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Coronavirus
Digital alternatives to the aperitif: this is how Swiss companies celebrate Christmas: there is no shortage of ideas
Due to strict Corona measures, many companies have canceled their Christmas parties. A joint celebration would be more important now than ever. These solutions are ideal.
Eating together at Christmas is impossible this year. Many Swiss companies offer a video call for this purpose.
Toast together, review the year of work in the aperitif, listen to the boss already somewhat drunk during the Christmas speech – the memories of last year’s Advent celebration remain exactly the same as in the year of the Crown. Because at the latest since the federal government took stricter measures to contain the second wave about a month ago, many Swiss companies canceled their Christmas holidays without replacement or postponed them to next year.
From a psychological point of view, this does not make sense. After all, the annual Christmas party is the highlight of the year at many companies. Business psychologist Christian Fichter says:
“Company celebrations are important rituals”
Humans are not robots who go home after work and otherwise are not interested in each other. On the contrary. The Christmas parties thus strengthen the social cement among the employees and lift the spirits in the team. Especially at the end of a difficult crisis year, company bosses should consider an alternative to send a token of appreciation.
Businesses should show appreciation
However, a Christmas party via video conference is not the same as physically on site. Fichter says:
“Digital encounters are efficient, but also less human.”
Therefore, understand when companies cancel their celebrations without replacement. However, the psychologist finds it advisable to design an alternative program whenever possible. As an example, Fichter cites a virtual snack with an address for the boss and a production from the marketing team. “If done right, at least it lifts your spirits a bit. And the company shows that the well-being of its employees is important to it. “
To continue to show appreciation, many Swiss companies expressly ask for alternative digital events. In large companies, these events usually take place within the team, in a smaller group. Big celebrations are often avoided for all employees.
Businesses Trust Zoom Meetings and Gifts
For example, SBB gave team leaders various tips and advice on how to stay close to their employees at this time of year. According to a spokesperson, this includes ideas for virtual Christmas parties and other Advent ideas. SBB wants to give the teams a good token of appreciation, they say ask for it. Novartis and Axa also expressly recommend holding the celebration digitally.
Other companies like Swisscom will address their employees with a gift. The telecommunications company does not provide further details. After all, the “Gschänkli” should still be a surprise. Instead of the festival, Helvetia and Helsana have also thought about attracting employees, but they do not want to reveal any details. A gift is available at the post office if a team celebration cannot be held despite the smaller setting.
The Complete Package: SRF Celebrates Spring and Send Gifts
Swiss radio and television offer the complete package. As announced by a spokesperson, Christmas events, if the epidemiological situation allows, will be rescheduled in spring or summer 2021. To properly celebrate the Christmas season, the SRF recommends virtual meetings. Also, all employees get a little surprise.
At Migros, Coop, UBS, Swiss and Zurich Insurance, the Christmas holidays were canceled without replacement. What happens with the budgeted money is pending. However, that doesn’t mean that individual teams can’t come together virtually. However, the organization would be your responsibility. Coop also has the possibility that the banquet is compensated.
Concrete ideas for a digital alternative
Microsoft Switzerland is still in the planning stage. It is already clear that the group wants to offer an alternative. A look at the neighbors shows what this might look like: As the German “Handelsblatt” reports, Microsoft’s German headquarters offers all employees a half-hour live link in which management gives acceptance speeches but also tells funny anecdotes . This is followed by smaller group video workshops on cookie baking, gift wrapping techniques, or yoga. There are also pastry courses from Swiss suppliers. For example from Cailler.
The desire for something normal in the crisis has now led to new offers. A large number of suppliers compete for the favor of happy companies. The Swiss company Home of Esports, for example, has developed an online game program for companies looking for digital alternatives to the Christmas party, and the company Tabevents offers analog escape rooms for groups of ten and up to 500 people.
More and more companies are also offering gourmet gifts for companies and their employees especially for Christmas. At Cookuk’s Aarau chefs, companies can ask for a culinary thank you for their employees in the form of chutneys or homemade sandwiches, Jucker Farm in Zurich delivers packages to your home, and other providers like Gourmetbox.ch send complete meals home already pre-cooked. In this way, at least the palate should feast on this gloomy moment.
