| Companies Spending 27% More on Christmas Functions 14 December 2006 – Are raising interest rates and other economic pressures affecting the plans of Australian businesses celebrating the end of the year? A research study of 420 Australian businesses conducted by MSI Legal & Accounting Network shows that some Australian businesses may be feeling the economic pinch and consequentially are not holding an end of year function. Other Australian businesses are doing quite the opposite and are planning to spend more on staff Christmas functions than in previous years. Bigger budgets The survey indicates that 13% of Australian businesses are not planning to hold a Christmas function for their staff. However, of the 82% of businesses surveyed that will hold a function - 27% plan to spend more on this year’s event than they did last year. Goodwill gesture, not performance based When deciding whether or not to hold a function, company performance and budget does not seem to be a major factor with 59% of Australian Businesses holding end of year functions as a goodwill gesture towards their staff. Christmas gifts too! In 89% of cases staff will not be asked to contribute to the event, over half the Christmas functions held will be open to employees and their partners. Furthermore, one in three employees are likely to receive a gift from their boss, which proves that the spirit of goodwill is alive and kicking. The MSI Network research indicates that 80% of Australian businesses plan to close the office over the 2006 Christmas period with 68% planning to close for an extended period other than the main public holidays. Types of Event Even though lunches are still the most popular function to be staged for the end of year celebrations, more organisations are moving away from traditional sit down lunches and dinners and plan to hold daytime and evening events with a range of themes, from lawn bowls and river cruises to cocktail parties and dancing. Supporting this, fewer Australian and New Zealand businesses plan to hold their Christmas Functions during office hours compared to last year - with after work and weekends becoming popular choices. While 28% of Australian Businesses have recognised the importance to provide written reminders to staff prior to end of year functions underlining the need to display appropriate behaviour at all times, 58% of businesses have not recognised the need to warn against such things, claims MSI Legal & Accounting Network Australia’s spokesperson Charles Hornor. “Even though there has been an increase in the number of businesses outlining appropriate standards of behaviour that are acceptable at end of year events, it is disturbing to see so few businesses undertaking such procedures. The best way to describe the situation is like a ticking bomb - employers need to become more aware of the fact that they are liable for acts committed by employees in the course of their employment, whether the event is staged during or outside office hours” states Hornor. “It is great to see that most employers are staging end of year events to thank staff for all their hard work but, it is important that they recognise their responsibility in providing a safe and controlled environment to celebrate the end of year” continues Hornor. Please click here for the Xmas Spending Survey 2006 results. |