The Omicron Variant: How should your company handle this year's holiday party?

With last week's news about the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19, many of our clients started worrying about their holiday party plans, and whether they should go on with their in-person holiday parties as planned. Here's what we told them.

Just when you thought things were moving in the right direction. Just when you'd been vaxxed, boosted, and ready to get back to the office. That's when COVID threw yet another curve ball:

The omicron variant.

While medical experts believe it is a matter of when (not if) the omicron variant reaches the U.S., they are still researching how infectious this new variant is, whether or how well the current vaccines protect against it, and whether omicron is more or less likely to lead to hospitalization or deaths. And because the variant is so new, there are no clear, scientifically defensible answers just yet.

But you've got questions.

Because you've got a holiday party to plan. And you have employees and teammates who are counting on you to make this year's party a joyous and fun occasion.

So here's our pretty simple answer.

There's too much uncertainty about the omicron variant to continue with an in-person party. The CDC has already strongly recommended that any indoor gatherings be masked, even with fully vaccinated groups. So, it's just not worth the hassle, the risk of outbreak, the frustrating will-we-or-won't-we, or the anxiety.

And rather than dither and waste precious time when you're already on the clock, just be decisive:

Switch to a virtual holiday party.

You don't have to cancel your company holiday party, and frankly, you shouldn't! Your team deserves to celebrate making it through this year of ups and downs, of persevering, of supporting each other and doing big things.

So, just pivot to an equally festive, equally fun party. Think of it as just changing the venue! With a virtual party, you can still have amazing entertainment like virtual carolers, live jazz, a mixology class, a magic show, and more. You can still play games like holiday trivia, Who Kidnapped My Boss?, a team scavenger hunt, or other creative options. There's still so much you can do to make your event special. You just need to make the call now and feel confident that you did the right thing for your people.

The holidays are a time to spread joy and cheer. They are NOT the time to spread infectious disease. So, while it may be disappointing to have to postpone your in-person celebration, it's not worth the risk to your employees' health or the health of their loved ones. So, celebrate with confidence. We're all in this together!

Looking for a reliable events partner to help you with this year's virtual company holiday party? We've got your back! Contact us today to get started!