UK: Office Christmas party costs business £65 million

With the office Christmas party season in full swing, British businesses could be losing nearly Ł65 million, according to new figures out today.

The research from Norwich Union Healthcare suggests that nearly one million workers have taken sick leave due to over indulgence at the office Christmas party. This adds up to nearly Ł65 million lost from the British economy because of office party hangovers, based on CBI calculations of absence costs¹.

But despite the government’s call for people to live healthier lifestyles, the Christmas party spirit has not been dampened, as four in five workers said they will be indulging as much, or more than previous years.

And when it comes to good behaviour women may be watching their alcohol consumption and only plan to drink around half as many units as men, but they are more likely to phone in sick with a made up excuse. But over 50 per cent of men questioned said they would tell their boss the truth.

Illness is a common excuse used by party goers who over do it, with six in ten using the excuse of food poisoning, cold or migraine and another ten per cent claiming to have to nurse a sick relative. Other popular excuses include transport problems and waiting at home for the gas man or plumber.

Other findings from the ‘Hangover Bill’ research include:

• Although three quarters of workers in the UK plan to attend one work party and half of workers are planning more than one party, the Christmas spirit has not reached 15 per cent of workers who are not planning to party with colleagues
• Over half of people have taken one day off and one in four people have to take two or more days off work following a work Christmas party due to over indulgence
• Average alcohol consumption predictions for office Christmas party: Party people expect to drink an average of 8 units of alcohol (equal to 8 glasses of wine or 4 pints), with the average man consuming 11 units and the average woman 5 units. These figures are nearly three times the recommended daily drinking levels for men and twice the amount for women²
• Single people are more likely to be feeling rough after a Christmas party as they drink more at work functions than those who are married

Favourite workers tips for avoiding a hangover are:

• Drinking lots of water before going to bed
• Eating a meal before going out
• Drinking a glass of milk to line your stomach
• Staying in bed
• Eating a full English breakfast the morning after
• Eating a kebab on the way home

Dr Doug Wright, clinical development manager at Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "For most of us staying in bed probably seems the best way to cope with a hangover. Sadly this may not be an option, so keeping up energy levels with regular food and fluids is the best way to get through the working day.

"Obviously the best way to avoid the dreaded hangover is to not drink too much at the party, but if you can’t indulge a little at Christmas when can you! Instead my best advice to avoid feeling rough the next day is to try to drink sensibly by limiting the number of alcoholic drinks you knock back and alternate with soft drinks."

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Contacts:
Karen Tait, Jo Misson or Charlotte Ruddlesdin: QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424

Norwich Union Press Office contacts:
Lorna Wiltshire: 07788 471 849
James Evans: 07800 699525

Notes to editors:
Research by Taylor Nelson Sofres, who questioned 565 working adults 18+ nationwide between 19 and 21 November 2004

¹ From CBI ‘Room for Improvement’ Absence and Labour Turnover 2004 report. NUHC research found that 4% of UK working population of 24,248,000 have taken time off due to over indulgence. Based on CBI absence costs per worker being equal to Ł66 per day the financial loss to British business due to sick leave over the festive period is equal to Ł65 million

² As recommended by the Portman Group

• Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protection and private medical insurance products that cover over 750,000 lives. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
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