One thing's for sure – this festive period is a far cry from the norm
One thing’s for sure – this festive period is a far cry from the norm.
In a year dominated by global pandemics and economic uncertainty, holiday festivities have taken something of a back seat.
But that’s no excuse to forgo the celebrations all together. In fact, employees need a party this year more than ever.
HRD spoke to Johanna Skitt, VP of people & culture at Narcity Media, who revealed the best ways to celebrate this holiday season with remote employees.
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“Coming together over the holidays has always been important at Narcity Media,” prefaced Skitt.
“Our people look forward to seeing each other, connecting with their colleagues and sharing a few laughs. In the past, we have flown everyone to Montreal for a big holiday party. Since we have employees all over Canada and some in the US, our holiday party is where many of them meet for the first time. However, due to the pandemic, we are taking all the precautions necessary but still aiming to make connections over the holidays with our Secret Santa with a twist.
“This year, coming together for the holidays, virtually of course, is more important than ever. We recognize that virtual meetings are not a replacement for in-person connections. That said, employees everywhere, not just at Narcity, are feeling uncertain about the world and are feeling disconnected from one another.”
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Employees are feeling more disconnected than ever before – with isolation leading to a surge in menta health issues.
As such, it’s essential that employers make a concerted effort to reach out to their people this festive season.
“Humans crave connections,” continued Skitt.
“Getting our people involved in Secret Santa, encouraging them to connect with their colleagues to get to know them better and then picking out a toy their recipient would have liked as a child is a fun way to foster connections and build relationships with our communities. We also wanted to give our employees something to look forward to and something familiar so they could feel some sense of normalcy.
“The holiday season is the time we come together with people we care about and make connections, because connections breed purpose and lead to strong relationships. This year, if we can’t physically come together, we will find other meaningful ways to spark these connections with our people over our computer screens until it’s safe to do so in person again.”
How are you celebrating this festive period with your employees? Tell us in the comments.
