UK Christmas Work Parties Canceled

Last year's trend of UK Companies Canceling Christmas Parties has continued into this year. A recent BBC news story reported that as many as one in five companies in the United Kingdom are canceling their annual bash as a cost-cutting measure. British workers across the UK immediately fired back launching a campaign to "Save the Office Party".

PR company Big Wednesday seized the opportunity to produce a YouTube video in hopes of bringing attention to the plight of office workers. "The video is a piece of festive fun to be passed around the office and encourage bosses to give their staff a little thank you for working so hard during such a difficult year. There are some good deals to be taken advantage of out there; it doesn't have to be expensive."

Lyrics (set to the tune of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas")

"I’m dreaming of an office party
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the PAs glisten,
And our boss listens
To everything he needs to know."

"I’m dreaming of an office party
With every document I write.
May your parties be merry and bright,
And may your bosses be generous not tight."

We couldn't agree more. Don't cancel the UK Christmas work party. Instead, use these Money-Saving Ideas for Company Christmas Parties.

If you're planning a company Christmas party, get creative. Have fun. Pass out these funny certificates to your coworkers. Just do something to show your workers that you care.

Please Don't Cancel the Office Christmas Party

It's incredible that companies are cancelling Christmas parties. In an effort to save a buck, companies are depriving hard-working men and women of that once-a-year opportunity to drink too much, make awkward advances, and generally act like the total weirdos they actually are outside of work.

Office parties help people survive their jobs. It used to be that  after employees had to suffer 12 months of going to a cubicle and doing a job they hate, they would be rewarded with a half  day where they got stale cookies and free cups of warm sparkling  cider in the conference room. And now they're taking that away?

It's bad for morale. The only thing workers have left keeping  them at their jobs is free internet and the chance to get away  from their kids.

I mean, at what other occasion do I get to play that White Elephant game? You know, the one where you try and steal each other's gifts. It always starts fun, but never ends that way. In the beginning people are laughing and having fun. Then an hour later you’ve got two best friends who won’t speak for a month over a 9-pack of Starbucks flavored coffee. Hey, it’s a $10 gift. It’s not worth going to jail over. Imagine sitting in you cell, “What are you in for? "Well... I really wanted that Sham Wow.”

I understand businesses want to cut costs. But there are ways to cut costs without cancelling the company Christmas party.

• Let's just say, if you don't supply it, people will bring their own toilet paper.
• Instead of mixed drinks, serve PBR. Hey, that’s American!
• Forget catering, have a pot luck dinner. It allows employees to show off their culinary skills, and it allows you to have your own personal episode of Fear Factor.
• Raffle off a job at a better company.
• Really mismanage the whole thing and the government will bail you out.

People can't get money from their jobs anymore, they should at least get something. So please don't cancel the Christmas party.

7 Reasons Not to Cancel the Office Christmas Party

So your boss says there's no office Christmas party this year? Not so fast! Instead of accepting your fate, fire back a business case outlining the reasons for keeping the holiday tradition. Here are seven expert opinions to get you started...

"Christmas is fast approaching - it is the time to make people feel special, to honor their contribution, to notice what they do. And to celebrate what was achieved. People won’t mind if what you do is smaller, less expensive. But doing nothing is not an option." - Naomi Simson, Author; The Christmas cruch

"...the Christmas party is a necessary reward and a morale booster. Our people are our greatest asset and we require the very best talent to help our clients through the current difficult times." - Carmel O'Connor, human relations executive with PricewaterhouseCoopers Ireland; Demise of office party greatly exaggerated

"...there's a fine line between cutting to the bone and cutting your own corporate throat... cancelling the office holiday party sends the wrong message to whatever employees remain... the annual get-togethers can help workers get to know each other better and strengthen ties when morale is low." - City News, Canada; Why you may not be getting much of an office Christmas party this year

"...paring down a party may make sense, but canceling it can prove damaging. A year-end celebration can help workers get to know and trust one another in an era when turnover and telecommuting can make that difficult." - John A. Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas; In tough times, the office Christmas party is getting downsized

"The awful irony is that when organisations don't promote networking opportunities then individuals become less efficient and ultimately that costs the company more... People work best when there is a sense of familiarity and cutting out the Christmas party undermines that." - Dr. Simon Moss, Monash University psychology lecturer; Financial crisis kills the office Christmas party

"...employers should be wary about scrapping [the Christmas party] in response to the economic downturn because the long term impact could be damaging on employee engagement and organisational performance. As reward becomes ever more individual, the Christmas party is one way of reminding staff that they are part of a common endeavour." - Charles Cotton, CIPD Reward Adviser; Christmas spirit prevailing in British organisations

"...before you go cutting back on the festivities this holiday season, think about the repercussions on your employee's morale and motivation. Such penny-pinching can be a huge mistake. It sends a strong message that the company isn't doing well. Instead, this low-cost holiday celebration alternative that'll leave them rolling in the aisles." - Larry Weaver, Author; Cut the budget (but not the Humor) at your holiday party

Hey, I'd listen to that last guy. He really seems to know what he's talking about...

Christmas Party Cancellations Hit Canada

Company Christmas parties are getting scaled back across Canada, but are not facing the widespread cancellations reported in the United States and Britain. The Toronto Star reports that some companies are opting for Potluck over Posh this holiday season, in their article Christmas bashes feel the Grinch pinch.

Hamilton-based company Dofasco is going ahead with it's annual bash for 5,500 at the Copps Coliseum.

"Our employees deserve this," says Dofasco spokesperson Larry Meyer. "It's one of those iconic things that we take a very hard look at before making any decisions around not having it, but we're going ahead with it this year."

Many companies are choosing to scale back rather than cancel the party.

Of course, the drinks at even the most lavish affairs this year may be sparkling wine cocktails instead of champagne. And you're more likely to be lining up at the buffet than sitting down to a $200-per-person, three-course gourmet meal with free-flowing booze and a professional photographer to capture your glam gala moment.

Other employees are just saying "no" to office party cancellations.

"When Toronto-based Skyservice Airlines announced last month that it was cancelling its costly dinner-dance for about 800 people at the Mississauga Convention Centre, employees stepped in to organize their own big bash, house parties and potluck get-togethers."

Way to go, Canada!

So how about it, rest of the World? Don't let your company cancel the office Christmas party! Try these cost-cutting ideas and use funny employee awards to bring some much-need laughter into the workplace.

Combined Christmas Parties Offer Huge Savings for Businesses

While companies across Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. are cancelling Holiday parties, businesses in New Zealand have discovered a better idea -- combining their Christmas parties with other companies.

This tip comes courtesy of the article More the Merrier at Christmas in New Zealand's Star Times:

"Auckland-based New Zealand Corporate Events is helping smaller companies make the most of their Christmas party budget by organising combined functions for businesses wanting a little extra for their money."

And it's not all about saving money. You can actually throw a more elaborate employee bash by combining your Christmas party. Plus, you gain the expertise and resources of employees outside your company.

Benefits of Holding a Combined Party:

• Cost savings
• Increased networking opportunities
• Big-company party atmosphere
• Higher quality location and meal
• Better entertainment
• Shared party planning responsibilities

So before you cut the Christmas party from your budget, reach out to your colleagues and other small business owners to see if they'd be open to a combined event. Ask a local meeting planner if they have clients open to the idea.

Remember, a little creative thinking goes a long way. 

And don't forget to bring some much-needed laughter to the event with our funny employee awards.

Companies in Australia to Cancel Christmas Parties

Australia's The Daily Telegraph perhaps prematurely reports that the death of Australian Christmas parties in their article, Financial crisis kills the office Christmas party.

Luckily, Australia has Monash University psychology lecturer Dr Simon Moss to stop the madness.

"The awful irony is that when organisations don't promote networking opportunities then individuals become less efficient and ultimately that costs the company more. It can be very counterproductive... It implies that the situation is dire and the consequence is that their endeavours and ideas won't be fulfilled."

That's what she said. Actually that's what I said in my September press release, The Company Christmas Party - Another Casualty of a Tough Economy:

"For a company with a history of lavish year-end celebrations, the first impulse during a downturn is to cut the company party altogether," reports Weaver. "This is a mistake. It sends a strong message that the company isn't doing well. Your top performers may already be doing their own year-end introspection. By cutting the celebration, you may be sending a signal that it's time to start sending out résumés."

But I'm not hatin'. Go ahead, Doctor...

"People work best when there is a sense of familiarity and cutting out the Christmas party undermines that.'' Dr Moss also said that if there was no alternative but to cancel the party, managers should replace it with something else.

The good doctor is right. Instead of cancelling the Christmas party, try these cost-cutting ideas and use funny employee awards to bring some much-need laughter into the workplace.

It's what Dr. Moss would want.

Christmas Parties Cancelled Across Ireland

Ireland's largest and most popular news source, RTE News, reports that 79% of Irish employers will not be paying for Christmas parties this year because of the economic downturn.

The article, bluntly titled Employers cancel Christmas parties, goes on to state that "71% of businesses also say Christmas parties are simply a waste of company money."

O'say it ain't so!

Alan Price, Head of Peninsula Ireland, gives the pros and cons of the Christmas party:

Christmas Party Cons:

• Considerable cost to the firm.
• May seem "inappropriate" if the firm has recently made people redundant.

Christmas Party Pros:

• Effective way to encourage staff bonding.
• Noticeable positive impact on employee morale.

So what is a respectable Irish business owner to do? Why, forge ahead with the Christmas party, of course. Try these cost-cutting ideas and use funny employee awards to bring some much-need laughter into the workplace.

Now as for the article's claim that "68% of employers have received a complaint of harassment from an employee following their Christmas party..." Well, perhaps your first cost-cutting item should be the Guinness.

UK Companies Cancelling Christmas Parties

According to a recent article by British newspaper The Guardian, 27% of UK businesses are cutting the Christmas party fund.

"Almost four in five British businesses are cutting back on everything from hiring new staff to paying for the office Christmas party, as they batten down the hatches for a deep recession", states the article Pay rises and Christmas parties cancelled as companies cut costs.

According to a survey of more than 1,000 UK firms, "Four out of 10 businesses said they had cut back on recruitment; 27 per cent had reduced pay or bonuses; and another 27 per cent said they were squeezing the entertainment budget, including the Christmas party fund."

But it's not all bad news. Prime Minister Gordon Brown insists that Britain is better prepared for the global crisis than other countries, and promises to unveil a plan to boost employment by using the public sector.

In the meantime, businesses in the United Kingdom should move forward with the Holiday parties. Instead of cancelling the Christmas party, try these cost-cutting ideas and use funny employee awards to bring some much-need laughter into the workplace.

It's what David Brent would do.

Company Christmas Party Cancelled

Is your company canceling this year's Christmas Party? Let me know. I've become a source for journalists on the growing trend of companies canceling this year's event since my post The Company Christmas Party - Another Casualty of a Tough Economy

If your company is canceling this year's Christmas party:

• How do you feel - indifferent, angry, relieved?
• Is this the first year that you can recall the party being canceled?
• Is your company doing anything as a "substitute" for the party (like having a small in-office social during work hours)?

If your company is not canceling this year's Christmas party:

• How do you feel? Do you think of it as wasteful spending in this tough economy, or is the office party important to you and your coworkers?
• Has the party budget been cut at all, or is it as big - or bigger - than ever?
• If the budget has been cut, let me know how you're saving costs (cheaper location, less food, no free drinks, etc.)

By the way, these questions apply to Christmas parties, holiday parties, end-of-year parties, annual meetings or whatever you company calls the event.

Please tell us about your company Christmas party in the comments section below or email via the contact page. I'll use the stories when speaking with journalists, and you can choose to remain anonymous if you like.

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