An alarming report from WalkSafe found that half of women and nearly a third of men will swerve festive bashes over concerns for their welfare. Younger people are the most worried
Half of women will avoid Christmas parties this festive season over safety fears, a new study has revealed.
A shocking 49% of women and almost a third of men – 31% – will turn their back on Christmas parties over worries for their welfare at social events and on their commute.
Troubling new research from WalkSafe, the UK’s leading personal safety app, found that younger people were the most worried this party season with 49% of Gen Z – 18-27-year-olds – and 46% of millennials – 28 to 43-year-olds – saying they will avoid bashes this year over safety concerns.
As tens of millions of UK companies start to host Christmas get togethers, more than 44% of workers say festive events make them care more about their personal safety while 44% of women also said drinking increases their concerns for travelling home. Alarmingly, the new data revealed a fifth of men and women had been harassed on their commute to and from work and functions, rising to a third among Gen Z workers.
It comes as the second part of the Angiolini Report – an independent review into the failings of the Met Police before their off-duty officer Wayne Couzens murdered Sarah Everard on her way home in 2021 – is released on Tuesday (December 2). The report will focus on the extent to which existing measures prevent sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces.
Emma Kay, Founder of WalkSafe, which saw hundreds of thousands of downloads in the wake of Sarah’s death, said: “Christmas and the party season that traditionally comes with it should be a time to be enjoyed, catch up with colleagues and friends and celebrate the year. People should be able to let their hair down without worrying about their safety and whether they will make it home.
“Sadly, this research shows women, men and especially young people do not feel safe at festive events or travelling to and from them in the darker, winter nights. This is likely down to more people being out later at night, more alcohol being consumed and people becoming less inhibited.
“This is simply not right and shows a failure in how employers are looking after their workers in some cases. More has to be done and action should be taken now by employers.”
Employees from the West Midlands topped the poll for the region with workers most likely to avoid the office party over safety reasons – with 51% saying they wouldn’t attend. This was followed by 45% from London and 41 per cent from the North West of England.
Brighton (49%) was the city with the most workers shunning the annual festive get-together, followed by employees from Birmingham (48%) and London (45%).
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
#women #avoid #Christmas #parties #fears #safety #home
