Why Office Holiday Parties Are Sobering Up This Year

To booze or not to booze? That is the question companies are grappling with as they gear up for their corporate holiday parties this year.

These festivities are typically a time to let loose, bond with your coworkers and celebrate the past year's successes, but recent reports of sexual assault in the workplace (and in Hollywood) might be causing companies to rethink their game plans this year, cutting back on alcohol or eliminating it all together.

Tell us: Is your company serving alcohol at your holiday party this year?

A recent study conducted by outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas, Inc found that less than 49 percent of employers will be serving alcohol at their holiday parties this year. That's almost a 62-percent decrease from the amount of company holiday parties serving alcohol in 2016. More companies are also hosting their parties during the workday, hoping that an early end to the event will discourage heavy drinking.

The firm's Vice President Andrew Challenger thinks that the recent headlines about workplace sexual misconduct have contributed to companies' decisions to cut back this year.

"Employers are currently very wary of creating an environment where inappropriate contact between employees could occur," he said, adding, "The company party is a way for employers to celebrate the accomplishments of their workers. It should boost morale and let workers know they are valued. It should not put anyone in an uncomfortable situation."

Some companies' new holiday party policies are actually a direct result of sexual misconduct allegations. Vox Media, who fired editorial director Lockhart Steel for sexual harassment in October, will be giving each employee just two drink tickets in lieu of an open bar.

In a corporate email obtained by Huffington Post, Vox wrote, "We recognize that even though alcohol isn’t always the reason for unprofessional behavior, creating an environment that encourages overconsumption certainly contributes to it. We hope that you all appreciate the spirit of this change and we look forward to celebrating with you!"

Other companies are not letting the "Weinstein effect" deter them from hosting end of year bashes. In Silicon Valley, some offices are even hiring models to attend their parties, where they'll mingle with guests and, presumably, serve as eye candy. Local agency Cre8 Agency LLC sent 25 attractive female models and five male models to one undisclosed corporate shindig earlier this month. All of them were handpicked based on photos, made to sign nondisclosure agreements and told to tell employees they were a guest of one of their coworkers, reports Bloomberg.

Of course, hosting sober holiday parties will not eradicate sexual assault in the workplace — that ultimately depends on a safe company culture that protects victims and takes action when complaints are filed. Still, less alcohol at corporate events does mean fewer hangovers and bad karaoke performances, which is something to be thankful for.

Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images