Gen Z Rejects Office Christmas Parties—Bonuses Beat Festive Fun

Gen Z Rejects Office Christmas Parties—Bonuses Beat Festive Fun

CareerWallet’s Great Survey: Why the Office Christmas Bash Is Losing Its Spark

CareerWallet, the big‑name recruiter and employment tech firm, just dropped a massive survey that peeks into how Brits are actually feeling about work amid a heavy cost‑of‑living crunch.

Cash‑Crunch Bells Are Ringing Hard

  •  91 % of employees under 35 are saying: “Give us a holiday bonus instead of a party.”
  •  With interest rates climbing, that budget is looking little more than a wish list.

The “Festive Frenzy” Reality Check

When it comes to Christmas parties, the ticket for those living on a tight budget is already sold out:

  • 10% of staff say a party is probably the thing they hate most about their job.
  • Many don’t want to play the ‘forced‑friend’ game with a boss who’s as awkward as a clown at a tragedy.
  • In a foot‑long slice of the data, 23% of employees listed colleagues as a major pet peeve.

CEO’s Take: “It’s All Money, Mate”

Craig Bines, the chief at CareerWallet, summed it up: “We see people are feeling the squeeze—higher bills, inflation, almost like the economy decided to show a new face of itself.”

“If a company thinks they’ll win hearts with a holiday bash, they’re probably missing the point. People want salaries that actually help them buy groceries, not gift cards for a night of awkward dancing.”

Craig added a hopeful note: “This year, the job market is buzzing. Plenty of roles are open, and our database has millions of vacancies across the UK. So if you’re dreaming of a fresh start (or just a paycheck that’s a bit richer), sign up.”

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