Christmas Parties 2021: The Great Debate

If you’re one of the many companies who are still undecided about a Christmas party this year, take a look at some of the alternative ways to celebrate the festive season with your workforce.

Like all of us, companies came out of lockdown with the hope that Christmas 2021 will bring with it all the joys and excitement that last year didn’t quite live up to. The pandemic has taken its toll across the globe and a Christmas celebration this year could be one of the first times in almost two years that the whole company has been together.

It seems there’s a divide in the corporate world, to hold the Christmas party or not? Many places, including large companies like Google and Facebook, which both have central offices in Dublin¹, have decided to ditch the Christmas do for another year. However, others like the CEO of AOK, Alex Hewitt, believe that throwing a Christmas party for staff is a must this year². Will another year of cancellations and postponement see company Christmas parties become a thing of the past altogether? We certainly hope not.

We’ve put together a handy guide to help you if you’ve decided to book a Christmas party, alternatives to the usual annual events and how we can help make sure customers and employees have a great Christmas.

Things to consider if you’re having a Christmas party:

If you’ve decided to go ahead with a Christmas party this year, here are a few things to consider:

Although COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, infection rates have risen in the UK over the winter months, leaving fears of a Christmas lockdown looming. The Government haven’t made any plans to impose further restriction over Christmas but the uncertainty makes planning ahead difficult.

Companies that have already booked a venue for their annual Christmas shindig should ensure they have COVID cover in place. This could include the flexibility to alter the date or cancel without losing any money, just in case of any last-minute changes.

Most adults will now have been vaccinated but there will still be some people who don’t feel comfortable attending social gatherings.

If you’ve got the green light, take extra measures to make sure the evening runs smoothly. Health and safety precautions like lateral flow testing and temperature checking are a good way to ensure all those attending can let their hair down and relax with peace of mind.

What can you do instead?

There are plenty of other ways to celebrate the most wonderful time of year and reward employees. Here are some of the things other companies have opted for instead for Christmas 2021:

We may be sick of them but they might just be here to stay, for now. A virtual event is probably one of the easiest and safest ways to celebrate the holidays with your workforce. From cocktail-making classes and escape rooms to comedy nights and fully hosted events with different rooms holding games, talks and more, there are plenty of ways to get creative with a virtual Christmas party.

Don’t want to turn out the Christmas lights completely? Companies have the option to allow individual departments to organise smaller gatherings to minimise the risk associated with larger events³. Since most parties were cancelled last year and many companies are still working from home, this is the perfect chance for employees to enjoy a face-to-face catch up in an informal setting.

Companies who love the social aspect of a Christmas get-together, quite like us here at Red Letter Days, could postpone events until spring/summer 2022 and look forward to a whole team catch up, when the time is right.

If you’ve opted for one of the above, there might be some extra cash floating around in the Christmas budget. Why not consider Christmas gifts for employees? Show thanks for their hard work through the tough times, ‘tis the gifting season after all.

So, how can we help?

The Red Letter Days Christmas fairies are here to save the day with a sprinkling of experience gifting magic. Finding Christmas gifts for staff should be a stress-free experience and should offer something meaningful your employees will remember. There’s no one fits all method for finding the perfect gift. A corporate Christmas present should be tailored to their taste and personality. That’s where we come in. We think life is for living and we want to be a part of helping create magical moments, so here are some of our employee Christmas gift ideas:

Monetary vouchers: If you’re not sure what to pick, opt for a monetary voucher that they can use against thousands of experiences and give employees total freedom.

Gift boxes: Filled with plenty of exciting options, our themed gift boxes are the ideal choice for employee rewards and gifts, with personalisation options for that extra special touch. From thrill-seekers and adventure lovers to foodies and cocktail connoisseurs or those who love a pamper day, our gift boxes have it all.

Enhance your employee experience today and discover schemes that really work.

1. The Times, October 2021 2. Conference News, October 2021 3. TrueHR, October 2021,