Office Christmas party 2017 – behaving badly or partying like a saint?

It’s that time of year again and, if you haven’t already had your office Christmas party, you’ll be gearing up for the festivities this week.

For many it’s a chance to party hard, celebrate the end of work and start the holiday season. Unfortunately for some, the office party is fraught with problems. UK workers freely admit to behaving badly at their Christmas bash, making a move on colleagues or calling in sick the next morning.

An Igniyte survey of 1,000 UK workers last year revealed the pitfalls of the office party.

• Almost 30% of employees admit flirting with a work colleague at an office Christmas party
• Over 1 in 4 have kissed a colleague
• 1 in 10 people have drunk so much booze that they didn’t turn up for work the next day
• In the property sector, 1 in 5 employees admits having arguments with their other half following a photo or status they’ve been tagged in on Facebook at a work Christmas party
• 1 in 4 travel employees waited until the Christmas party to tell a colleague they liked them
• 14% of energy and utilities workers have been dumped by their partner following their Christmas party behaviour
• 1 in 10 in the property sector have received a written or verbal warning after a Christmas party at work
• 8% have even been fired!

With the influence and popularity of social media, it’s a strong possibility that inappropriate behaviour can make its way online. That can have a big impact on professional and company reputations.

How do UK employees say they plan to behave at their Christmas party this year?

• 1 in 5 fully expect they’ll say or do something embarrassing
• 1 in 10 are planning on using the opportunity to tell a fellow colleague they like them
• 15% say that they are going to change their Facebook settings so they have to approve a ‘tag’ in a photo or status
• 10% of travel employees aren’t going to their Christmas party this year for fear of doing something embarrassing
• 14% of energy and utilities employees will use the Christmas party to confront a colleague or tell them they don’t like them
• 1 in 4 UK employees will “drink less” to limit the chance of them doing or saying something embarrassing

Igniyte’s Managing Partner Simon Wadsworth says: “The findings show that it’s wise to think about your reputation in and out of the office. After all, one in four people surveyed say that they regret their previous party antics! Plus, because of social media, when staff drink too much and go a bit crazy there’s a real danger it’s seen by lots of people. Including their boss or other half. All it takes is one person to share a picture and you could be in big trouble, at home and work. The best way to keep your reputation in tact is to avoid drinking too much or losing control in the first place.”

About Igniyte

Igniyte works with small, national and international companies around the world to build positive and lasting online reputations. We use best practice approaches, including social media tactics and trends, to help businesses reach their full potential.