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Christmas Party 2021! Cancel, or not?

Katherine

I am seeing articles in City AM and the FT of large companies (EY, Slaughter & May), who are cancelling their large firm wide Christmas parties in favour of smaller teams parties this year (due to Omicron, or Covid generally).

We are only a headcount of 60 and are still deciding what to do. What are you doing?

  • We have decided not to have one this year simply due to the risk. We decided this before the new variant and recent scaremongering in the news. This is due to the fear what if someone caught covid at the party & got seriously ill, we wouldn't want that to happen.

    We are instead sending out gifts to all employees.
  • Ours is going ahead but we have had quite a lot of people drop out due to concerns. I'm struggling with the fact that we are still mostly WFH and limiting people in the office and still maintaining 2m social distancing and all the other stuff, yet we'll soon all be p*ssed as newts all hugging and singing in each others faces, getting drinks mixed up and ex-smokers cadging the last few drags of someone else's cig because that doesn't count etc etc..........urgh..........I say all, not me, I'll probably be the grinch sat in the corner wincing every time someone gets within a 5m radius of anyone else.

    I've lost family members and a friend to Covid and I still have covid related problems now so personally I'm dreading it a bit but as HR I feel like I need to go to show my face and show a bit of solidarity with those who have organised it, a lot of effort has gone into it and its going to be a very glam event. But the 'sensible' part of me is saying its probably not a good idea to have it :(
  • in reply to Samantha
    That sounds like a really tough situation, Samantha, and it sounds like you've got a fair number of misgivings about going - I know it's an unsolicited opinion, as you didn't ask, but I guess I wanted to say that there should be no shame or guilt if you decide not to go - yes, you're HR (we all pretty much are in this community) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't acknowledge our own feelings and worries, and look after ourselves at the same time as looking out for others. If it doesn't feel right for you to go, don't put pressure on yourself to 'show up' simply for others - it's totally ok to choose not to go
  • We decided to ask our staff what they would prefer, a whole office party or a voucher (as we did last year), the response was 60:40 in favour of a party, although we have had a few drop out of the party this week following news of the new variant, but it's still split pretty evenly. Those who don't book on the party will receive a voucher.
  • I have 2 clients who have adjusted their plans as follows:
    1. small teams events only to manage risk (as someone said, can't afford to have a high number of infections / isolations as it would compromise ability to run business)
    2. postponed until January, a small gift instead in the meantime as a an end of year thank you
  • All cancelled here - I am disappointed though. However the decision was if anyone gets the Omicron whilst at a function they have to self isolate for ten days which may ruin their actual christmas.
  • in reply to Nina Waters
    We were in this exact situation until Tuesday, when we regretfully cancelled it. I say regretfully (because it was the right thing to do) because probably half of our total team were really excited and keen to get together after the challenges of the last two years. However, the risk angle feels too great; both to individuals' health and wellbeing and and to that of their colleagues who would be expected to cover them at work if they did become ill or need to isolate. That much of a potential muck-up over Christmas simply had to be avoided.

    Individual teams will be able to go out for small gatherings together (with a budget provided) if they wish instead. We are also giving the option that they do this in January so as to get past the holiday season before incurring the risks above.

  • Moderator note: This is the first post from a new thread, which I have now merged with this exisiting discussion. For context, this post was entitled "Mixed message from the government on large - Christmas parties ref: Omicron" 

    Dear HR community, Would love to hear if other HR professionals are also advising their stakeholders to cancel the planned company Christmas party this year given the new virus variances and mixed messages from the government. It would be great to get a pulse of the direction the majority are leaning towards, given the recent developments.