Bah Humbug?

I wonder what the Victorian’s would think of our current day Christmas Bash?

In many Victorian firms, it was customary for employers to entertain employees and apprentices on Christmas Eve. Dickens describes one such “Domestic Ball” in a warehouse: “lamps were trimmed, fuel was heaped upon the fire; and the warehouse was as snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a ball-room as you would desire to see upon a winter’s night.” The employees are entertained by a fiddler, they dance, eat cake, cold roast and mince pies and drink beer and negus” (hot, spicy mulled wine).

The tradition of the Christmas ‘works’ party, started by the Victorians as an annual reward for staff who laboured hard for meagre pay, now loses the UK around £65m in absenteeism each year with 44% of party-goers saying the atmosphere is ‘forced’ and 1 in 5 attending out of a sense of duty. 

You might expect companies to exclaim “Bah Humbug” and scrape the pennies back into their purses…but they don’t! 

78% of Managers still believe the Christmas Party is essential in thanking staff annually for their efforts.

However, these days high workforce expectations and protective legislation can turn organising the annual Bash into a lack-lustre military operation, doomed to fall short of objectives and expectations.

Drink related accidents, upsets and embarrassments, sexual harrassment, unacceptable behaviour and the fact that employers are morally and legally liable makes detailed planning a pre-requisite in ensuring a Party’s outcome reflects well on the company.

Maybe in the future the ‘Works Party’ will move away from the usual format and an annual celebration that creates a truly unique and memorable experience will take it’s place?