trivia quizzes related to the holiday season, encouraging team members to share their knowledge and experiences.
Craft and DIY Activities for Teams
Engage your team’s creative side by hosting craft and DIY activities during the virtual party. Options include ornament-making, holiday card crafting, or even a virtual wreath-making workshop. Providing craft supplies or instructions in advance ensures that everyone can participate.
Hybrid Holiday Event Ideas
As the boundaries between in-person and virtual experiences continue to blur, hybrid holiday events offer an exciting opportunity to combine the best of both worlds.
In this section, we’ll explore innovative ideas and strategies for seamlessly blending in-person and virtual elements to create memorable and inclusive holiday celebrations for your team.
Combining In-person and Virtual Celebrations
For companies with both in-person and remote teams, consider hybrid celebrations that incorporate both elements. Host in-person gatherings for local teams while simultaneously connecting remote team members through virtual platforms. This hybrid approach fosters inclusivity and allows everyone to participate.
Ideas for Hybrid Happy Hours and Cocktail Making
Arrange hybrid happy hours that blend in-person and virtual participation. Local teams can enjoy drinks and appetisers together, while remote team members join via video call. To add an extra layer of fun, consider hosting a cocktail-making session led by a mixologist who guides both in-person and virtual attendees in creating festive beverages.
The Value of Holiday Celebrations in Building Team Morale
Holiday celebrations, even in remote and outsourced work settings, hold tremendous value in building team morale. These celebrations provide opportunities for team members to connect on a personal level, share joy, and strengthen their sense of belonging within the company.
While celebrating the holidays with remote and outsourced teams may present challenges, the key is adaptation and creativity. By embracing virtual gatherings, interactive activities, and thoughtful gestures, companies can create memorable holiday celebrations that bring their teams closer together, no matter where they are located.
This holiday season, let your team feel the warmth of the festivities, even from afar.
Logix BPO and The Holidays
Christmas 2023 found Logix BPO opting for a hybrid setup for their Holiday Celebration. This included some of the ideas listed above, like contests for the best remote holiday workstation and talent contests for their employees.
It also included virtual greetings from the company’s CEO, who was celebrating the holidays in his hometown, and from officers of Logix BPO, who were also celebrating the season in their respective provinces and cities in the Philippines.
The Christmas event organised by the talented and inventive in-office team went forward without a hitch, and Logix BPO gave its employees a festive virtual party that was truly memorable.
With the addition of competitions, like the company’s favourite “Fetch Me” and a few guessing games, the virtual event became one of Logix BPO’s most memorable activities for 2023.
