Across the nation, how festive fun is on hold
AMID conflicting advice, employers have lost confidence and there is now a flood of Christmas party cancellations.
THE NHS
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust All staff parties have been postponed until next year. Newham Clinical Commissioning Group GP practices have called off their celebrations. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Small department parties can go ahead but some, including paediatrics, have cancelled. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust No trust-wide guidance but some providers reporting cancelled parties. Hampshire GP practices No Trust guidance but some surgeries are cancelling. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Scaled back. No large parties – but individual teams can decide whether to go ahead.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
No change. Parties on departmental basis, as normal.
PUBLIC SECTOR The BBC
Many departments, including news, have cancelled office parties, claim staff.
The Government’s departments
Scaled back. There will be no department-wide parties and it is down to individual teams to decide how to celebrate.
The Metropolitan Police
Scaled back. There are no plans for an office-wide Christmas party this year. Down to individual departments.
National Highways
Scaled back. No party was planned but smaller gatherings are expected, with lateral flow tests encouraged.
TECH SECTOR
Google Cancelled. All gatherings have been moved to next year and limited to 15 people.
Microsoft
Cancelled and replaced with a ‘virtual party’
UNIVERSITIES AND CHARITIES University College London
All parties have been cancelled or postponed.
Age UK
Face-to-face Christmas parties have been called off.
BANKS Lloyds
Cancelled. Bosses held their Christmas party in the summer instead in anticipation of winter chaos.
HSBC
Scaled back. Staff have not been asked to cancel their team Christmas parties but some have opted for virtual events instead.
NatWest
Additional measures. Individual teams organising parties
as usual with lateral flow tests recommended.
FINANCE AND INSURANCE Deloitte
Scaled back. Smaller teams can hold parties.
EY
Scaled back. Smaller group celebrations and face coverings must be worn. PwC Scaled back. Plans for smaller parties subject to consent of department heads.
KPMG
Scaled back. Parties will be on a group by group basis.
LAW FIRMS
Slaughter and May Scaled back. Smaller team parties only, which was decided before Omicron.
Ashurst
Scaled back. Lateral flow tests before smaller, teambased parties.