I can't even imagine writing this post 10 years ago.
Or even 5 to be fair.
But - it's a thing! There's a rising trend of the sober Christmas work do. And is that such a bad thing?
The office Christmas party is one of those occasions steeped in legend. There's a billion (well a fair few) articles out there giving advice on how to mitigate the risks involved in this annual booze extravaganza - from avoiding snogging someone inappropriate in the accounts team to addressing your (lack of) pay rise with your MD in an alcohol fueled ‘honesty’ conversation or a full on critique of the company's strategy in the belief that your drunken input is not only valued but appreciated ;-)
But with a rising number of Gen Z in the workplace - who famously are far more reticent with their alcohol consumption - and perhaps a general feeling that we could/should do better, many businesses are now turning to other forms of celebration that feel more inclusive to their employees.
So what do you think? Apart from anything else it will save those red faces and walks of shame the following day where (some) people will remember in hideous clarity all the things they said/did and spend the rest of Christmas in a state of barely contained fear about their future at the business.
But is getting shitfaced at the office Christmas party a bastion of British work culture? Can we really embrace a future where drinking - as much as possible in as short a time frame as possible - isn't de rigeur?
Or is there a happy medium to be found? Perhaps combining the two with an activity that everyone can enjoy sober followed by drinks for those who want them?
As (the only) sober celebrator of the last 5 years of office Christmas parties, I can honestly say that I find them more entertaining sober than drunk BUT this is probably partially reflective of me being able to laugh at everyone else…and not having anyone laughing at me! 😉
Let me know what you think!
The trend away from boozy late-night parties is driven partly by the younger generation embracing healthier lifestyles. “Gen Z doesn’t drink as much,” says one banker. “Very different crowd to when I started in banking.” It also reflects a stronger desire for inclusivity, fears among employers over the potential for misconduct and the rise of the post-pandemic experience economy. Staff are “increasingly putting their foot down about post-work events as they try to maintain a clear boundary between their work and personal lives”, adds Morgan.
Read the original article here