Virtual Holiday Spirit: Engaging Remote Teams for the Festive Season

In our increasingly distributed workforce, creating a meaningful holiday experience for remote or hybrid employees has its own unique challenges…which opens up a pool of opportunities for employers.

With about 22 % of the US workforce working remotely in 2025 (around 32.6 million people) and 83 % of workers globally saying a hybrid arrangement is their ideal way of working, the question isn’t if we engage remote teams over the holidays, it’s how we do it.

First, imagine how your remote colleagues will perceive the festivities. A virtual ‘holiday party’ shouldn’t just be a Zoom call with a slide deck; it’s a real chance to build connection and belonging that goes beyond the physical boundaries of different locations.

The key for employers is to know how to turn seasonal cheer into a platform for connection instead of just content. Here are a few ideas to consider this holiday season:

• Peer Shout‑Outs (with a Twist) – ask each team member, remote and in-person colleagues alike, to nominate a colleague who helped them this year, then compile a digital ‘holiday gratitude wall’ with short videos or handwritten photos posted to the company chat channel. This is a fun and easy way to bridge connections across hybrid workers and show appreciation at the same time.
• Remote Gift Exchange – rather than shipping physical gifts (which can get tricky for international locations or home setups), offer a small budget for employees to pick a local experience (like an online cooking class, charity donation, or self‑care kit) and then share a photo or story in your virtual gathering.
• A Shared Hybrid Moment – for example, choose a specific minute when every team member posts a selfie with a festive mug (in whichever time zone they are) and shares one highlight of the year in chat. It’s a quick and easy way to bring everyone together and have a shared, bonding moment.
• Short, Engaging Virtual Event – avoid long Zoom fatigue‑style sessions. Think 30‑minutes maximum with breakout rooms, ice‑breaker games, and recognition of team/individual achievements. Try to keep it fun and energetic, as this can sometimes be harder to capture virtually.

Why does this matter beyond the warm fuzzy feelings? Because engagement really counts! When companies make the effort to create holiday engagements for distributed teams, they are reinforcing that they see everyone and value the work being done outside the office, helping to build a connection through culture rather than just place.

And don’t let the festivities stop during the holidays. Use the holiday season as a launch point for ongoing remote/hybrid engagement: monthly peer‑recognition posts, short ‘coffee chat’ online sessions, or even small team check‑ins with a festive ice‑breaker built in. When remote employees feel connected year‑round, they are more likely to stay engaged and contribute with energy. So don’t let that momentum of connection wane just because the twinkling lights are coming down.

If you would like to discuss how we can help you seize the opportunities for hybrid connection that the festive season offers, please do get in touch with us today!