The push for employees to return to the office continues, but old traditions, like in-person holiday events, are phasing out.
According to a study from Harris Poll, only 48% of workplaces hold in-person holiday parties, which reflects a decline in these celebrations. While 74% of those surveyed said they look forward to in-person holiday get-togethers, only 37% of Gen Z said they would attend said celebrations. Seventy-nine percent of Millennials said they would attend if these events could have a positive impact on their career trajectory, but 53% said they feel pressured to attend.
Shifts in Workplace Gatherings
Among the four generations represented in the survey (Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and the Baby Boomers), the younger of the four generations, Gen Z and Millennials, expressed anxieties about workplace holiday parties.
In fact, they were concerned about:
- Awkward conversations
- Alcohol concerns
- Feeling out of place
In terms of Gen Z respondents, 42% said they want alcohol to be served in moderation or not at all at workplace parties. To make celebrations more engaging and inclusive, 66% of Millennials said they want light-hearted features such as an executive roast. Additionally, 65% of Millennials said they don’t want to talk about work during in-person holiday festivities.
Revisioning Workplace Celebrations
While the number of in-person workplace holiday parties has dwindled, employers have found other ways to convene for holiday festivities.
According to Harris Poll, here are some other ways organizations are (or aren’t) hosting holiday parties or events for employees:
- 26% don’t have an in-person or virtual event
- 18% host an annual event in person or virtually, depending on the year
- 9% host an annual event virtually
Best Practices to Consider
When it comes to holiday celebrations in the workplace, employers must consider every employee is different. To find ways to have holiday events that take all employees into consideration, here are some ideas for organizations to implement.
Make the event hybrid. Hybrid conferences and meetings have become mainstream since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you can host an offsite event for hundreds of people, with some in person and others attending virtually, you can do the same with your annual holiday party.
Host your party during work hours. To ease anxieties around drinking alcoholic beverages with coworkers and extending employees’ day for a holiday party, have your holiday get-together in the morning, over lunch or another time during the workday. Another option is to have people bring food and snacks that can be eaten throughout the day. Employees may be more inclined to participate if you’re not cutting into their free time.
Don’t make it mandatory. Once again, not everyone wants to join a holiday gathering with their colleagues. It could be for religious reasons, wanting to go home at the end of the day or just simply not wanting to participate. For this reason, it’s good practice to make holiday events optional for all employees.
Want to learn more about the holidays and prepare your workforce? Download our free Cultural Connection Calendar!
