Workplaces set to party up large across the Tasman

Australia leads New Zealand in leisure time, longevity and house size, according to a new report, and it now seems they have better work Christmas parties than us as well.

Today The Australian newspaper reported Australian companies are forecast to spend more than $NZ715 million on Christmas events this year, a 76 per cent increase on the $407m spent the year before.

This figure comes from a report by business information analysts IBISWorld.

The number of Aussie workplaces popping the corks will increase from 67 per cent last Christmas to 92 per cent this year.

And the average spend per employee is forecast to jump from $90 last year to $125, The Australian says.

In contrast, New Zealand businesses appear to be scrounging on Christmas work parties.

The Great Catering Company owner Sue Fleischl says her corporate clients are continuing to tighten their belts, despite reports the recession is over.

"Last year they were all cancelling.

"They're downsizing this year, with two-hour cocktail parties instead of gala dinners," she says.

One new thing she has seen is companies combining client and staff functions to cut costs.

"They're doing it all in one."

She says she has lost a few clients this year, either due to companies' heavy cost cutting or going bust.

On hearing that out neighbours across the ditch are spending up large this year, she laughs.

"Wow. I'm going to Australia."

Warehouse Human Resource director Paul Walsh has no plans for an excessive bash.

"We will be spending the same amount as last year," he says.

He says the Warehouse annually has a basic barbecue on-site at their corporate office with salads, limited drinks and "very limited entertainment".

"That's what we do every year."

He says different teams have the option to bus around to different hotels after the barbecue, but that comes out of their own pocket, not The Warehouse's.

A spokesman from Telecom said the company's budget is slightly lower than last year and they are avoiding any extravagance.

Megan Alexander, general manager of finance and accounting at recruitment company Robert Half New Zealand, said many New Zealand businesses, large and small, have been struggling through the recession this year and looking at ways to cut costs.

"Some may be thinking that they simply can't afford a staff Christmas party," Ms Alexander says.

The amount of money spent on workplace Christmas parties is one more reason to look across the ditch with green eyes - a report yesterday by the Don Brash-led 2025 Taskforce said we have smaller houses, die sooner, have fewer cars and televisions and drink less fruit juice than our Aussie counterparts.