CHRISTMAS
The holiday season means many things in the workplace : Christmas parties , gifts , holidays , Secret Santa … the list goes on . But what do these things look like in 2020 ? In a year that has wreaked havoc on the whole world , bringing joy to your office during the holidays is more important than ever . It gives everyone a chance to take a breath and say , “ We did it , we made it through the year !”
After having the fear of COVID-19 looming over employees ’ heads , the strain of having to adapt to remote working and then back again , and the feeling of isolation and lack of connection to work mates , it ’ s time to inject some positivity back into your companies .
And as an EA , you will most likely be responsible for organising that . But of course , the coronavirus means that things need to be done a little differently this year . If you ’ re lucky enough to live someplace where holding an event is possible , many of you might have started planning Christmas events for your office . But there are a few important things to remember before you begin to plan .
Develop a COVID-Safe Event Plan While every state has different rules regarding events , all events must adhere to the requirements set out in the Industry Framework for COVID-Safe Events . Although the rules may differ , there are a few things that are consistent across Australia and must be taken into account when planning your end of year festivities .
w Physical distancing Implementing physical distancing is a must when it comes to event planning . It ’ s been proven that mass gatherings increase the risk of transmission significantly and ensuring that event attendees stay 1.5 metres apart is paramount for their safety . If you ’ re planning on holding an indoor event , allow for one person per every 4 square metres and if it ’ s going to be outdoors , it ’ s one per every 2 square metres .
Visiting the site prior to the event can also help you plan one-way traffic flows to minimise congestion . And remember , enforcing physical distancing isn ’ t just for patrons , it ’ s also important among event staff !
w Hygiene and sanitation Like physical distancing , this year has proved how important impeccable hygiene standards are when it comes to reducing transmission of the virus .
Even though all your guests should be in the habit of regularly sanitising and washing their hands , it ’ s important to provide alcohol-based sanitiser and request all attendees to sanitise upon entry and exit .
Make sure you also plan a cleaning regime that regularly wipes down high-touch surfaces such as handles , taps , EFTPOS keyboards , countertops , and toilets .
w Encourage guests to stay home if symptoms appear Even if you plan to have COVID-safe measures in place at your events , all of that hard work can go awry if guests develop symptoms and still attend the event .
It ’ s important you encourage all co-workers to stay home if they ’ re feeling unwell or have flu-like symptoms . The world has had to miss out on fun events all year , and some guests might not want to miss out on anymore .
But the health and safety of everyone always comes before fun , so there could be other ways to encourage guests to stay home if unwell . Maybe a hybrid event model could be the way to go so you can offer an option to those who don ’ t feel comfortable attending or are unable to due to illness .
Implementing these three measures will see you on your way to putting on a showstopping COVID-safe event , but make sure you keep up to date with government guidelines and regulations as the situation is constantly changing . Check-in early with your venues , too , if you ’ re planning on holding the event off-site , as they usually have their own COVIDsafe plans in place that you ’ ll need to adhere to . j
Create a gift to suit your budget and leave a lasting impression that will show your gratitude to your clients , and for your teams ’ hard work & loyalty this year .
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Issue 2 2020 | Chief of Staff 35