Workers Shun Holiday Parties for Traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas Family Dinners  

HR Homeroom

A new survey found that two-thirds of employees are RSVPing “no” to their company’s holiday parties, saying they would prefer a bonus or spending more time with family.  

Visier, a global platform to explore employee relations and productivity, surveyed 1,000 full-time U.S. employees about their preferences and attitudes toward socializing with colleagues. Their latest research shows nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of respondents have either reduced or entirely stopped attending company events after work. And if given the choice, nearly 7 in 10 employees (69 percent ) would prefer a larger bonus instead of attending a holiday party.  

Experts warn that with nearly two-thirds of employees reducing their attendance at after-hours company events like holiday parties and socials, companies have cause for worry.  

“The link between workplace connections and job satisfaction is well documented. Participation in company culture and non-work interaction with peers correlate to better job performance and increased worker satisfaction, according to Robert Strauss, a professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University.   

The survey findings show that the top reasons for employees hesitating to attend year-end parties include feeling like they already get enough socialization during the workday (36 percent), a preference to keep personal life separate from professional life (33 percent) and not wanting to spend time away from loved ones (28 percent).   

Other survey results also showed that in-office employees were more interested in attending holiday parties than  their hybrid and remote counterparts.  The survey found that while the majority of  employees preferred a bonus over a party, more than a third (34 percent ) of full-time inhouse employees preferred a party compared to only (26 percent) of full-time remote workers and  (18 percent) of hybrid workers.  

However, the survey also found that Gen Z (40 percent) and millennial  (49 percent ) employees expressed more interest in attending holiday parties than their Gen X (19 percent) and baby boomers  (13 percent) colleagues.  The survey said that this may indicate that  younger workers see their work-social activities as an opportunity to build stronger professional relationships.  But older workers see more importance in spending time with family and friends. 

This trend toward less socialization at work by some is also reflected in the latest Getty research survey that found when workers were asked which event they would skip if they could, Christmas dinner topped the list at (22 percent) with more inclined to opt out of Near Year’s parties (12 percent).  

While Thanksgiving dinner still ranked high as a holiday favorite by employees, some younger employees are also opting out of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  

“I am not going home to listen to my parents cheer about the Trump victory in the recent presidential election,’’ said Susie Bennett, a piano teacher from Bethel Park, Pa.  “I am staying in my apartment with my cat  Max for the holidays,’’ she said.  

Strauss said the country is still trying to heal.  “Workers are battling inflation, high food and energy prices, and  global uncertainty. Not much to cheer about, ‘’ Strauss added.   

Still, a thanksgiving dinner will cost less in 2024 thanks to lower turkey prices, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey. The survey found the classic feast will cost $58.05 this year, a 5 percent decrease from 2023 and down from a record $64.05 in 2022.  But the cost is still almost 20 percent higher than before the pandemic in 2019.    

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