The expert stated the benefits of abandoning classic corporate parties in favor of new traditions.

Russian companies have developed a recognizable corporate New Year format — a large-scale banquet with contests, leading and rewarding employees. However, increasingly such events are perceived as a tedious tradition with no practical benefit. Inna Filippova, Operations Director of the SOK smart office network, told Izvestia on December 24 about which foreign New Year rituals can be adapted for the Russian office and turn December into a teamwork tool.

One of the most famous foreign traditions in Russian companies remains the "Secret Santa." Despite the skepticism associated with the formal nature of working relationships, this format often helps employees get to know each other better and reduces the distance within the team.

"The tradition of giving pleasant surprises to colleagues will please both a close-knit team and teams that are geographically dispersed and do not see each other every day in the office. The main thing is to clearly define the budget and ethical framework so that the gift does not become a cause for embarrassment," Filippova said.

Another practice that can be integrated into office culture, the expert called the Japanese ritual "oosoji" — general cleaning before the New Year. In a corporate environment, it can be expressed in the joint organization of the workspace: sorting tables, archiving files and tidying up common areas. This approach, according to Filippova, reduces anxiety, creates a sense of control and helps to start the year with a "clean slate", increasing productivity in the first months.

The main rules of behavior at a New Year's corporate party

European traditions also help to reduce pre-holiday tension. So, the Swedish "fika" — scheduled coffee breaks and informal socializing — can be a way to give the team a break during the busiest period of December. A short pause without working messengers allows you to restore the resource and strengthen horizontal ties in the team.

The German Advent calendar also adapts easily to office life. Instead of sweets, you can include small gifts, ideas for joint activities, or corporate mini-events. This helps to stretch the feeling of a holiday throughout December and dilute the work routine with positive expectations.

"You can not just borrow traditions, but meaningfully design the festive December as a time of zeroing and team building. This does not require large budgets, but it requires attention to the needs of your team. Take an idea and adapt it to your company's culture. It is important to create a ritual that people will want to repeat next year, because it has left them with a sense of warmth and community, and not just memories of a noisy banquet. This is the magic of a really good corporate tradition - it works for business, making people a little happier and closer to each other," the specialist concluded.

On December 19, Olga Petrova, an expert on labor law, told whether she could be fired for her behavior at a corporate event. She explained that in the Labor Code, which is a federal law, there is no concept of "corporate", therefore, it is impossible to dismiss an employee for behavior at such an event. She also explained that the issue of punishment for failure to perform work duties after a corporate event is considered by the employer in a general manner.

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