2009 Workplace Holiday Fetes Less Festive
December 14, 2009
(PLANSPONSOR.com) – A new employer survey finds the down economy has taken a
major bite out of traditional year-end holiday workplace activities.
BNA reports that its Holiday
Practices Survey finds a significant dropoff in corporate sponsorship of
holiday parties from 81% in 2008 to 67% in the latest poll.
The
proportion of employers backing a company-wide holiday party has also plunged
from 64% in 2008 to 50% in 2009.
Also corporate parties will be less of a drinkfest. Among those
scheduling an employee party, 58% will have alcohol available, down from 65%
last year.
Many of those offering an open bar are also keeping an eye on consumption
by:
-
using bartenders to monitor
consumption (77%),
-
limiting times when alcohol is served (47%),
-
offering taxi service for employees and guests (51%),
-
providing discounted hotel rates to encourage overnight stays (31%),
and
-
appointing designated drivers (8%).
Those that have such get-togethers are making
the fetes more of an employee-only affair, according to BNA.
Some 47%
will open up
their company-wide holiday parties to spouses or other guests, compared with the
55% last year.
Some 33% say they will
hand over a gift to an employee or provide a bonus, down from 40% in 2008 – the
third consecutive declining figure since 49% in 2006.