Xmas > Christmas News

Bosses cancelled Christmas party

Mon, 31 Oct 2005

Most bosses are planning to cancel their office Christmas parties this year because of the cost of staging festive celebrations and fears that they will lead to compensation claims by staff. Up to 80 per cent of employers will not organise a company party this year, a new report has claimed.

A survey of 3,500 employers by the law firm Peninsula found that four out of five would not organise a party. Most of those polled said that Christmas parties often caused arguments among company staff and led to official complaints about harassment. Two-thirds of employers said they had sacked a member of staff because of their behaviour at a Christmas party. They said these factors and spiralling costs had made them axe the annual party.

Mike Huss, an employment law specialist at Peninsula, said, "Unfortunately, the combination of employees enjoying themselves and alcohol can turn sour, with the boss having to sort out the mess on a Monday morning."

Employers need to look out for staff making sexual advances, under-age drinking by the office junior and drinking and driving. "These issues are extremely difficult to deal with and the easiest way for employers to deal with it is not to have a party," he added.

Ninety per cent said there was always a complaint of harassment after the event. Alcohol and high spirits can lead to injuries to staff and claims of harassment.

The Christmas party has been going into decline for the past five years. It is the latest tradition to fall prey to the relentless rise of the compensation culture.