One in three workers 'less likely to go to any Christmas parties' this year

A sharp decline in office Christmas party attendance may be on the cards, with almost one in three UK workers ready to ditch the annual festive shindig.

Findings from a survey of 1,000 workers commissioned by LinkedIn reveal that time constraints are taking their toll on employees' willingness to attend post-work events.

The study shows that not only is in-person networking suffering due to employees being reluctant to elongate their workday or overwhelmed by their workload, but also festive team socials are waning as part of a "major shift" in networking habits.

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LinkedIn's research further highlights that half of those surveyed are struggling to network amid tight schedules, while almost a third are less inclined than five years ago to revel in work-related holiday soirees.

Janine Chamberlin, the head of LinkedIn UK, observed: "Our data shows that while professionals recognise the importance of networking, many aren’t able to prioritise it amid competing demands for their time.

"As more companies offer hybrid and remote working setups, which are key to attracting and retaining talent, networking has shifted to also take place online."