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1 in 4 vows to drink less at the office Christmas party

Office Christmas parties have become notorious for excessive drinking and sometimes scandalous behaviour – but how much of this is true? New research into employee behaviour at office Christmas parties has revealed how various sectors behave and also how much of this behaviour has made its way onto social media.

The survey of 1,000 UK employees, commissioned by online reputation management firm Igniyte and carried out by The Leadership Factor, found that:
Almost 30% have flirted with a work colleague at an office Christmas party
More than one in four have kissed a colleague at the festive work event
One in five fully expect they’ll do or say something embarrassing at this year’s office Christmas party.

At past office Christmas parties, one in 10 UK employees have admitted drinking so much alcohol that they couldn’t turn up for work the next day.

Spotting an opportunity to get close to colleagues, one in 10 British workers are planning on telling a co-worker they like them at this year’s festivities.

With one in five UK employees expecting to embarrass themselves this year, 15% have admitted that they’re going to change their Facebook settings so that they have to approve a ‘tag’ in a status or a picture.

This is perhaps a good idea for the property sector – with one in five property employees admitting that they’ve had an argument with their other half following a picture or status they’ve been tagged in on Facebook at an office Christmas party.

36% of marketing and advertising employees are on target to be the most well behaved at their party this year, stating they’re going to drink much less alcohol than the year before to avoid embarrassment.

One in 10 property employees have received a written or verbal warning following their behaviour at an office Christmas party and a shocking 8% have even been fired.

The travel sector were found to be the most likely to be amorous at office Christmas parties – with a massive 40% of employees admitting they’ve flirted with a work colleague and almost 42% admitting they’ve kissed a co-worker at the office Christmas party.

A worried 10% of travel employees aren’t even going to their work Christmas party this year because they don’t want to do something embarrassing.

An ashamed 14% of energy and utilities employees admitted they have been dumped by their other half following their behaviour at an office Christmas party, compared to just a 4% all-sector average.

A further 14% of energy & utilities employees are going to use the office Christmas party this year to confront a colleague or tell them they don’t like them.

With the festive party season coming up, employers are preparing for how to deal with inappropriate behaviour. Whilst the office party is likely to take place outside of work hours, with it being a work event – work policies still apply. This guide advises employers on how to handle employee behaviour at work events and online.