Corona pandemic: companies and their alternatives for unusual Christmas parties

Already in autumn it looked like there would be no big company Christmas parties due to the corona.

Due to the high number of infections, nothing will come of small gatherings either.

Some companies have considered alternatives.

• The Corona rules do not allow large gatherings

• For this reason there are no company Christmas parties this year

• Some companies have considered alternatives for their employees

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen

- Actually, Lorenz Stöger would have liked to host a Christmas party for his 107 employees.

“But it just doesn't work this year,” says the owner of the mechanical engineering company of the same name in Königsdorf.

“Better nothing now and then be smart later” is his motto.

At Stöger, there should be a summer party as a replacement next year.

Nevertheless, the company boss wants to offer his employees a little surprise on December 23rd.

And traditionally, his company will support social institutions with a donation before Christmas.

The Christmas dinner subsidy does not expire

At the Sparkasse, there have been decentralized Christmas parties for around 440 employees in recent years - one per department.

“Every employee received a subsidy for the meal,” reports press spokesman Willi Streicher.

Since this cannot be redeemed this year, the amount will be carried over to the next year, announced Streicher.

Collection cup with Swiss chocolate

Drinking a little mulled wine, chatting a little, and all that outside in the open air on the company premises: This is how the alternative Christmas party at the screwdriver manufacturer Weber in Wolfratshausen could have looked.

“Of course with a hygiene concept and distance rules,” says Marketing Director Michael Steidl.

“That was the plan until recently.” But it is now obsolete because of Corona.

This year, there is a small present in the form of a Weber collection cup for the almost 300 employees.

“It was specially designed,” reports Steidl.

The 2020 mug is the first edition filled with Swiss chocolate.

“But we will definitely come up with something for 2021,” promises the marketing director.

Vouchers for local gastronomy

The Geretsrieder chemical manufacturer Pulcra Chemicals is giving its employees a Christmas present this year with a double benefit: After the tenth anniversary celebration of the company and the summer party had to be postponed due to corona, each of the 200 employees at the site receives a voucher instead of an invitation to a Christmas party from local restaurants and businesses, some of which the house has cooperated with since the company was founded.

"We are thus supporting the hotel and catering industry in our region, which has been badly shaken by the crisis," said Germany Managing Director Bernd Schalk.

"And our employees don't have to do without their culinary Christmas surprise completely."

Fundraising campaign for the benefit of restaurants

The Geretsried frozen pizza manufacturer Franco Fresco also supports the catering industry with a fundraising campaign.

“While our industry got off relatively 'well', the majority of the catering businesses see their existence threatened,” says Michael Götz, head of marketing for the Gustavo Gusto brand and initiator of the fundraising campaign.

"That is why we want to help together - with the money that was actually planned this year for Christmas parties, mulled wine with the team or business trips." A total of seven food brands have come together to support the catering industry - including Frosta, Ritter Sport and die Rügenwalder mill included.

The campaign is certainly only a small financial drop for the entire catering industry, but a visible sign of solidarity.

“One that comes from the heart,” says Götz.

“After all, gastronomy is more than just food.

She is the center of life. "

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