Now, though, the annual booze-fuelled debauch appears to be falling out of favour as companies respond to changing cultural mores and home working - not to mention the legal risk posed by festive impropriety.
These days, bosses are just as likely to reward staff for a year of hard graft with scavenger hunts, a murder mystery experience, or an aerial tree-trekking adventure at Center Parcs.
"I don't think [the office Christmas party] is dead, it's just that people demand more than ever from their companies," said Francesca Hubbard, the founder of Big Smoke Events.
"More" can include activities such as giant Jenga, quizzes and crazy golf. The company's client roster, according to its website, includes everyone from the Premier League to corporate giants such as Meta (the owner of Facebook), Deloitte and Amazon. Other event-planning businesses such as Sharky & George offer workplace car rallies and sports days as alternatives to a few hours in a pub.
This story is from the November 30, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 30, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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