UK: The true cost of the office Christmas party

The office Christmas party may be a traditional part of the Festive Season – but it could cost British business over Ł66 million, according to new figures out today.

Independent research by Norwich Union Healthcare shows that with the festive season about to get into full swing, more than one million office workers have taken time off due to over indulgence at a Christmas party.

That adds up to Ł66.5 million lost from the British economy because of office party hangovers, based on CBI calculations of absence costs.*

However the overall cost to the nation in employee absence during this year’s Christmas party season is half that of last year.

Norwich Union Healthcare’s ‘Hangover Bill’ study reveals that a quarter of us will be going to at least one work-related party this Christmas – with one in five attending two, and 11 per cent attending FIVE OR MORE.

But the spirit of Scrooge lives on among some sectors of British business, as 21 per cent of workers won’t be going to a single work-related bash.

The study also reveals that men drink twice as much as women at Christmas parties – with the average male consuming 11 units of alcohol (equal to five pints or 11 glasses of wine) compared to women’s five units (five glasses of wine).

Other findings in the Norwich Union Healthcare ‘Hangover Bill’ study include:

• Over half (51 per cent) tell the truth to their boss when ringing in to take the day off because of festive overindulgence at work
• Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) use the ‘flu’ as an excuse, with 18 per cent blaming food poisoning
• Women are more likely than men to be telling the truth when phoning in with an excuse
• The average amount drunk at Christmas work parties this year will be seven units (ie seven glasses of wine, seven single spirits, or 3.5 pints) – although 18% are planning to drink no alcohol.

Dr Doug Wright, Clinical Development Manager at Norwich Union Healthcare, said: “With statistics like this it is not surprising there are so many people taking time off work because they have a hangover. On average, British office workers are consuming twice the recommended sensible drinking levels.

“Such large quantities of alcohol in our bodies leads to dehydration, the tendency for smokers to smoke more, loss of appetite and increased consumption of unhealthy foods after the party and the next morning.”

Regionally, the biggest Christmas works party revellers are in the South East, London and the West Midlands, where five per cent of workers will be attending SIX different events.

And according to the Norwich Union Healthcare research, workers’ favourite tips for avoiding a hangover are:

1. Drinking lots of water before going to bed
2. Eating a meal before going out
3. Drinking a glass of milk to line your stomach before going out
4. Eating a kebab on the way home
5. Eating full English Breakfast the morning after
6. Have a Hair of the Dog, such as Bloody Mary, the morning after

Press contact:

Jo Misson, Matthew Buchanan or Jane Wheeler at QBO on 020 7379 0304
Weekend Contacts:
Matt Buchanan: 07803 501 804
Jo Misson: 07887 777 731

Notes to editors:

• Research by Taylor Nelson Sofres, who questioned 626 working adults aged 16+ nationwide between 29 November and 1 December 2002.
• * CBI statistics 2001 visit CBI website: http//www.cbi.org.uk
• Norwich Union Healthcare is the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and provides a range of private medical insurance and income protection products to around 750,000 customers. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
• Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer offering a comprehensive range of long-term savings and general insurance products.
• Norwich Union’s news releases are available on the Aviva plc website at www.aviva.com
• A selection of images is available from the Norwich Union Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk

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