New research suggests that most workplaces have abandoned plans for festive celebrations this year.

According to a survey by e-recruitment platform IrishJobs.ie, just 14% of workplaces plan to host a Christmas party this year.

Of those who plan to host a Christmas party, 9% will host a virtual party, 3% plan to have a party in the workplace under socially distanced guidelines while 2% hope to secure a booking in a restaurant or pub providing these establishments are open.

 Of the more than 2,600 employees surveyed, almost eight in 10 said they consider workplace socialising to be an important aspect of their job. 

However, when it comes to a Covid Christmas, four in 10 believe it would be irresponsible to host a Christmas party, with 30% saying it would be “more trouble than it is worth” given the current restrictions and risks associated with social gatherings.

 However 60% of Irish SME’s planning on sending gifts to their employees in lieu of the traditional Christmas party., according to another  new study.

Musgrave Marketplace, which surveyed more than 600 Irish SMEs found that over two thirds (69%) plan to buy gifts for clients this Christmas with more than a quarter saying they plan to send additional gifts to make up for the lack of “Christmas client entertainment.” Some 65% plan to spend up to €1,000 on corporate gifts.

More than three quarters (78%) of SME’s admitted corporate gifting is more stressful this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, with one in five (21%) saying a member of their team will organise and send gifts from their own home.