If you dread your work Christmas party you’re not alone, as new research reveals that one in six can’t think of anything worse than the annual festive do.
Bursting with stale mince pies and bad music, these traditionally alcohol-fuelled events fill so many with fear that 19 per cent of people have lie to try and avoid them.
The independent survey of over 1,000 UK adults, commissioned by indoor go-karting company TeamSport, also suggests that women are more likely to lie and avoid their Christmas party, as 20 per cent confess to telling a little white lie compared to 16 per cent of men.
Although 24 per cent of people think Christmas parties are a good way of socialising with colleagues, many are filled with dread as their usual tea-break buddy transforms into the office flirt after indulging in too many free drinks and festive cheer.
Common occurrences at office parties include overly flirtatious banter, the drunk boss, passing out and being crowned the lightweight of the party, or busting out David Brent-style dance moves.
These experiences are echoed across the UK, as 11 per cent of people confess to kissing someone and as many as one in ten adults in some cities admit to getting in an argument at their work Christmas party.
But the embarrassment and turmoil doesn’t stop there for many party goers, as one in 12 people in Edinburgh admit to waking up to embarrassing photos on social media.
Fiona Tayler, corporate events manager at TeamSport Indoor Karting, says that many workplaces will host a Christmas party centred around alcohol and food for their employees, but this new research indicates that people do not actually enjoy these festive celebrations as much as they should.
Tayler adds, ‘A Christmas party is a time to celebrate and socialise with work colleagues, so perhaps employers need to find alternatives to the traditional celebrations and break away from the norm.
‘By offering new ways of socialising through fun activities and adding a competitive element, employees can engage in new experiences together, encouraging the development of new relationships and help team building.’
Further reading on office parties
