Bosses play scrooge with Christmas parties

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2004

LONDON (AFP) — Fewer British bosses will deck their halls and make merry with employees this season, according to a survey released showing a 30-percent drop in the number of office Christmas parties this year.

Complaining that they are "long and boring", and that their staff was prone to calling in sick the following day, only 61 percent of 4,000 managers said they would hold the traditional annual bash.

Two years ago 86 percent said they were holding a Christmas party, but now almost half of those questioned said the office parties dragged on too long.

Fewer than half said they enjoyed office parties in the run-up to Christmas, and more than a third complained of staff absenteeism after the festivities.

Employees at small firms are more likely to...