New research from team building and corporate events company Team Tactics reveals that over a quarter (27%) of office workers in the South East are planning on ditching the office Christmas party this year.
The survey of office workers suggests that workplace relationships in 2024 leave much to be desired, with top reasons for non-attendance at office Christmas parties among South East office workers including not usually enjoying them (29%), not wanting to spend any more time with colleagues (26%) and wanting to avoid drunk colleagues (21%).
It also identified divided camps on the issue of alcohol at work Christmas parties. While 43% of respondents said that drinking alcohol at work Christmas parties helps them to relax and enjoy themselves, with 21% admitting to drinking ‘a lot’ at these events, the boozy party culture is off-putting to others.
21% of office workers in the South East said they feel under pressure to drink alcohol at Christmas parties and almost half (48%) said they find drunk colleagues annoying.
56% said the focus on alcohol and getting drunk doesn’t appeal to them, while 45% are in agreement that Christmas parties are too reliant on alcohol.
Problematic behaviours also appear to stem from booze-fuelled events, with two in five respondents saying that they find drunk colleagues can be inappropriate and 41% admitting to feeling uncomfortable around drunk colleagues.
The research also suggested that it might be time for organisations to consider an alternative to the boozy Christmas do as 41% of respondents said they’d rather do an activity or something different with their colleagues.
Tina Benson, founder and managing director of Team Tactics, said: “Among the different attitudes and preferences towards work Christmas parties, it’s sad to learn that so many employees in the South East feel negatively towards spending time with coworkers outside of office hours, and that some are made to feel excluded, pressured or uncomfortable as a result of alcohol-fuelled behaviour from colleagues.
“For those that want to celebrate it, Christmas should be about coming together, building on relationships and having fun.
“While many employees may still enjoy and look forward to a Christmas party, it might be time for organisations to rethink their typical festive ‘knees-up’ or consider organising an alternative activity that’s more inclusive and appealing to all members of the team.
“Uniting colleagues behind an important cause or charity mission can be incredibly powerful, simultaneously driving positive change for team dynamics and communities in need.”
