The office holiday party, 2020-style

INC. THIS MORNING The office holiday party, 2020-style Good morning, At the beginning of a normal December, now is probably when you’d look to hire caterers, set up on-site party games, and invite your employees to cut loose. Well, at least a little bit loose. This year doesn’t exactly feel like one to celebrate. It's certainly no time for a large in-person gathering. And doing the easy alternative--setting up yet another all-hands, all-muted Zoom--would feel like the equivalent of hosting a lecture instead of a holiday party. So how, then, can you replicate the “wow” factor of an in-person event to thank your staffers for their hard work in 2020? The answer might be simple: Let those staffers decide. Dr. Kathryn Smerling, a New York City-based psychotherapist, suggests democratizing the party-planning process by asking employees individually what sort of action this holiday season would be meaningful to them. That might involve creating a more interactive virtual experience, like mailing each participant the same cocktail-making kit in advance. Or spending your usual budget on enticing a comedian or musician to perform. You could scrap the event entirely and donate to an individual or community in need--or adopt a cause relevant to your organization, and track its progress through the year. The options, while unconventional, are limitless. Read our story to [learn what companies across the country are planning for their holiday parties]( how you can safely and affordably do the same. SPONSORED CONTENT The Michigan Advantage: Midwestern Work Ethic, Automotive Expertise--and So Much More Here's how Michigan roots contribute to [this staffing company's national success](. Inc.’s Best Workplaces. Apply today! Inc.’s Best Workplaces awards the company cultures that thrive in the face of adversity. Cultures that in response to a pandemic redefine the workplace and continue to enrich it. Cultures that foster employee growth and advancement at all levels. Apply today to be recognized as a place where people love to work, one that sets the standard for excellence in company culture. - Early rate deadline: December 4, 2020. - [Apply Now](. HERE'S WHAT ELSE I'M READING TODAY: Yesterday, it was announced that [Salesforce will acquire Slack]( for $27.7 billion, paying a totaling $11.6 billion in cash and the rest in stock. --Inc. This past weekend marked a record online shopping day. [Here’s where the dollars went](. --Inc. [Airbnb]( is seeking a valuation of up to $35 billion in its IPO, almost double its private valuation of $18 billion from earlier this year. --CNBC Self-employed? Your state may have [underpaid your jobless benefits](. --CBS News More than a century ago, O.W. Gurley helped create economic prosperity for the Black community in Tulsa. [This is his story](. --Inc. On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers unveiled a new federal stimulus plan for small businesses. [Here’s what that entails](. --Inc. --Cameron Albert-Deitch Reporter, Inc. How are we doing? Send me ideas and feedback for Inc. This Morning at [calbertdeitch@inc.com](mailto:calbertdeitch@inc.com?subject=) or on [Twitter]( and [sign up for daily text messages](. [Click here]( to forward to a friend. This email was sent by: Mansueto Ventures 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor New York, NY, 10007, [Unsubscribe]( • [Update Profile]( • [View in Browser]( • [Privacy Policy](