People Management & HR

The best last-minute holiday celebration ideas and tips for remote-working offices

  • 5 min Read
  • December 22, 2021

Author

Escalon

Table of Contents

At any virtual event, the key to engagement is including a physical component, making it interactive and enabling attendees to see one another. Here, we’ve compiled tips for throwing a memorable virtual holiday celebration that incorporates those three principles of engagement.


Holiday celebration ideas for remote offices




Games and activities can inject energy into your virtual party by introducing interactivity. Here are some simple suggestions to bring the team together:


  1. Icebreakers

Starting with a Christmas-themed trivia game or Icebreaker, such as two truths and one lie, can help you set the mood and increase camaraderie. Another suggestion is the story phrasing game, in which employees are divided into teams, shown a picture and asked to narrate a story about it. Offer prizes to the winners, such as candy or gift cards.


  1. Encourage themed backgrounds

Ask employees to join with a festive background decoration or a virtual backdrop that makes the event feel special. Encourage your remote team to find a holiday-themed image or offer to help them customize their background settings in advance.


  1. Create a virtual escape room experience

Online multiplayer games can create a lively experience that fosters team participation. Create a virtual escape room and allow your employees to choose a game through a multiplayer platform, such as Jackbox, that offers a variety of games your team can play together. Distribute prizes for the winners.


  1. Ask participants to dress up in theme

Encourage everyone to wear traditional Christmas colors, such as red, green, gold and silver to get people into the Christmas mood. Even better if they wear Christmas character outfits (think Santa, elf, reindeer). You can also hold a contest for the best ugly sweaters or another humorous theme. Consider allowing employees to involve their children and dress them up for the event. 


  1. Entertainment

Find performers who can do stand-up comedy, play live music or even do magic from their location. Provide employees with a link to the live show, or ask the performer to join over the video call during the virtual party. You could also invite a group to sing Christmas carols during the party.


  1. Take virtual tours together

Your employees may enjoy a joint virtual tour to a famous location like Paris or a historical place like Machu Picchu. Hold a survey to home in on your employees’ interests to make a decision.


  1. Distribute E-gift cards for dining

Distribute gift cards for restaurant deliveries that everyone can use to order food at their respective locations and enjoy during the party. Beforehand, do a quick check to find out which food delivery options are available in each team member’s area. 


  1. Send a gift either by mail or email, or donate to a charity of the team’s choice

Gift baskets are always a lovely option to show appreciation for employees. Bouquets and gift cards are also can’t-miss gift ideas. Or, consider donating money to a charity that the team selects together.


  1. Virtual secret Santa

If your company has employees in different countries, you could assign each employee a secret Santa to whom they send a gift, based on their country. Once everybody has received their presents, unwrap the gifts together at the online party to reveal the surprise inside. If you have more than 50 people in your company, divide them into smaller groups. 


Top tips for organizing a virtual holiday party




A successful virtual event is visually stimulating, entertaining and engaging. “Look at the hobbies and interests of your team for inspiration on what would excite them,” advises meeting planner Deanna Nwosu. Here are some best practices to follow for an engaging holiday party.


  1.  Decide how to host it

Designate a host who can keep track of the party plan and keep everyone engaged, then select a virtual platform to host your event, like Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.


  1. Know what employees want

Send a quick poll to solicit suggestions from employees. This will make everyone feel involved and excited about the virtual holiday party. A good approach is to shortlist a few ideas and circulate them to find which appeals most to employees.


  1. Invite

Send calendar invitations with event details, including the login link. Plan winners’ gifts and online activities or games ahead of time.


  1. Schedule it right

To maximize attendance, hold your virtual holiday party during work hours to maximize attendance. That said, be sure to give your team enough time to complete their work the next work day. 


  1. Think global

If your remote teams operate in different time zones, be sure to pick a time that works for everyone. You want to make sure everyone can get involved in the activities.


  1. Create a party agenda 

Map out everything that’s going to happen during the event. This way, everyone will know when to join and what to expect. You can include this in your invitation.


  1. Stay connected during the party

Ensure that your host’s Wi-Fi is strong, that their equipment is working properly and that guests can hear and see them. 


  1. Leverage technology

As stated previously, including visual activities is important to keeping participants engaged in any online event. Use the appropriate technology, such as a virtual whiteboard, laptop, microphone, collaborative tools and the like for an engaging online event.

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

Technology & Security

What Every $10M+ Business Should Know About Data Privacy Laws 

Once your annual revenue surpasses $10 million, you attract more attention from regulators, partners, and customers, especially regarding data privacy....

Read More
People Management & HR

The Cost of a Bad Hire: How to Improve Your Recruiting Process

Hiring is one of the most pivotal processes in any organization, particularly for a medium-sized business looking to scale. Yet...

Read More
People Management & HR

Key Insights from the 2025 CBIZ Not-for-Profit Pulse Survey 

At Escalon, we are committed to keeping our clients informed about the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities across the industries...

Read More
People Management & HR

Scaling Culture: How to Keep Employees Engaged as Your Business Grows

Growth in headcount brings exciting opportunities for a business, but it also poses a key challenge: How do you maintain...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Managing Multi-State Compliance as Your Workforce Becomes More Distributed

Rapid expansion and remote work trends have empowered medium-sized businesses to hire talent nationwide. Yet with multi-state operations come multi-layered...

Read More
Leadership & Growth

How to Build Leadership Pipelines to Sustain Growth 

Growth often hinges on capable leadership at every level. Yet many medium-sized businesses focus on filling immediate management vacancies rather...

Read More
uncategorized

How to Avoid Operational Bottlenecks When Scaling Beyond $10M ARR 

Reaching $10 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is a major milestone, but scaling further brings new operational hurdles. From...

Read More
Press Releases

Escalon Achieves SOC 2 Type II Compliance

April 30, 2025– Escalon Services, a leading provider of back-office solutions for startups and SMBs, proudly announces that it has...

Read More
People Management & HR

From 25 to 100 Employees: The HR Systems You Need to Stay Compliant

Moving from 25 employees to 100 is a tipping point for many businesses. What worked with a lean, close-knit team...

Read More