Now that winter’s rolling around and the holidays are approaching, many of us are starting to get excited. There’s so much to look forward to during the holiday – great food, delicious drinks, giving and receiving gifts – and from a professional point of view, there’s also the company holiday.

But of course, this year, things look quite different. The pandemic means that traditional holiday parties just aren’t possible right now – so how can you celebrate the season, honor your employees, and ensure there’s plenty of festive cheer? Luckily, there are some super special gifts you can give that make great alternatives to the traditional holiday party.

From surprising staff with an experience gift to sending a thoughtful gift basket, here are seven of our favorite ideas.

1. Give a Visa Gift Card

If you’re a bigger business, why not use the budget to give your employees a Visa Gift Card? Larger companies can have hundreds of different people working for them – sometimes even thousands – so choosing a gift that everyone’s happy with can seem like an impossible task.

Giving your staff a prepaid gift card means that they can treat themselves to a gift of their choice – whether that’s using the gift card to pay for dinner at their favorite restaurant, buy themselves a new shirt, or even use it to buy something special for a loved one. A great way for big businesses to treat their staff while still recognizing their individuality.

2. Make a Donation in their Name

There’s no denying we’re experiencing challenging times right now, and companies are becoming increasingly keen to align themselves with charitable organizations that are committed to making a difference.

After all, the holidays are a time for giving, so what better way to spread joy than making a donation in your employees’ names? Organizations like the United Way fight for the health, education and financial stability of every single person in the US – although of course you could choose another charity that aligns with your organization’s culture and goals, or works in the same geographic area.

A great idea for medium to larger organizations.

3. Send them a Gift Basket

If you’re a local business and want to support other organizations in your community, why not use the budget to treat your employees to a gift basket from another local business? A gift basket might just be the perfect present: it’s always exciting to open, they’re packed with goodies, and you don’t have to worry about wrapping them!

Check out your favorite local companies and see what type of gift baskets or gift boxes they offer. We especially love these ones from Milwaukee Food Tours, which are packed with all kinds of mouthwatering treats!

4. Treat them to a Virtual Experience

If you’re a smaller organization, why not treat your team to a virtual experience together? With this type of experience, you’re able to enjoy chatting together and socializing, just like you would at a traditional holiday party – but because you don’t have to leave your home, it’s something everyone can safely enjoy.

Plus, you’ll get to participate in a fun activity together, which is also great for team-building. Everyone loves pizza, so why not surprise your team with a pizza making class like this one from Scott’s Pizza Tours?

5. Give them an Experience Gift

While it’s nice to give people gifts for the holidays, not everyone wants to receive more ‘stuff’. A lot of people would much rather be given the gift of experience, where they can create happy memories they’ll treasure for years to come.

The beauty of giving someone an experience gift is that they can use it to enjoy the activity of their choice, whether that’s jumping out of a plane, flying a helicopter, going wine tasting, or taking a cooking class.

At Xperience Days there’s a gift for everyone, whatever their age, character and interests, so this idea is perfect for organizations of all sizes.

6. Send them a monthly Gift Box

Alternatively, why not spread the festive cheer throughout the year, and treat employees to a monthly gift box? There are all kinds of unique subscription boxes to choose from (we love these ones from Crate Joy), so whatever type of organization you are, and whatever your employees are into, you’re sure to find something to delight your staff all year round.

Another perk to this idea is that you can mix it up: one month you could send pampering and wellness themed gift boxes, the next month you could send culinary kits and cookbooks. An exciting idea that’s ideal for organizations of all sizes… and employees will be delighted to receive a whole year’s worth of fun.

7. Virtual Holiday Party

Or, if you want to do something totally different – something your team will remember for years to come – why not throw a Virtual Holiday Party?

Before this interactive event starts, employees will receive a package containing delicious food and drink – and then once the virtual party begins, you’ll all have fun making your creations together. Kick off in the ‘cocktail room’, where you’ll be shown how to knock up a festive cocktail by an expert mixologist; then, move to the ‘appetizer room’ where you’ll cook along with pro chefs.
This is an innovative, unique experience that provides employees with the chance to learn from culinary experts, as well as chat virtually with their coworkers, all while enjoying plenty of tasty treats!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for reading our guide to our holiday party alternatives. Whatever your festive season looks like this year, we hope you’ve found something from our list to show your employees you care, and add just a little bit of cheer to a pretty dismal year!