Workers are less productive in December due to festivities, according to research.

Almost 60 per cent of staff in Brighton admitted working less throughout the month because of festive entertaining and stress over Christmas preparations.

They contribute to a national downturn in December of £8 billion in worker productivity, says research published today by catering company Avenance.

The findings show that from December 18, with five full working days to go, more than twofifths of the Brighton workforce have hit "festive fizzle-out".

This leaves staff spending more of their working hours worrying about Christmas festivities than work.

Reasons given for the downturn in Brighton's output included exhaustion, lack of motivation and hangovers.

More than 60 per cent of employees claimed they were less productive because they overindulged and ate and drank the wrong things.

One out of four expected to attend at least four gut-stretching Christmas lunches.

Nearly a quarter said they would drink more than one bottle of wine with each work-related Christmas lunch.

Avenance suggested businesses provide more fresh fruit and vegetables in the canteen and water within close reach.

Raffaella Piovesan, dietitian for Avenance, said: "Businesses can take some very simple steps to ensure that workers maintain their productivity in the Christmas period and have enough energy and a strong enough immune system to stay well and enjoy the Christmas break."

Tuesday, December 13, 2005