RIP THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

With the Amiqus Christmas outing just behind us, and as the festive season approaches, I’m this week taking a look at how company leaders are re-evaluating the traditional office Christmas party. Shifts in staff preferences, generational attitudes, and a heightened awareness of workplace conduct are prompting a move away from alcohol-centric celebrations towards more inclusive and engaging activities. Understanding these trends is crucial for organising events that resonate with all employees and uphold professional standards, so I’ve provided a round-up of some recent articles offering analysis, guidance and tips on ‘what not to do’…

‘People demand more’: Office Christmas parties pivot from alcohol to activities: The Guardian highlights a significant shift from traditional, alcohol-focused office parties to activity-based events such as escape rooms, murder mystery experiences, and crazy golf. [Note: The Amiqus Christmas gathering did, in fact, feature escape room activities] Factors influencing this change include the rise of sober Gen Z employees, the prevalence of remote working, and a desire to mitigate legal risks associated with inappropriate behaviour at alcohol-fuelled gatherings. “Clients are saying they want to move away from booze being the focus of the event. People can have drinks, but that isn’t the focus, it’s more about bringing people together,” says an event organiser in the piece, which you can read here - https://tinyurl.com/5emf36aw

Employees are ditching the office Christmas party to avoid boozy behaviour, according to HR Director. Research discussed in this piece reveals that nearly a quarter of UK office workers plan to skip their Christmas parties, citing reasons like not enjoying them, wanting to avoid spending extra time with colleagues, and steering clear of drunken behaviour. The findings suggest a need for organisations to rethink traditional festive events and consider more inclusive alternatives that cater to diverse employee preferences. You can discover more of the findings here - https://shorturl.at/wATEH

UK workers are shunning the office Christmas party. Another article, this time from CityAM, which discusses the declining attendance at office Christmas parties, attributing it to factors such as increased workloads, time constraints, and changing social norms. The piece suggests that employees are less willing to extend their working day for social events, prompting a re-evaluation of how such gatherings are planned and executed to better meet employee expectations. And it’s even affected sales of mistletoe: “… declining mistletoe sales have also been cited as signalling a cultural shift when it comes to December festivities, with renowned mistletoe auctioneer Nick ‘Mr Mistletoe’ Champion bemoaning?the rise of ‘woke’ for the drop-off. “Workers used to kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas parties, but with all the wokery nowadays they would be accused of abuse.” Click here for more from Mr Mistletoe - https://shorturl.at/SFh5I

Is Gen Z killing the boozy Christmas party? It’s those pesky youngsters who are being blamed again for the demise of the old fashioned Christmas party, according to the I Paper, which examines how Generation Z's lifestyle choices are influencing the decline of alcohol-heavy office parties. With a growing emphasis on health and wellbeing, younger employees are less inclined towards excessive drinking, prompting companies to adapt by organising more inclusive, alcohol-free events that align with the values of a diverse workforce. Learn more here - https://shorturl.at/6zN7y

Is this the year of the sober office Christmas party? The Financial Times also explores the trend of companies opting for daytime, activity-oriented celebrations over traditional evening parties centred around alcohol. Activities like wreath-making, indoor golf, and laser clay-pigeon shooting are gaining popularity, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards healthier lifestyles and inclusivity, while also addressing concerns about workplace misconduct.?Find out more here - https://shorturl.at/mQvjN

Here’s everything you definitely should NOT do at your office holiday party: And, finally, just in case you needed to know, the New York Post speaks to HR expert Melissa Stone about maintaining professionalism during office holiday parties. She emphasises the importance of moderating alcohol intake, avoiding inappropriate behaviour, and steering clear of office romances. Stone advises that while these events are meant to be enjoyable, they remain professional settings where actions can have lasting career implications. Other key advice includes: avoid oversharing, and ‘don’t post without consent’. We hear you! You can take a look at the words of wisdom here - https://shorturl.at/3Pw7f

So, what are your plans for the office festive gathering? And do you have any cautionary tales…? I’d definitely love to hear them!

Photo by?Omar Lopez?on?Unsplash

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