16896: On Holiday Parties & DEIBA+ Heat Shields.

 

Mediapsssst at MediaPost spotlighted a Harris Poll survey showing office holiday parties mirror DEIBA+ initiatives—that is, there is declining dedication and interest for the annual festivities.

 

Companies are orchestrating fewer in-person holiday events, which also mirrors diminishing DEIBA+ heat shields.

 

Expect Campbell Ewald to halt plans for a Ghetto Days–Kwanzaa celebration.

 

Poll: Office Holiday Parties Fall Out Of Favor

 

By Richard Whitman

 

There was a time when just about everybody looked forward to the office holiday party, if not recovering from it.  

 

But no longer, according to a new Harris Poll which found that just 48% of workplaces now host regular in-person holiday events. 

 

Apparently, the younger generations, Gen Z and Millennials are driving the decline, according to the poll. 

 

“Holiday parties are no longer a one-size-fits-all tradition,” says Libby Rodney, Chief Strategy Officer and Futurist at The Harris Poll. “Younger generations are calling for celebrations that align with today’s workplace values-interactive, inclusive, and respectful of employees’ time and contributions.”  

 

Younger employees polled cited awkward conversations, alcohol-fueled discomfort, and the fear of standing out in the wrong way as their primary concerns.  

 

42% of Gen Z prefer alcohol to be served in moderation or not at all, while 66% of Millennials want lighthearted features, such as executive roasts, to make celebrations more engaging and inclusive, and 65% advocating for a ban on work-related conversations. 

 

Harris surmises that “The future of workplace holiday parties lies in creativity and inclusivity,” noting that Gen Z showed a preference for interactive and themed events like escape rooms or creative workshops that allow employees to connect in innovative ways. Millennials want “Holiday Lite” celebrations that prioritize team bonding and relaxation in low-pressure environments.  

 

Across all generations the poll found that “practicality reigns supreme” in that 79% of employees would prefer a monetary bonus, and 71% would opt for additional time off instead of a holiday party. 

 

The survey was conducted online in November among a nationally representative sample of 1,238 employed adults. The research includes 222 Gen Z (ages 18-27), 447 Millennials (ages 28-43), 391 Gen X (ages 44-59), and 178 Boomers (ages 60 and older). See the full results here.