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 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. And let’s face it, nobody misses the frantic last-minute dash to the shops on the way to work!
The rise of festive coffee breaks
The days of spontaneous lunchtime drinks down the pub may be fewer – partly thanks to hybrid timetables, partly because many of us have got used to different routines. But festive catchups haven’t disappeared, they’ve just evolved. Now it might be a virtual “Christmas cuppa” on Zoom, a morning coffee-and-mince-pie meet-up in the office kitchen, or a Friday afternoon “mingle” that includes those at home dialling in with their own glass of fizz.
These moments of connection matter more than ever. After all, Christmas at work has never just been about the traditions themselves – it’s been about the laughter, the bonding, and that sense of shared winding-down before the year ends.
Christmas jumpers – still going strong
If there’s one tradition that has stood the test of time, it’s the Christmas jumper. Whether you’re working from home or in the office, pulling on something fabulously festive is a guaranteed mood booster. National Christmas Jumper Day (this year on 12th December) remains a firm fixture in many workplaces, with proceeds going to charity too. Hybrid working hasn’t slowed it down – if anything, the move to video calls has given people even more reason to go bold with their knitwear, knowing only the top half is visible!
Finding new ways to celebrate
Perhaps the biggest change since Covid is that Christmas at work has become less about “big events” and more about small, meaningful moments. Instead of one big office do, businesses are focusing on little touches: sending advent calendars to staff, sharing playlists of favourite festive tunes, or hosting light-hearted quizzes that everyone can join in from anywhere.
It’s about inclusivity too – recognising that not everyone celebrates Christmas in the same way, but most people enjoy the chance to connect, reflect, and end the year on a positive note.
Keeping the spirit alive
So, has Christmas in the workplace changed? Definitely. But has the magic gone? Not at all. The rituals may look different – fewer crowded pubs, more online gift swaps; fewer fairy lights across every desk, more creative home office decorations – but the spirit is still there.
What really matters is the sense of community and celebration, however it takes shape. Whether it’s clinking glasses over Zoom, swapping gifts via courier, or simply putting on that glittery jumper for your Thursday meeting, Christmas at work is still a time to spread joy, share laughs, and remind ourselves of the connections that make our jobs more than just work.
So this December, embrace the new traditions alongside the old. Put the fairy lights up (even if it’s just around your monitor), dig out that novelty mug, and don’t be afraid to hit “unmute” to belt out a Christmas tune or two. The world of work may have changed, but Christmas spirit never goes out of style.