Holiday work parties feeling economic bite

TORONTO, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The majority of Canadian employers polled about Christmas parties said they'll spend the same as usual but 11 percent were canceling festivities altogether.

The poll for the Workopolis.com online job search company found 68 percent of companies will spend about the same on parties this year, despite the global economic downturn.

Decision-makers at 10 percent of companies polled said they would be spending more.

Among those planning on scaling back, 20 percent said they would plan for less expensive entertainment or venues, 15 percent said they hold the party on company premises to cut costs and 13 percent said they would have the party on a weeknight rather than the weekend.

Among workers surveyed, 62 percent said they would understand of their company scaled back or canceled holiday parties, the release said. However, 24 percent said they would be disappointed by the loss of a tradition and 6 percent said they would be angry and would prefer the boss be given a pay cut instead.

The telephone poll was conducted Nov. 6-10 by Harris/Decima among 617 working Canadians, of which 149 are involved with financial decisions regarding workplace holiday parties.