How Office Holiday Parties Will Be Different This Year

In-person parties returning

Some employers are looking at in-person holiday parties as a way to bring employees who have been working remotely back to the office. Hosting the event in the office rather than at a flashy restaurant, bar or other public space also gives employers more control over who will be attending, possibly minimizing the number of waiters, caterers and others who might not have followed the same COVID-safety practices as the guests. According to the survey, 42 percent of employers are holding their in-person holiday gathering in the office this season.

Another 9 percent of respondents said they will hold their festivities outdoors. These parties will also be smaller, with 27 percent of employers saying they would limit the number of attendees. That usually means either that employees are not allowed to bring guests or that the employer will break what would be one big party into smaller gatherings.

The other big question for face-to-face parties is the vaccination status of the attendees. None of the employers surveyed said they would require proof of vaccination from their guests, and only 9 percent said they would ask that all holiday party attendees be vaccinated.

Virtual parties and hybrid in-person/online gatherings were a quick option in 2020, as companies did what they could to boost the spirits of workers who had been out of the office for much of the year. But those activities have fallen out of favor this year. While 17 percent of employers held a virtual holiday party in 2020, only 7 percent plan to do so this year.

Some places offer perks instead of gatherings

According to the survey, 34.6 percent of companies won’t hold a holiday party this year. That's down from the 54.6 percent that didn’t have any kind of event, even a virtual one, in 2020. Among the businesses that will be festivity-free this year, the reasons vary. COVID concerns were cited by 18 percent of companies as the reason for canceling their party. Ten percent said they have never held such an event, and 3 percent said they had to eliminate their party because of overall cost cutting.

But even without parties, employers are finding ways to celebrate the season with their employees. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, some companies are giving their workers gift cards, paid time off or other comparable perks instead of a party.