Fear of compensation claims is causing many businesses to cancel their Christmas parties this year, according to Croner, which has issued top rules of the Yule.

Richard Smith, employment services director at Croner, says: “Alarmist reports of the legal risks of Christmas parties, such as boozy brawls, festive flirting and festering finger-food, are creating a nanny state, causing bosses to cancel Christmas altogether. Innocent employers end up looking like Ebenezer Scrooge, but who can blame them in today’s so-called ‘compensation culture’?”

“What employers need to remember is that safety and employment laws are not intended to be a killjoy or a trap. They exist to make the working environment a safer and more pleasant place.”

Croner’s Top Rules of the Yule include setting a party policy and have behavioural guidelines in place. It also suggests identify potential hazards, including inspecting the venue to plan for drunken slips and trips, considering the safety of people going home after the event. Finally, it advises companies not to expect miracles the morning after.