Corporate Australia has become the grinch that killed Christmas for thousands of workers as traditional giant festive parties are scrapped across the country.

The traditional office Christmas party is a much-anticipated end-of-year celebration  where new legends of the workforce are created – and careers are often killed – as staff let their hair down. 

Intimate moments between workmates in the supplies cupboard, boozy underlings letting rip at bosses to their face and loose-lipped managers making inappropriate comments have made the big blowout an unmissable tradition.

But it seems those days are numbered as corporate executives play ‘Bad Santa’ – and put the rowdy knees-ups on their naughty list. 

Corporate Australia has become the grinch that killed Christmas for thousands of workers as traditional giant festive parties are scrapped across the country (pictured, Sydney revellers)

Corporate Australia has become the grinch that killed Christmas for thousands of workers as traditional giant festive parties are scrapped across the country (pictured, Sydney revellers)

The office Christmas party is a legendary end of year celebration where careers have been killed as staff let their hair down in epic drinking sessions at city centre venues (pictured, a Sydney Christmas partygoer in 2021)

The office Christmas party is a legendary end of year celebration where careers have been killed as staff let their hair down in epic drinking sessions at city centre venues (pictured, a Sydney Christmas partygoer in 2021)

The office Christmas party is a legendary end of year celebration where careers have been killed as staff let their hair down in epic drinking sessions at city centre venues (pictured, a Sydney Christmas partygoer in 2021)

Not one of a series of major companies contacted by Daily Mail Australia said they were having a classic Christmas party this year.

Rising costs and the continuing fallout from the Covid pandemic – which has twice wrecked Christmas for billions around the world – are blamed for the decision.

But business insiders say the sanitisation of Santa’s big night is a corporate strategy to avoid intra-office conflicts and possible lawsuits arising from the megaparties.

‘In the modern office, it’s just too easy to cause offence these days,’ one insider said.

 ‘Combine alcohol with people who don’t know each other very well and it’s a powderkeg.

‘It’s just not worth the risk for big corporations.’ 

The days of outrageous Christmas parties appear numbered as corporate executives play bad Santa - and put the rowdy knees-ups on their naughty list (pictured, a partygoer in a Santa hat)

The days of outrageous Christmas parties appear numbered as corporate executives play bad Santa - and put the rowdy knees-ups on their naughty list (pictured, a partygoer in a Santa hat)

The days of outrageous Christmas parties appear numbered as corporate executives play bad Santa – and put the rowdy knees-ups on their naughty list (pictured, a partygoer in a Santa hat)

While many have axed their celebrations altogether, Coles have moved theirs online – and have crossed the last great line in office parties by inviting workers’ families to join in too.

The supermarket giant has revealed its plans to hold a virtual Xmas party this year with staff logging in by videolink from around the country.

They hope to gather all 120,000 workers and their families to the internet shindig after trialling the virtual Christmas concept for the past couple of years during Covid.

‘We’re excited to be able to invite 120,000 team members from across the county to join in the celebrations at our 2022 virtual Christmas party this year,’ said a Coles spokesman.

None of the big companies contacted by Daily Mail Australia said they were having a classic Christmas party this year (pictured, 2021 celebrations on Sydney Harbour)

None of the big companies contacted by Daily Mail Australia said they were having a classic Christmas party this year (pictured, 2021 celebrations on Sydney Harbour)

None of the big companies contacted by Daily Mail Australia said they were having a classic Christmas party this year (pictured, 2021 celebrations on Sydney Harbour)

Coles has revealed its plans to hold a virtual Xmas party this year with staff logging in by videolink from around the country

Coles has revealed its plans to hold a virtual Xmas party this year with staff logging in by videolink from around the country

Coles has revealed its plans to hold a virtual Xmas party this year with staff logging in by videolink from around the country

‘They have worked incredibly hard in our stores, distribution centres and our Store Support Centre. 

Optus - which has faced a public backlash over the devastating hack which revealed detailed information on 10million customers - has also scaled back its Xmas plans

Optus - which has faced a public backlash over the devastating hack which revealed detailed information on 10million customers - has also scaled back its Xmas plans

Optus – which has faced a public backlash over the devastating hack which revealed detailed information on 10million customers – has also scaled back its Xmas plans

‘The virtual event has been a huge success for us the past couple of years and allows all our team members and their families to celebrate together.’

Channel Ten has scrapped its Christmas party altogether this year after the network was rocked by dismal ratings,  cancelled shows and high-profile resignations.

‘This year’s Christmas party was called off. Management said there was nothing to celebrate for Ten,’ a source told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Everyone is p***ed off because they just wanted to let their hair down. It’s not the staff’s fault people don’t care about these shows anymore and people aren’t tuning in.’

According to an insider, Channel 10's financial crisis is 'worse than imagined' after Paramount announced that there will be no Christmas celebrations this year. Pictured: Sarah Harris, the new host of The Project

According to an insider, Channel 10's financial crisis is 'worse than imagined' after Paramount announced that there will be no Christmas celebrations this year. Pictured: Sarah Harris, the new host of The Project

According to an insider, Channel 10’s financial crisis is ‘worse than imagined’ after Paramount announced that there will be no Christmas celebrations this year. Pictured: Sarah Harris, the new host of The Project

Channel Ten has told staff that 'there's nothing to celebrate,' an insider said. Pictured: Carrie Bickmore and Lisa Wilkinson, who have both left the network

Channel Ten has told staff that 'there's nothing to celebrate,' an insider said. Pictured: Carrie Bickmore and Lisa Wilkinson, who have both left the network

Channel Ten has told staff that ‘there’s nothing to celebrate,’ an insider said. Pictured: Carrie Bickmore and Lisa Wilkinson who have both left the network

Optus – which has faced a public backlash over the devastating hack which revealed detailed information on 10million customers – has also scaled back its Christmas plans.

In the wake of the crisis, the Singapore-owned company insists its Christmas party will be a very modest affair this year.

‘We will have a small scale get together to thank our people for their hard work and customer focus,’ said an Optus spokesman.

International banking giant Citi scrapped its Christmas party 15 years ago – and haven’t looked back since. 

Rising costs and the continuing fallout from the Covid pandemic - which has twice wrecked Christmas for billions around the world - are blamed for the decision

Rising costs and the continuing fallout from the Covid pandemic - which has twice wrecked Christmas for billions around the world - are blamed for the decision

Rising costs and the continuing fallout from the Covid pandemic – which has twice wrecked Christmas for billions around the world – are blamed for the decision

‘Citi Australia has not hosted an all-employee Christmas party since 2007,’ revealed a spokesman.

‘Instead, we encourage individual teams to host their own celebrations and choose how they would like to mark the end of the year together. ‘

Accountancy firm EY – formerly known as Ernst and Young – have also put a red line through Christmas parties in its annual budget.

The company was rocked by the tragic death of one staff member who threw herself off EY’s Sydney tower block in August after she had attended staff drinks. 

Accountancy firm EY - formerly known as Ernst and Young - have also put a red line through Christmas parties on their annual budget

Accountancy firm EY - formerly known as Ernst and Young - have also put a red line through Christmas parties on their annual budget

Accountancy firm EY – formerly known as Ernst and Young – have also put a red line through Christmas parties on their annual budget

The firm employs 9,000 people throughout Australia, including 3,000 in Sydney, and says it’s simply too many people for one party.

Instead, EY allows individual teams of staff – who already work closely together – to organise their own tinsel and mistletoe celebrations.

Business NSW admitted there was a downturn in the numbers of big corporations planning mega events to celebrate Christmas.

But the lobby group said it was still expecting a bumper festive season as staffers enjoy their first taste of holiday period normality in three years.

‘While there might be a potential reduction in the number of people attending big events, we are expecting to see more people celebrating overall via a greater number of smaller Christmas functions,’ CEO Daniel Hunter said.

‘There is an overwhelming desire for companies to hold Christmas celebrations, especially given many of us have been stuck behind a screen for the best part of three years. 

‘The pandemic has changed the nature of the day-to-day professional environment, in that business units are picking days of the week that they come into the office.

‘This has brought these groups closer together and, for end of year celebrations, led to a greater focus on those 20-or-so people.

‘An intimate dinner or drinks appears to, for now, be taking precedence over large-scale events.

‘But we predict there will still be a desire for some companies to hold large events, and we actively encourage employers to allow their workers to celebrate.’

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