Socially Distanced Celebrations for Your Veterinary Clinic Staff
In 2020, year-end celebrations may create health risks for employees and clients due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your staff members have gone above and beyond this year to overcome challenges and grow together as a team. You want to thank them, but your first priority is keeping everyone safe and healthy. It’s more important than ever to recognize employees for their commitment to serving your clients and the pets in their care, but you know big parties are out. Read on for budget-friendly tips to build morale and celebrate the season while keeping employees and their families safe. 

Holiday Decorations
We all miss celebrating the holidays with coworkers, but you can welcome the festivities by showcasing each staff member’s holiday style. Invite employees to share photos of their home holiday decorations and post them on social media throughout November and December to create a special photo album featuring your team’s holiday designs. 

Organize a Gift Exchange
Ask employees who want to participate to write down their names for a gift exchange. Each participant will then create a wish list for three cost-limited gifts they’d like to receive. Each person can receive one gift from their list during your virtual celebration. Alternatively, you could encourage employees to exchange gifts at a specified time and place. 

Play a Socially Distanced Scavenger Hunt
Ask your employees to play a holiday-themed scavenger hunt, finding festive items inside and outside your clinic as they go about their day. At the end of the day or week, announce the winner and reveal the prize. 

Host an Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest
It’s time to dust off your best ugly holiday sweaters! Invite employees to submit selfies in their ugly sweaters for a fun work competition. Display these photos in your clinic and ask clients to vote for their favorites. Share the results on your company’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. This is sure to bring smiles to the faces of staff and clients. 

Provide a Meal and Refreshments 
Simply providing a meal to your employees shows a great deal of gratitude. Have a meal delivered to their homes or give everyone a gift card to show your appreciation. Offer individually wrapped snacks around the clinic that will keep your team fueled for the day. 

Throw a Virtual Party
While in-person celebrations may be out, video conferencing creates unique opportunities to gather safely while distancing. Set an hour aside to come together via video conference. You can plan games like bingo or charades, encourage staff members to bring their favorite cocktail or non-alcoholic drink and revel in team-building time. Send each staff member a personalized gift to open during a virtual celebration, making sure to select a gift each staff member will love. Include a handwritten note of appreciation. 

Give an Experience Instead of a Gift
Instead of giving gifts, you can help your team create a special memory. Participate in joint arts and crafts on a rotating schedule or give movie tickets or park passes for a non-traditional take on gift-giving. Search for unique, safe experiences offered by local businesses in your area. 

Show Care and Offer Support
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how vital it is that leaders show genuine care and concern for employees. No matter the time of year, you can demonstrate your appreciation to staff members by checking in and offering an employee assistance program and/or access to counselors. Acknowledge how difficult this year has been and normalize talking about mental health, grief and the losses we’ve experienced due to COVID-19. 

In-person parties can create a sense of comradery. Keep this goal in mind as you plan for celebrations this winter. 

Covetrus North America is dedicated to the health of animals every day. Visit us online or contact your Covetrus representative at 855.724.3461.