Why employers need to rethink the benefits of Christmas parties

Office Christmas parties are supposed to be a way for organisations to show appreciation for their employees. And for some people, the work bash is a chance to blow off steam with colleagues. But for others, a mediocre turkey dinner in a hotel meeting room – and an obligatory secret santa – isn’t much of a celebration.

A recent survey of more than 1,500 people found that more than half (53%) of employees are skipping their work Christmas party this year. While not all work parties are the same, some things are a given - like awkward drunken conversations with bosses, and the inevitable hangover anxiety the next morning.

Paul Holcroft, managing director at the employment law and HR organisation Croner, says there are a myriad of reasons why people dislike work Christmas parties.

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“It could be that workers do not feel close to their colleagues, and are worried about making conversation during the event,” he says. “Or, they might not particularly get along with them, and the last thing they want to do is spend the evening with colleagues they dislike.”

Many work Christmas parties are often based around alcohol, which can cause issues for employees struggling with alcoholism, as well as for those who either cannot or choose not to drink for religious, health or other reasons.

“Health reasons may also make an individual stressed about going to a work event,” Holcroft says. “They may have particular dietary requirements, or a condition that means they are too tired to properly enjoy the party. Some neurodiverse employees may struggle in a loud environment.”

There are other personal reasons too. Not everyone finds Christmas an enjoyable time, for example, if they’re struggling with grief. Alcohol-fuelled Christmas parties can be a nightmare for introverts. And some people may want to spend their free time with friends or family, instead of their coworkers.

The atmosphere in a workplace can also make or break a Christmas party. If someone has survived a round of redundancies - and colleagues have lost their jobs - they might not feel like celebrating with the bosses.

So instead of the traditional Christmas party, how can employers show that they value their staff?

It’s simply not possible to please everyone, but finding out what people want via a survey can be a good way to keep the majority happy. Instead of a huge Christmas bash, post-work drinks for those who want to attend - and a voucher - may be a good compromise.

“Christmas gifts are likely to be appreciated. However the complexities of finding a gift that is suitable for all is likely to make many employers reluctant to go down this route,” says Holcroft.

The Swedish flat-pack furniture giant IKEA is known for giving its employees end-of-year gifts, which have ranged from electronics to mountain bikes and virtual reality headsets.

“Giving employees a hamper can be a lovely gesture, but has the potential to cause upset or offence if it contains products the employee cannot eat or use, such as where it contains alcohol, meat or animal by products or allergens. A voucher or cash for an employee to pick their own gift may be a safer route in this case.”

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One of the worst mistakes an employer can make is forcing remote workers to join a ‘festive’ video call. Nobody wants to sip Prosecco while trying to hold a stilted conversation on Teams.

“It can be the case that remote workers are demotivated by certain employee appreciation efforts, where they are provided solely to those in the office, which is of course the opposite of what was intended,” says Holcroft. Therefore bringing remote workers into events, activities or festive giving is important.”

Some remote workers may be happy to travel to a work party, if their transport is paid for. “However, this is only practical if they live close enough and don’t have responsibilities at home.”

To make home-workers feel included, employers could send gifts - like a voucher for a takeaway - to show their appreciation.

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