Is the Office Christmas Party a Thing of the Past?

Christina Lewis 
Founder, Herizon 

Is this an indication of a wider employee engagement shift?

Whenever I think about office Christmas parties, my mind is taken to the iconic scene from Bridget Jones’s Diary.

A Christmas party of the 90s- a rendition of ‘Without You’ on karaoke, party hats, an inappropriate office romance and plenty of alcohol.

For good & for bad- this version of a Christmas party feels well and truly unrecognisable in comparison to the many shades of variety we see in Christmas office parties today.

Some gather in smaller groups with their immediate colleagues and team members- avoiding the large corporate gathering. Others host online events. Day events that stop at 5pm are on the agenda and teams are opting to use the time volunteering for a good cause instead of an evening of karaoke.

What does this mean for employee engagement today? And what - if anything- does it say about a wider shift in workplace culture?

Traditionalists may be grieving the shift in approach, the one time of year to connect in an informal way with colleagues- gone. The sense of connection & team bonding created through the Christmas party is not- in their minds- replaced by the online quiz. It’s a chance to break down formal barriers and network with leaders and peers alike. 

There’s perhaps a sense that the traditional office Christmas party is truly a thing of the past- representing a shift away from five days a week office culture and the bonds that come with that.

For some this marks a sad end to a certain era of office culture. 

The shift seen with Gen Z and others moving to sober curiosity and abstinence is in direct contrast with the boozy workplace parties of the past- with lingering whispers of ‘Is anyone up for a good night out anymore?’.

The ‘good’ and ‘night out’- are an imperative point here. The question remains: who do the ‘after work’ professional events work best for? Or better, who do they impact the most?
For many- especially at this time of year- spending disposable income & free evenings with their families or friends is a priority. Employees can make bath time with their children, take some time to recharge or simply choose to spend their free time, exactly as they want to.

We’re seeing a shift in companies opting for ‘in hours’ workplace events- with the choice of staying on afterwards should people want to. This ‘work day’ event timing means everyone can use time outside of working hours as they wish, without fear they’ll be judged as anti-social or uncommitted.

We’re not just seeing the timings of work place socialising change, but also attitudes towards alcohol at workplace events.

The buzzing pubs and sloshing rounds of spirits, were a previous staple of workplace social gatherings and a ‘bonding piece’ for many. Whether it’s for religious reasons, medical reasons, sober curiosity or any other reason drinking alcohol doesn’t feature in the lives of some, but is still an enjoyment for many. 

The balance here for organisations seeking to be inclusive is creating social events with choice- moving away from workplace socials that assume mass drinking as an activity for all, or something everyone is comfortable with, but giving opportunity for those who do want to drink to do so in a responsible way. 

Finance teams may just be thanking this shift in alcohol intake as a cost reduction on their budget lines. As the increasing demands on company profits, ever competitive industries, combined with an increased cost base means that the cost of throwing an open bar style social event for employees is a budget challenge for many and a HR headache. 

There’s also an open question of what a ‘good’ time is socially. For many- whether it’s introversion, anxiety or neurodivergence- being around crowded, loud and overstimulating environments may be the bottom of the festive ‘wish list’.

So what does this mean? Is this the death of the workplace Christmas party? 

From an employee engagement perspective- giving the opportunity to improve professional relationships, build workplace community, connection and networking across levels and departments is key to retention, growth and a sense of belonging at work. 

However, gatherings focused around alcohol, after working hours events & over stimulating environments can be difficult for many.

Whatever way you look at it, both these things can be true at once.

This isn’t just about your end of year party, it’s far more representative of a shift in workplace culture, demographic and societal changes and bygone loyalty to a ‘job for life employer’.

But what this is about is workplace events, inclusion, culture, ways of working and how different needs and experiences are built into the fabric of organisations.

In many workplaces, we see workplace engagement dwindling- in part because we apply the same rules and structures we have for many years, but the workplace has changed- both in who is in it & how we operate.

We can’t apply the previous frameworks and expect the same levels of engagement and benefits the traditional Christmas party once drove.

Whether we like it or not, we’re in a new era of work, and adapting our culture and employee engagement to reflect this is key to retaining diverse talent & mirroring the workforce we have.

With some intentional questions & appetite for change & agility, it’s arguable we can create the same benefits of Christmas gatherings of the past, without the HR complaints to match.

‘What does a celebration and connection look like for you in the workplace?’
‘What or whose needs haven’t we considered in this approach?’
‘How can we make people feel recognised and rewarded as a regular moment in our culture, not just once a year?’
‘How can we build community and connection throughout the year vs (or instead of) in a single event?’ 

‘How do we create a sense of fun and joy at work, in a professional and appropriate way?’
‘How do we build connections between colleagues from different departments and across levels to encourage networking and opportunity?’

Perhaps the death of the traditional office Christmas party has marked a transformation into a new era of workplace socials and culture. Crucially your culture should be designed with and for  your employees, as a reflection of their needs. A Christmas party can’t be the silver bullet to workplace joy, recognition and connection, but it is a reflection of the workplace you are and want to be.

Christmas parties are both important, but also just a moment in the employee engagement experience. If we want employee retention and engagement, we have to pair the end of year celebrations- whatever they look like- with consistent workplace recognition, connection and inclusivity. 

To register your interest for the 2026 Engage Employee Summit click here: https://www.engageemployee.com/engage-employee-summit-registration