OFFICE LIFE
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CHRISTMAS IN THE WORKPLACE: HOW THE FESTIVE SEASON HAS CHANGED (AND HOW WE CAN STILL CELEBRATE TOGETHER)
roaring fires, snowflakes on Teams calls, or digital “decorate your workspace” competitions where colleagues share photos of their home office setups. Those who are in the office might keep things smaller scale - a mini tree, some window stickers, or twinkly fairy lights to bring the sparkle. SECRET SANTA GOES DIGITAL Ah, Secret Santa - the tradition of buying something silly, thoughtful, or downright random for someone you may barely know. Once a staple of the office, it’s harder to organise when people are split between home and the office. But never fear: technology has come to the rescue. Online Secret Santa generators and home delivery mean the fun lives on. Colleagues can pick names at random digitally, order gifts online, and either post them directly or bring them in on “office days” for a festive exchange. In fact, this version often feels more inclusive, since remote workers aren’t left out.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… or is it? The festive season in the workplace has always had its traditions - the tinsel-draped desks, the office Secret Santa, the steady stream of mince pies, and that one colleague who starts wearing Christmas jumpers as soon as the clocks go back. But since Covid and the rise of hybrid working, the build-up to Christmas at work looks a little different. THE DECORATIONS DILEMMA Remember when the office tree would suddenly appear in reception, complete with slightly wonky fairy lights and the same box of baubles that’s been in the cupboard since 2005? In many workplaces, hybrid working has made that ritual less of a priority. If only half the team is in on any given day, who gets to do the decorating - and who actually gets to see it? That doesn’t mean decorations are out. Many businesses are shifting their festive cheer online: virtual backgrounds of
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