{"id":248694,"date":"2022-04-29T18:13:06","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T18:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/?page_id=248694"},"modified":"2024-05-20T21:24:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T21:24:23","slug":"company-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/team-building\/virtual\/company-celebrations\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Company Celebration Ideas: Your Guide to Planning the Best Virtual Team Party"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the number of companies operating remotely increases, company morale may be decreasing. According to Forbes<\/a>, isolation and loneliness are the biggest concerns among remote employees. One way to combat this situation is to bring everyone together for a virtual company celebration! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we are not suggesting that every day should be a party day, though there wouldn’t be much resistance from your team! Still, it\u2019s valuable to find appropriate times throughout the year to spend good times together as a company. The benefits are plentiful and the rewards you reap from virtually celebrating with your team will have you jumping for joy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table of Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What Are The Benefits Of Virtual Team Celebrations?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When To Celebrate Your Virtual Team<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Set Up A Virtual Company Party<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

17 Virtual Company Celebration Ideas<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are The Benefits Of Virtual Team Celebrations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Virtual company celebrations are beneficial in many ways. If your company is suffering from low morale, a celebration can inject some team spirit into your company culture. Virtual celebrations foster camaraderie and create a sense of community despite any physical distance<\/strong>. Virtual company celebrations bridge the gap between your remote employees, enabling them to feel more connected to the team.
Virtual team celebrations allow your remote employees to get to know each other better in a non-work setting<\/strong>. A LinkedIn study<\/a> shows that work friendships make for happier employees which leads to increased productivity and greater job satisfaction. Virtual company celebrations should include fun games and activities to keep the party rolling. Below, we list 17 virtual team celebration ideas and games to play at company parties that are also great for team building<\/a> as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"online-zoom-virtual-party-laptop-lights\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When To Celebrate Your Virtual Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Typically companies celebrate at the end of the year. Not only is it the holiday season, but it’s also a time when teams reflect on their accomplishments over the past 12 months. It just feels natural to have a company party at that time. But you don\u2019t need to wait until December for some company fun! You can celebrate any occasion at any time! 
Company anniversaries are perfect for virtual company celebrations. Other times to break out the balloons and streamers are birthdays, retirements, and other employees\u2019 personal milestones.<\/strong> How about celebrating your team\u2019s hard work with an employee appreciation party? Why not have a virtual company celebration just for the fun of it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Set Up A Virtual Company Party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Planning a virtual company party is pretty similar to organizing an in-person party. There are some differences due to the fact that you won’t be in the same physical space. But if you follow the steps below, your virtual party will be more successful than you can imagine! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Create A Guest List<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First things first. Make your guest list. Doing this before anything else helps you to pick a date when most people can attend. It also assists you in choosing fitting activities and a video-conferencing platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deciding who to invite depends on the occasion. Birthdays, retirements, and employee work anniversaries are likely to be a small to medium-sized group. Whereas company anniversary celebrations should include the entire crew, no matter how big! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s one major advantage that virtual celebrations have over in-person events. You can party with colleagues from around the world without jet lag! Company-wide events may be a bit daunting, so you may want to consider working with a virtual event planning company<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Schedule The Date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the easiest steps to hosting a company celebration. The party should be held as close, if not on the date of the occasion being celebrated. One exception is holiday parties when you\u2019ll need to take some seasonal factors into account. (See some virtual team holiday cele<\/a>b<\/a>ration ideas<\/a> here.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Select A Video-Conferencing Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When selecting the best video-conferencing platform<\/a> for your celebration, take into account the size of the guest list and guests\u2019 familiarity with various platforms (Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Hangouts). If your company uses a particular platform, choose that one so none has to acquire new tech skills to join the festivities. 
Zoom<\/a> is a go-to for many virtual events and parties. Your company may already have a paid plan, but if not, the free version offers 49 screens on view at once, for up to 40 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"online-birthday-party\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Pick A Background Photo Or Video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use Zoom virtual backgrounds to create the illusion that you are celebrating in the same physical place!<\/strong> Just swap out your actual background with a custom virtual background<\/a>. Choose a background that fits the occasion. For formal celebrations, find an elegant virtual background. For a party feel, pick a colorful background jam-packed with balloons and streamers. You can find hundreds of free virtual backgrounds on Zoom<\/a>, Unsplash<\/a>, Shutterstock<\/a>, Pixabay<\/a>, and Pexels<\/a>. You can even create your own with Canva<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Send Out Invitations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unless it is necessary, don\u2019t email the invitation. The invitation sets the tone for the celebration so make it something special!<\/strong> You can send digital invitations using Evite<\/a>, Punchbowl<\/a>, or PaperlessPost<\/a>. Choose one of their templates or design your own invitation. Pick a design to match the occasion! Champagne glasses for company anniversaries or balloons and birthday cakes for birthday parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Launch A Virtual Countdown Clock<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Build excitement around the celebration by sharing a live animated countdown clock! Time and Date<\/a> allows you to make your own design. Simply enter the celebration date and time then watch the anticipation grow as the special day gets closer! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Send Food Or Libations To Party Guests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your virtual celebration will go over much better if you supply party-goers with scrumptious food and tasty drinks. Sending themed party packs can also be part of the fun. A fancy celebration calls for a gourmet package of hors d’oeuvres<\/a>. What would a birthday party be without everyone having a slice of cake? Send individual mini birthday cakes<\/a> to the guests, but make sure the birthday boy or girl gets a full-sized cake! For other food kits, you can find a wide variety on Etsy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Pick Activities Or Games To Play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With hundreds of fun virtual games to choose from, it may be hard to pick one! Some games lend themselves to specific occasions (we\u2019ve already made some match-ups for you below.) You may want to find a game that suits the make-up of your group or the team dynamic. For every celebration, there is a virtual game or activity that will bring your virtual company celebration to life! Here are 17 virtual project team celebration ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17 Virtual Company Celebration Ideas <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Virtual company celebrations give employees the chance to laugh together and create shared memories as a team. These moments forge strong bonds that diminish remote workers\u2019 feelings of isolation. Here are some of the very best virtual company celebration ideas! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"online<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Virtual Company Anniversary Celebration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common company celebrations are for major anniversaries (at the end of the first year, the fifth year, the tenth year, etc.) Your company\u2019s lifespan is a strong indicator of success and a virtual company celebration lets employees take pride in the role they played in the company’s longevity.<\/strong> For large organizations and corporations, company anniversaries are especially important to celebrate as they are the ideal time to bring your entire team together, whether entirely remote or hybrid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best virtual company anniversary celebration ideas for large companies is to play an online game show! The Escape Game’s online game shows<\/a> can accommodate up to 150 employees. Players don’t need to be tech-savvy as the game is played over Zoom. Your energetic host leads players, who are split up into teams, through five rounds of puzzles, word games, and brainteasers. The team that earns the most points and badges gets top honors on the leaderboard and wins some office bragging rights!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Company Milestones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Company anniversaries don\u2019t roll around that often, so consider celebrating your company\u2019s milestones! These include events like landing an important new client and the successful completion of an especially challenging or lengthy project. Acknowledging milestones with a virtual company celebration gives your remote employees yet another chance to connect.<\/strong> They also provide employers the opportunity to reassert the company\u2019s mission and values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A perfect activity for your milestone virtual company celebration is to make a company timeline. Use Adobe\u2019s Creative Cloud Express free timeline creator<\/a> to memorialize your company\u2019s accomplishments over the years. A visual representation of your company\u2019s history can capture your growth, highlight the most significant accomplishments, and acknowledge the people who played a part in the journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Employee Appreciation Day <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This non-national but widely known holiday falls annually on the first Friday of March. Forty percent of employed Americans<\/strong><\/a> report that receiving recognition for their efforts increased their motivation<\/strong>. Employee Appreciation Day is one holiday that screams out for a virtual company celebration! Take your team out for a virtual lunch! Send them digital gift cards for food delivery via GrubHub<\/a> or Uber Eats<\/a>. Let them choose their favorite meal while you pick up the tab! Better yet, take them on a virtual walking tour of Rome<\/a> and suggest that they order some nice Italian cuisine with their food delivery gift cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more activities, check out these 22 employee appreciation ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Virtual Holidays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Holidays can be both a festive time of year and for some a little bit lonely if they are far away from family and friends. That feeling is exacerbated by the feelings of isolation that come with working remotely. The cure for the holiday blues is a virtual company celebration.\u00a0Try an online group cooking class<\/a> for Thanksgiving and make all the classic foods together. Additionally, you can find more virtual team holiday celebration ideas<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Virtual Team Awards Ceremony <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Celebrate your team with a flashy virtual awards ceremony<\/a>. There are a few different ways to hold an awards ceremony. The traditional way is for management to award employees for things like \u201cbest team player\u201d or \u201cbest salesperson\u201d. Make this virtual celebration extra fun by having your remote employees come up with the categories, like \u201cmost likely to spill their coffee during a Zoom meeting\u201d and \u201cmost stylish home office\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Send customized digital invitations<\/a> with a panache. When it\u2019s time to hand out awards, go Hollywood-style! Make the event \u2018black-tie only\u2019. Take advantage of virtual backgrounds like the Academy Awards red carpet<\/a> or a gold stage<\/a>. Make your Awards Ceremony a night to remember! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"virtual<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. Retirements <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Surely your departing employee is celebrating inside about their upcoming life of leisure. Help send them off with a virtual company celebration! Since they have already secured their \u2018escape\u2019 from WORK, play a virtual escape room<\/a>!\u00a0 These hour-long immersive games are an exhilarating way for your retiree to enjoy a final opportunity to collaborate with the team. Find other wonderful virtual retirement party ideas<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Farewells<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Play a customized online trivia game<\/a> where the departee is the only category! Ask the party guests work-related questions about the guest of honor, unless your team is a close-knit one. In that case, you can throw in some personal life questions as well. Just a few example questions are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n