Watch out bosses - workers set to lose all inhibitions at work Christmas parties

- Almost a quarter of Brits have kissed a colleague at the work Christmas party
- Teachers are most likely to call in sick the following day
- Bankers are the most likely to make a fool of themselves

Almost a quarter of all workers (23 per cent) have had a cheeky snog with a colleague at their work Christmas party, and a further one in ten (10 per cent) have ended up in bed with them, according to new research from American Restaurant T.G.I. Friday’s. Over a third (34 per cent) of work party-goers confess to really letting their hair down at their Christmas party, so bosses should get ready to see a different side to their staff as companies across the UK celebrate at their Christmas parties.

In the spirit of Christmas, 17 per cent of workers have showed their embarrassing moves on the dance floor, 19 per cent have made a fool of themselves, and one in ten (10 per cent) have shared secrets they later wish they hadn’t. In a show of honesty, two per cent of workers have declared love for a colleague at the Christmas bash, and nine per cent have told co-workers what they really think of them.

The top ten Christmas party confessions:
Activity Percentage
1 Snogged a colleague 23%
2 Made a fool of themselves 19%
3 Showed their embarrassing dance moves 17%
4 Revealed they know all the words to a cheesy pop song 14%
5 Had sex with a colleague 10%
6 Shared a personal secret they wished they hadn’t 10%
7 Told a colleague what they really thought of them 9%
8 Played a prank on a colleague 7%
9 Called in sick the next day 5%
10 Stripped or flashed 3%

Un-professional behaviour
When it comes to really going for it at the work Christmas party, there are differences in how professions behave:
• Over half of HR workers (55 per cent) have locked lips with a colleague at their work Christmas party
• Media workers are taking things a step further – a third (33 per cent) have gone all the way and had sex with a colleague after the Christmas bash
• Bankers are most likely to make fools of themselves – 33 per cent admit that they have done so
• Tradesmen are least likely to mince their words, with 15 per cent of them admitting that they have told a colleague ‘what they really thought of them’ at a work party
• One in ten teachers has called in sick the day after a work Christmas bash

Christmas party confessions (by profession):
Activity Most likely profession Percentage
1 Kiss a colleague HR 55%
2 Have sex with a colleague Media 33%
3 Make a fool of themselves Bankers 31%
4 Know all the words to a cheesy pop song Bankers 27%
5 Tell a colleague what they really think of them Tradesmen 15%
6 Shared a personal secret they wished they never told Finance 21%
7 Strip or flash Leisure & travel 9%
8 Played a prank on a colleague Leisure & travel 15%
9 Call in sick Teachers 10%

Despite many companies raising an eyebrow to inter-office relationships, 66 per cent of workers think that locking lips with a co-worker at the Christmas bash is fine. And one in ten men thinks that a cheeky snog with a colleague is ok even if they are in a relationship.

Darrell Wade, T.G.I. Friday’s UK commercial director commented: “We see guests having fun everyday at T.G.I. Friday’s but it really does ramp up as we hit the work Christmas party season. It’s been a tough year for lots of companies across the UK, so we’re predicting that workers this year will really be letting their hair down and going for it, bosses should be prepared!

“We’ve got 51 restaurants across the UK and it’s interesting to see how different groups behave differently. We see all sorts at our restaurants, but ultimately everyone has fun. The work Christmas party is all about relaxing and letting your hair down with your work mates and it always provides some chatter around the water cooler the next day!”

For more information on Christmas parties at T.G.I. Friday’s visit  www.tgifridays.co.uk