Christmas is cancelled this year - Scrooge

The season of goodwill has been replaced by a 'Scrooge mentality' in the engineering sector, with organisations resenting the idea of festive celebrations

The season of goodwill has been replaced by a 'Scrooge mentality' in the engineering sector, with organisations resenting the idea of festive celebrations.

Research released today by the Chartered Management Institute also shows that discrimination laws are having an impact on the number of organisations wanting to host Christmas parties and suggests that they are clamping down on the cost of parties.

Key findings include: Frozen funds: although the majority of organisations in the engineering sector still host parties, 1 in 4 make no financial contribution to the cost and 1 in 5 spend less than GBP20 per head.

Employers in Wales are the most generous, with those in the South East being the least.

Wary of repercussions: 1 in 3 organisations fear the impact of discrimination legislation, suggesting that tribunals will start to occur because of festive celebrations.

Others think the party season goes on too long and focus on the impact this has on work.

Forced fun: 1 in 3 individuals in the engineering sector questioned think that work-based parties have a forced atmosphere and some go as far as suggesting they are a waste of time.

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