Counting the cost of celebrations
Dec 11 2007 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette
COMPANIES will lose millions of pounds in productivity because of workers’ hangovers after the staff Christmas party this year, according to a new report.
A survey of 4,500 workers by hotel chain Travelodge showed they spend an average of two and a half hours “staring into space” trying to recover from a raging hangover the morning after the office bash.
Almost one in three admitted calling in sick after drinking too much the night before - although many suspected their boss knew they were “pulling a fast one”.
Despite admitting to suffering from a hangover themselves, two out of three of those questioned said they got annoyed when a colleague was off ill after a night out.
Joe Roberts, manager, at financial and legal recruitment firm Sellick Partnership in Newcastle said employers are increasingly concerned that too much political correctness dampens the Christmas spirit.
He added: “As well as the stress of organising the event, employers can now be held liable if they fail to protect staff from harassment or discrimination, with as many as 81% of employers having received official complaints after a work party. In light of this, it is important that as well as enjoying the festive season, companies bear in mind a number of crucial issues.”
He said: “Staff sickness the day after a Christmas celebration can be a tricky issue for employers. A survey has shown that companies lose an estimated £13bn a year through staff calling in sick, and the day after a Christmas party is no exception.
“One way to prevent this would be to book the Christmas party for a Friday night. If businesses haven’t booked far enough in advance for venues to be available on a Friday night, perhaps suggest to employees that they can come in an hour later to sleep off a hangover.”
Joe’s dos and don’ts guide for employers this Christmas are:
Don’t expect people to be at their sharpest the day after the party. Strategy and budget meetings can wait
Don’t drink too much yourself - set a good example to your staff.
Don’t take too strict a stance on office policy and disciplinary procedures. Only go down this route as a last resort.
Do remember that Christmas is not celebrated by all religions.
Do try to organise the staff party as close to the weekend as possible and as close to Christmas as possible. Business naturally slows down at this time of year, and any adverse reaction to too much drink might not be felt quite as severely.
Do manage people’s expectations and communicate effectively. If staff know where the line is, they’ll be less likely to cross it.
