That a work Zoom Christmas party is a really hard thing to organise!

[Laarkawaay]

It is 2 hrs during the day, so I can't fall back on a booze theme. Team of 15 and, yes I can do a quiz, but we can we do a quiz for 2 hours?! AIBU that this is a pretty hard ask? What's everyone else doing for their virual Christmas parties - though I'm not even calling it that as I'm worried it will be even shitter if I do!

Firstly, whoever's idea to do a 2hour zoom party is bonkers.15 min would have been bad enough, but 2 hours! Crazy.
Christmas music to play in the background, can you do a Christmaps dress up? I am thinking of putting hats and Christmas costumes on colleagues pictures? Give them 10 min or so to come up with a virtual collage and then vote for the best? Make your own Christmas cards in paint or power point and then vote? Quiz as you say. Are they into karaoke? Sign along together some carols? Write your own Christmas carols and share with the team?

But really, can you shorten the party?

I hate enforced jollification. For years as an employee I managed to evade real world staff parties/team building exercises and the like by being strategically ill or having some kind of family crisis. I would for certain have internet problems on the day.

My boss is sending us all mini hampers to consume on a zoom chat. There’s only 6 of us though, so not as painful as a huge gathering.

Awww OP I would have big problems with my wi fi connection (Oh dear!!!!!! So sorry I missed it) ;-)

I’m sorry but it sounds awful! Parties are for being together with others, dancing, hugging, falling down drunk 🥴 a zoom party is not a party. Just awkward!

Zoom for 90 minutes.. Shame I'm busy

We are having one with a magician, booze package sent out in advance and quiz with vouchers as prizes. It's during work time so those who don't fancy it are not wasting any of their own time! It's a sociable bunch I work with and most will enjoy it, I will! Other ideas which were considered were - bingo (with decent prizes), comedian, wine tasting, cocktails, wreath making or duelling pianos.

(Plus everyone can spend up to £20 and expense for whatever meal they fancy.)

Just give them time off. That would be so boring OP a zoom christmas party......

Play a Christmas film so everyone’s camera is off and they are on mute.

I was a Christmas elf in another life and even to me this sounds like torture. You sure you cant rely on afternoon drinking???

Defo fancy dress
Invite pets instead of plus ones

@SomeoneInTheLaaaaaounge

Fuck me that makes me feel like crying

No

For me, I don't see the point, but I can see how someone who lives alone might enjoy a little distraction, even if it's only over Zoom...

This is painful but we did a show and tell. That was actually fun. Also you could do 2 truths and a lie. But this all depends on having a reasonable number of people not too many. Otherwise first choice is just to have the time off.

Sounds terrible. Don't do it.

I'm imagining Joyce Grenfell jollying a zoom party along, with the rest of the staff as the St Trinians mob.

Never have I ever. Or other similar drinking games . Realise it's mid afternoon and no drinking

Sorry OP, it does suck when you are tasked with organizing these things and people don’t help, just tell you how miserable it will be.

I have a new team, most have started during the past 5 months, all are virtual, and it’s been a shit year. I have to find a way for them to get to know each other and hopefully start lifting the black cloud a little.

I know you don’t have a budget, so my plan won’t be totally usable, but here’s what I’ve come up with. I typically buy small gifts and do a lunch plus a dirty Santa swap. This year I don’t think that would work with the new team members. So instead I’m doing this.

I’m coming up with a short survey of truly random questions that don’t provide any insight to the person. (What color is your kitchen? If you were a tree what kind would you be?...that sort of thing).

Then, once everyone has anonymously answered, I’ll send the responses with pictures of the gifts, then the team will match the equally random gifts, with the random answers, and give a short blurb on why they chose the gift for the answers.

During the ‘lunch/meeting’ I will announce the person, present, and best why answer maybe in a video, and then send out the gifts.

So, yeah people are stuck going to a video call, but they’ll get a small funny gift and don’t have to put much effort into it. Hopefully they will learn a little about their new teammates and have a funny ‘here’s what happened at work today’ story.

Good luck!

I'd rather watch paint dry for 2hrs

We all said we didn't want to do a shit zoom party wasting our time.

Noone would honestly want to join in would they? I'd rather.... god, anything.

My work is arranging one of these :( dreading it but don't want to be the one saying I don't want to be involved. Internet problems is a great idea!

I love how everyone is saying 2 hours is a form of torture.

At our last quiz 2 months ago it went on for 6 hours!! By the end I actually felt hungover. Hadnt drank a drop but just felt so woolly headed from staring at my own stupid phone on zoom all day.

If anyone wants to submit an anonymous email to the MD saying they believe this is a form of torture and to desist I'd be grateful. I dread to think what is in store for us!

@jimmyhill

Geez just spare people the misery and give them two hours off instead.

Perfect advice 🙂🙂🙂