Our research: Is it time to rethink the annual Christmas knees-up?
The festive season is rolling around fast, and it’s likely that the work’s Christmas do will have already been a topic of conversation in your office, whatever your employer has planned. While plans may have been cancelled, downsized, or made virtual through the pandemic, in the last couple of years, festive fun has made a comeback. Yet, with four – or even five – different generations working together in some companies, employers are having to cater for more tastes and preferences than ever before.
With all this in mind, we were eager to find out how employees were feeling ahead of the party season this year. We commissioned a nationally representative survey of over 1,000 office workers in the UK, asking about their plans and how they’re feeling about their Christmas ‘do’ this year – and it made for some interesting reading. In this blog we break down the findings and get thoughts and insights on the changing landscape from Team Tactics’ founder and MD, Tina Benson.
Almost a quarter of workers are ducking out of the Christmas do
When our sample of UK office workers were asked if they were attending a work Christmas party or event this year, almost a quarter (23%) said they would not be, on top of the 15% that said their employer wasn’t hosting an event at all, and those that are still undecided (6%). Gen X employees (aged 44-59) and ‘Baby Boomers’ (aged 60-78) are most likely to be giving their employer’s plans a miss this year, with 29% and 30% respectively saying they will not be attending.
When respondents were asked why they wouldn’t be attending, 31% said they don’t usually enjoy their Christmas party, almost a quarter (24%) said they don’t want to spend any more time with their colleagues, and 19% said they wanted to avoid drunk colleagues.
The research revealed some variation between generations when it came to reasons for not attending. While the top reason for Gen Z employees (aged 18-27) not attending was ‘avoiding drunk colleagues’ (30%), ‘family obligations’ was a top three factor for millennials (aged 28-43), with 21% citing this reason. Meanwhile, office workers from older generations were more widely in agreement around the top factors – not usually enjoying these events and not wanting to spend time with colleagues – especially drunk ones.
Tina’s take: “Our research suggests that workplace relationships in 2024 leave much to be desired. Among the different attitudes and preferences towards work Christmas parties, it’s sad to learn that so many employees feel negatively towards spending time with coworkers outside of office hours. For those that want to celebrate it, Christmas should be about coming together, building on relationships, and having fun. When Christmas activities are organised with the team, different preferences, and business objectives in mind, they can deliver hugely positive outcomes for employees and the organisation.”
Attitudes towards alcohol
Beyond the workers not attending their Christmas party to avoid drunk colleagues, our research highlighted vastly differing attitudes towards alcohol. For many, alcohol remains a staple of their work’s do, with 43% of respondents said that drinking alcohol at work Christmas parties helps them to relax and enjoy themselves and 1 in 5 admit to drinking ‘a lot’ at these events.
Yet, for others the boozy party culture is off-putting. A quarter of office workers said they feel under pressure to drink alcohol at Christmas parties and 45% said they find drunk colleagues annoying – a sentiment more commonly felt by Gen X workers (49%) and Baby Boomers (53%).
Almost half (48%) of office workers said the focus on alcohol and getting drunk doesn’t appeal to them, while 42% are in agreement that Christmas parties are too reliant on alcohol and getting drunk.
More concerningly, problematic behaviours also appear to stem from booze-fueled events, with 47% saying that they find drunk colleagues can be inappropriate, and 41% admitting to feeling uncomfortable around drunk colleagues. Again, this is felt more widely among office workers from Gen X and so-called Baby Boomers.
Meanwhile, Gen Z workers appear to be divided on attitudes towards booze. While almost a quarter (24%) admit to drinking a lot at Christmas parties and 35% say alcohol helps them to relax and enjoy themselves, there’s a steadfast sober cohort.
Tina’s take: “It’s concerning to learn that a significant proportion of office workers are made to feel excluded, pressured or uncomfortable as a result of alcohol-fueled behaviour from colleagues. While many employees may still enjoy and look forward to enjoying a few drinks at Christmas, 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.”
Time for something different?
Our research found that 2 in 5 employees would rather do an activity or something different with their colleagues instead of the traditional Christmas party, increasing to almost half (48%) of millennial workers.
Tina’s take: “While organisers might find themselves veering towards a party because that’s what the company has always done, there’s clearly an appetite among employees to explore some alternative ideas. There are so many different ways to bring employees together around the festive period, whether you want to do an activity, try something creative, or help a deserving cause. We find that uniting colleagues behind an important cause or charity mission can be incredibly powerful, simultaneously driving positive change for team dynamics and communities in need.”
At Team Tactics, we have a range of new and popular Christmas team building activities, including:
- Santa’s glass workshop – Brand new for this year, Santa’s glass workshop brings employees together to learn the art of glass fusing in a fun and relaxed environment. Participants will create four of their own beautiful glass ornaments to decorate the office, display proudly on the tree at home, or gift to friends and family.
- Yuletide treasure hunt – A festive twist on our popular GPS treasure hunts! Step out of the office and explore London’s iconic and beautiful landmarks while soaking up the festive atmosphere and engaging in a little healthy competition with colleagues.
- Christmas Build a Bike for charity – Combining the benefits of team building and the heartwarming experience of giving back to the community, Build a Bike requires employees to collaborate with their team to assemble bikes that can be donated to children and adults in need, depending on the chosen charity. Not only is it a meaningful activity to engage and unite employees around the festive period, the result is a perfect Christmas gift for someone in need – one that will continue to benefit them well after the festivities have ended.
Learn more about any team building activities here, or for help picking the perfect event for your team, simply get in touch.
