What are your office’s plans for Christmas? It’s an odd question to ask in October but here at HRZone we’ve been startled by the results from two surveys.

The first, from the Industrial Relations Survey, came out a fortnight ago and revealed that 76.8 per cent of employers were planning an office party, although not all were paying for it.

Then we received some research from Peninsula BusinessWise which said that only 9 per cent of employers, in a survey of 4,813, were planning to organise a Christmas party.

Peninsula reports its helpline is already receiving calls from worried employers. Some have been previously threatened with employment tribunals following office parties, others are worried they will be.

Mike Huss, Peninsula’s senior employment law specialist, said: “The survey highlights the major concerns felt by employers during the run up to the Christmas period. Obviously bosses want to reward their staff for a year’s hard work; however they are proceeding with a degree of caution due to the huge threat of litigation.”

But he made two points: firstly, many employers are worried about offending members of other faiths and excluding minorities by banning Christmas decorations and traditions from the workplace.

But this is also discriminatory – every employee has the right to celebrate their faith’s festival in the workplace if they request. To deny that could result in litigation under the Employment Equality (Religious Belief) Regulations.

Secondly, employers are responsible for what happens at a Christmas party and so should make it clear that severe disciplinary action will be taken if necessary.

“Employers must remember that Christmas parties are simply an extension of the workplace, and the same disciplinary procedures apply,” said Huss.

“By banning them altogether employers are simply watching their backs and protecting their own interests. However, Christmas parties are a traditional event; and a chance for members of staff to let their hair down after 12 months of hard graft.”