Despite a tough year as far as the economy is concerned, the majority of employers are still happy to fully fund the annual bash, however, not all staff members are enjoying the benefits of the season, suggests a new poll.
The poll of 220 visitors to the HR Gateway Human Resources news and information website suggests that 43% of firms currently fully subsidise yuletide merriment with a further 15% part-subsidising the festivities.
However, 42% of employees in the UK are in the bleak mid Winter as far as party funding is concerned. Over a quarter of firms (27.5%) leave staff to pay for the celebrations while 14.5% will not be having a Christmas party at all this year.
Although the majority of employers are willing to pay for parties, the number holding annual parties does appear to be on the decline, a fact reflected in the HR Gatewayfigures by the number paying for their own party or not having a party at all.
A recent survey* suggested that 68% of firms are not looking to hold a party this year, with 75% blaming bad staff behaviour in the past as putting them off. According to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) firms holding parties has fallen 24% over the year.
Jessica Rolph of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) warns employers that if they are looking to use the annual event to motivate staff then not paying for it is not an option:
ëIf the reason for the party is to motivate employees then by not paying for the event you will be having the opposite effect by sending out the message that they are not important enough to pay for.
ëChristmas parties are good way of celebrating staff and success and employers do not have to pay that much to get Return on Investment (ROI) as far as increased motivation and productivity is concerned,í she says.
However, she warned those in the public sector to beware when organising any events. It is too easy to be seen as being extravagant leading to bad publicity, even if the year has been fraught with difficulty, she says:
ëThe sector is going through a lot of change and if you want to thank staff with a party at Christmas for their patience and hard work then be careful or you may end up as a headline in the local paper.
ëTry a low key event at Christmas and regularly encourage staff in more prudent ways throughout the change process. This will not be as controversial to some as an expensive Christmas event,í concludes Rolph.
Majority of employers happy to pay for Christmas parties
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