The Christmas Party 'Sickie' Hangovers Will Cost The UK Economy £620 Million This Festive Season

THE office Christmas party season will be in full swing this week, with 65% of workers attending on average 2 work events over the next few days. However this revelry will cost the UK economy £620 million, due to hung-over Britons pulling a ‘Hangover Sickie’- according to new research out by Travelodge.

The poll of 6,000 adults revealed British workers predict that their productivity will halve in the lead-up to Christmas. On average they will spend 3 hours and 5 minutes just staring into space; due to a raging hangover – after their annual Christmas party.

Further findings revealed despite the recession, 38% of UK businesses are paying for their employees Christmas party this year. Whilst 31% of respondents stated they are paying out of their own pockets for their Christmas bash this year.  (In 2009 - 45% of UK companies paid for their employees Christmas party and 25% of workers had to pay for their own Christmas party).  26% of British workers reported as a result of the stresses of 2010 they are more likely to get more drunk than usual at their Christmas party this year.

Employees will drink on average 7.3 units of alcohol at their Christmas party; men plan to drink an average of 9.6 units, nearly 3 times the recommended limit for men of 3 to 4 units per day. Women say they are likely to drink an average of 5.6 units -well over twice the recommended daily limit of 2 to 3 units.

Further research findings revealed a quarter of British workers have called in ‘sick’ due to a hangover even though one in ten callers were convinced their boss knew they were pulling a fast one. Only 10% of respondents stated they have been honest and told their boss they cannot come into work due to a raging hangover.  The top 3 illnesses Brits will use as a cover-up for a hangover in order to pull a ‘sickie day are; they have got food poisoning, they have a 24- hour bug / virus or they are suffering from a migraine.

Hung-over workers should expect ‘no sympathy’ from colleagues as 30% of respondents reported they get annoyed, when a team member is off due to a self inflicted illness resulting from a ‘night out’.  Worryingly 26% of respondents admitted to driving into work despite having a severe hangover and freely admitted that they could well be over the legal drink and driving limit.   Once at work, kipping is high on the agenda for ‘fragile’ workers as 46% of respondents admitted to a catnap at work after a ‘big night out’. The top five locations for a sneaky kip at work are:

1. At the desk or under the desk
2. In the toilets
3. In the car
4. In the staff room / canteen
5. In the board room or stationery cupboard

25% of respondents also stated they have managed to drag themselves into work after a heavy night out and pretended to be sick, so that they could be sent home to bed to nurse their hangover.

The Travelodge poll also revealed the top remedies Brits take to combat a hangover in the workplace. The top five cures being:

1. Sneaky catnap at work
2. Full English breakfast
3. Painkillers
4. Coke Cola (full fat version)
5. Hair of the dog

Leigh McCarron, Travelodge Sleep Director said:- “The office Christmas party is a longstanding British institution. After what has been a stressful year for many it’s understandable; workers want to let their hair down this festive season. To ensure productivity levels remain high in the lead up to Christmas, it’s vital workers ensure they are getting a good night’s sleep as part of their festive line up of activities. Working and playing hard will unsettle your sleep pattern and although one night’s of lost sleep is no big deal but two or three nights; can create an unhealthy deficit towards your well being and affect your decision-making abilities.  Its not just sleep that can cure the effects of a big night out, it’s also what you do before and after. Avoid drinking alcohol three hours before bed. While it does make you sleepy, it interferes with your quality of sleep. Always drink plenty of water before going to bed and first thing in the morning and eat a healthy breakfast."

The research also revealed 20% of British workers have taken a day’s holiday after their Christmas work’s bash this year - so that they can nurse their hangover guilt free.  For the annual Christmas office party this year, women will be splashing out on average £76.50 on a new frock and £41.22 on new shoes to go with it.

Listed below are range of tried and tested hangover cures by celebrities:-

Dannii Minogue:- “My perfect hangover cure is putting a scraping of vegemite and grated cheese on toast and then grilling it”

Kylie Minogue:- Favourite hangover cure - It has to be egg sandwiches. I love them."

Nigella Lawson:- Favourite hangover cure is “Prairie Oyster” which consists of an egg yolk, tabasco, worcester sauce, brandy and vinegar - you have to swallow it down in one gulp.

Dermot O’Leary:- “My hangovers get worse the older I get, so the only way to get over a hangover is to stay horizontal the next day”.

Marco Pierre White:- “I have a late night curry after a few pints to protect against getting a terrible hangover the next day "

Kirsty Gallagher:- "If I do get a hangover I drink loads of water and eat every hour. I also take a vitamin B supplement called Berocca".

Will Mellor:- “Take a 2-litre bottle of water to bed with you and sip it throughout the night."

Southport Brothers Scoop Top Business Award

2 brothers from Southport have been crowned the Wigan and Greater Manchester ‘Entrepreneurs of the Year 2010’ at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Tom and Richard Cropper, who were born and bred in Southport, fought off stiff competition from the four shortlisted companies to scoop the top honour for Farmshed, their organic home delivery company. 

The brothers founded the business in December 2007 and have seen rapid growth in the first three years of trading. Based in Wigan, The Farmshed provides customers with organic, farm fresh fruit and vegetables, organically reared meat and sustainably sourced fish. The company also offers a wide array of products from beer and cider to baby food – all of which is delivered directly to customers’ doors in re-useable boxes.

The judges were particularly impressed with the ethical approach that The Farmshed applies in its business. Coupled with its innovative and flexible franchise offering, the entrepreneurs have enabled growth, which has far surpassed the industry.

The start of The Farmshed’s franchise network has enabled the business to grow into new territories and increase employment across all areas of the company. It has also given new opportunities to people who may have been made redundant due to the recession.

Tom Cropper, commercial director, said:- “We’re extremely proud to have been recognised for our efforts of the last three years and we’d like to thank our dedicated team and all our loyal customers for their support.”

Caught out by the energy price hikes? Now’s the time to cash in on green power

ENERGY price hikes are hitting home just as we brace ourselves for the next round of winter snow and blizzards. So it may seem strange to be thinking about solar power but this proven technology is the best way to keep your bills under control in the future and to get some cash back from the government. Homeowners who have already installed solar panels have been benefiting from free electricity and getting the first quarterly- or half-yearly payments under the Government’s Feed-in Tariff scheme.

Anyone with a broadly south-facing and sloping roof all over the country may well find that their homes are suitable for PV panels because the panels are driven by solar energy, and do not need direct sunshine. So now is the time to think seriously about joining the green revolution, according to The Low Carbon Energy Company.

The Scheme, introduced on 1 April, pays homeowners for the energy they produce for their own use and that which they contribute to the National Grid. Electricity generated by PV panels is free but has to be used at the time it is produced and cannot be stored. So it is logical that any power that cannot not be used by homeowners is exported to the National Grid, where it can to contribute to the UK’s overall reduction in carbon emissions.

The Government makes the decision to install panels easier, even when a loan is needed to fund the initial installation, because the Feed-in Tariff system is guaranteed for 25 years and will generate a healthy profit over the long term. Not surprisingly, there have been an estimated 6,000 PV panel installations under the scheme to date.

“Tariff rates are at their most attractive at the moment, but are scheduled for review in two years time, so now is the time to act and secure the best return on your investment. We calculate that a PV panel installation can return as much as 9% over the long term, a far better investment than an ISA or National Savings – and you start to see the money within a few months. The rate you agree with your local utility company will apply over the full 25 years and will be indexed in line with inflation, so now is a good time to find out if PV panels are right you.” says Richard Garth-Jones of renewable energy advisers and installers The Low Carbon Energy Company.   The Low Carbon Energy Company has a geographical information system that enables it to give you an instant answer on whether or not your home is suitable for PV panels. Visit them on their website.

Snow brings added dangers to horses

HORSE owners need to be aware of the danger posed by poisonous tree branches becoming within reach because of heavy snow fall. The warning comes from The British Horse Society, following the tragic death of a horse in Scotland as a result of yew poisoning. Sue Kilby, Welfare Representative on the BHS Scotland Committee, explains:- “A heavy fall of snow can change the configuration of tree lines and woods and hungry, curious equines will snatch at any foliage that comes within reach. We would urge all horse owners to be alert to this unexpected sort of danger – fallen electrical cables are another hazard that we need to look out for in this type of weather.” For more information on keeping you and your horse safe this winter please visit the BHS website. In particular a list of commonly found toxic trees is available from the BHS pasture management advisory leaflet available on that site.