Office Christmas parties via Zoom

[User158340]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54922714

Anyone's office planning this? The wackiness in the office is bad enough. I'll be having Internet problems that day.

I can't think of anything less festive. But then the terms 'virtual event' or 'Zoom party' send a shiver down my spine. I don't mind Zoom chats with 1 or 2 people I know and like - though they make me feel sad that I'm not actually with them - but group Zoom 'socialising'? Just no.

My work used to have 'virtual pub' evenings but they gave them up due to lack of interest. Can't imagine why.

my idea of hell

Hang a party hat over your camera and go off and do something less excruciatingly awful instead.

My dad said he was doing this with his fiancée's work last night. He mentioned that they employ 8000 people and that he struggled to keep track of what was going on. I don't actually know how many people attended but it sounded a bit rubbish. Maybe if it's a small and familiar team it might be quite nice?

(My dad watched Glastonbury 2019 and drank wine in the end. )

Yes. We've got one for our team. 15 people talking over each other, punctuated by awkward silences. Can't wait!

Couldn't think of anything worse

Grim

I just KNOW Some of the over-excited ones in our team will be planning this and I'm going to pretend to be busy that day. Can't think of anything worse.

We are, should be fun!

Our team of 11 are doing this & i'm really looking forward to it! Usually really 'meh' about Christmas parties, having to worry about what to wear & usually end up having to drive, but this year we're being given vouchers to buy in party food & drink we want, and we'll just have a nice afternoon nattering & playing daft games! It helps that my team are fabulous

Ours is booked in for the week before Christmas. I love Christmas parties so am going in with an open mind. I hadn’t thought about the logistics of having 70 people on one call though. Hope they set up a few rooms so it’s not just the usual loud few dominating the whole evening.

Thank goodness I m a self employed sole trader as I honestly can’t think of anything worse. I just don’t see the point at all.

@wannabebetter

Our team of 11 are doing this & i'm really looking forward to it! Usually really 'meh' about Christmas parties, having to worry about what to wear & usually end up having to drive, but this year we're being given vouchers to buy in party food & drink we want, and we'll just have a nice afternoon nattering & playing daft games! It helps that my team are fabulous

Similar to.my situation

Good luck to anyone who is having one and looking forward to it by the way, I just wish there was more empathy towards those of us who hate all this kind of stuff, rather than being called scrooge and humbug.

It's nice to get a December off from the office of 'getting into the Christmas spirit' and decorations, games and competitions and all the rest of it. I just want to get on with my job. The idea of festive Zoom parties gives me nightmares.

We have team bingo
My internet will be down I'm afraid

Sounds hellish.

Not having to do this office Xmas stuff is the best part of being freelance by a country mile.

A self proclaimed "mad one" in our department has set one of these up. Zoom. Mad bants. For hours.

I'm taking that day off at the last minute so it isn't rescheduled.

We're having a zoom team Xmas drinks and party.

The only silver lining in this black cloud of a shit event is that the company are giving us £30 each to spend on some drinks and nibbles (what they would usually depend on an Xmas dinner for us).

So at least I can drink through it!

These are great, so easy to just not turn up.

Well at least you don't have to drive home.

and you avoid any dangerous office liaisons.

but you will have to provide your own wine!!!

Good luck to anyone who is having one and looking forward to it by the way, I just wish there was more empathy towards those of us who hate all this kind of stuff, rather than being called scrooge and humbug.

Just have 'connectivity issues' then. Or log on, turn off the camera and mic, and get on with folding the laundry!

Can’t think of anything worse. Why would you bother?

I’ve had to arrange one for my team. We are doing a quiz, but online so no one speaks over each other or asks for questions to be repeated, then will break into small group rooms to have chats like we would at the actual Christmas party. The boss is paying for everyone to be sent a bottle in advance. I hope it’s not too excruciating

We aren't planning a zoom party but there will be a zoom quiz as a charity fundraiser. Time will tell how it works out but at least there is a structure, a free form party could just be awkward.

At least there will be no shenanigans 😂 God the gossip after Xmas parties when I was a nurse were legendary .