How coronavirus has transformed the traditional office Christmas party

Each year Sara Anderson and her staff celebrate the festive season at a restaurant not far from the preschool where they work.

But, like much of 2020, this year’s Christmas party will be very different — thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Restaurants want you to remain seated and two of my staff are in their early 60s and one of them is health compromised, so they basically said if we go out to a public place they wouldn’t want to come.”

Instead, the director of Binnowee Kindergarten in West Pennant Hills and her 11 staff will mark the end of a tough work year with a professionally-catered party at her home.

“My place is perfect because we can do it outdoors.”