Advisers are keen to keep Christmas parties and social gatherings going this year with some taking creative measures including one firm already holding its annual celebration in November.
Advisers told Health & Protection they are making preparations and hoping to bring teams together but aware that the environment could change quickly.
However, as face coverings once again become mandatory on public transport and shops in England from today, advisers are proceeding with caution as the new measures come into force.
The subject has also become much higher profile after UK Health Security Agency head Jenny Harries suggested people should be more cautious and limit their social gatherings in the next month.
She told BBC Radio 4 that people should be “being careful, not socialising when we don’t particularly need to and particularly going and getting those booster jabs”.
However, prime minister Boris Johnson rejected Harries’ call, adding: “We are not changing the guidance on how you should be living your life”.
Adhering to government guidelines
Claire Ginnelly, executive director at Premier Choice Healthcare, revealed the firm is not changing its behaviour aside from ensuring all staff are adhering to the government guidelines.
“We already do quite a few meetings remotely but likewise we are doing meetings face to face. So as long as clients are happy for us to do that, we will continue with that,” she said.
“In terms of Christmas parties, we have a Christmas party booked at this moment in time – that’s still going ahead and the only reason I can see that that wouldn’t go ahead is again, if government guidelines changed.”
Isaac Feiner, managing director at Lifepoint Healthcare, told Health & Protection the firm would continue to operate as a fully remote business.
“Being remote has not hindered our growth and with God’s blessing we have seen 35% growth in the business in the last 11 months. We now have our team all over the UK and indeed the world,” he said.
“All of our meetings at present are via phone or Teams and it has not impacted our growth or sales levels in the slightest. Unless it is truly required we will continue to operate like this.”
Touching on seasonal party plans, Feiner confirmed they are under review but added: “We are keen to do something and all meet up.
“A remote business needs to ensure there is physical face to face interaction as well and this forms part of our wellbeing strategy and nurture of our culture moving forward, including meet-up days for either training, work, fun or socialising.”
People will become more reluctant
Steve Ellis, head of employee benefit consulting at Prosperis, explained that in reality, most businesses the firm deals with have maintained strict protocols so when a face-to-face meeting takes place the risk is managed and social distancing where possible is used.
“On individual client meetings, this is guided by the client as to whether they want a home meeting,” he added.
“However, as we get closer to Christmas I believe that people will become more reluctant to meet face-to-face due to the compulsory self-isolation even for those double jabbed.
“I still feel there is a difference in opinion between those who have had Covid and those who have not. It took me several weeks to recover, and I do not want to get infected again, so on a personal level, I am being more cautious.
“The Christmas do is still going ahead as planned – however, that is a few weeks away and I guess an awful lot will change between now and then.”
Get it in early
Meanwhile, Charlie Cousins, owner of Hooray Health & Protection, revealed his firm got ahead of the curve and has already had its Christmas party.
“We decided to get it in early this November – getting ahead before the UK goes into any potential further restrictions,” he said.
“We could all still get together outside of work, having drinks and food and being able to feel even a little bit normal in such weird times.
“The time of year has been incredibly busy for us as well so being able to fit something in where we could all catch up away from the workspace was something from before the pandemic that we didn’t realise just how important it was.”
Andrew Wilkinson, director at Moneysworth Life Insurance, told Health & Protection the firm is planning on having a low key Christmas dinner later this week.
“Staff have a free hand as to whether or not they attend and a couple have already said they will not be attending,” he said.
“We are also asking those staff who are intending at attend to take a lateral flow test in the morning before the dinner. We will see how things develop.”