One employee was appalled when her bosses sent out a Christmas hamper and demanded it be returned and was told she could donate it to a food bank instead if she did not want it
20:16, 20 Dec 2025Updated 22:15, 20 Dec 2025
Employees claimed their employers had not behaved in the Christmas spirit(Image: Getty Images)
HR bosses have issued a warning to employers across the UK, saying that Christmas is not always a time of goodwill to all.
They noted instances where employees took their employers to tribunals in rows over festive activities. One woman, called Miss H Bell, was appalled at being sent a Christmas hamper, she demanded it be returned and launched into a tit-for-tat email row with bosses.
Bell, a qualified solicitor working for a legal firm called Carpenters in Liverpool, claimed unfair dismissal at a January hearing. The tribunal heard how she was on furlough at the time when the Christmas hamper, which was sent to all staff, arrived at her home in December 2020.
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She was also ‘invited’ to a festive works party on Zoom. When she contacted bosses to complain that she didn’t want the hamper, she was told she could ‘donate it to a food bank’ if she didn’t want it.
Miss Bell, who resigned from her job as a legal training manager in August 2023, claimed constructively unfairly dismissal due to ‘several allegations’. Among them included her role in the company as it expanded, tension between her and her manager, as well as the ‘hamper incident’.
The tribunal was told: “Surprisingly, she (Miss Bell) was unhappy to receive the hamper which had been sent by Carpenters to all staff in December 2020 so that they could collectively join in a remote Christmas party. “She told HR on 11 December 2020 that she wanted to return the hamper and was encouraged to donate it to a food bank if she did not want it.”
The tribunal ruled against Miss Bell. In another instance a black worker, a woman called E William, took her employers to tribunal after she heard a group laughing about buying a ‘black Christmas tree’.
She claimed that her employers, pharmacists L Rowland & Co Ltd, did not protect her from victimisation, and that she was racially and religiously discriminated against. The tribunal heard how E William – a pharmacy technician in Inverness – told bosses she did not celebrate Christmas and was a ‘Daughter of Eve’, an American-based church.
She said she felt ‘pressured’ to attend a works Christmas party, and said she heard employees laughing about buying a black Christmas tree for the office. The tribunal, heard last December, was told how the claimant – Miss William – overheard three staff members discussing the purchase of an artificial black-coloured Christmas tree from Argos.
She claimed that one employee reacted to idea of buying a black tree by calling it ‘ugly’ and saying ‘Yuck!, which Miss E William said was ‘directed at her’, claiming the language was ‘racially motivated’. The tribunal awarded her £7,500 for victimisation and injury to feelings, but did not find in favour of her claims of religious or race discrimination.
There were eight known tribunals related to Christmas and Christmas parties (Image: Getty Images)
The two cases were just some of those tracked down by HR consultants Hamilton Nash, which found that in 2025 there were eight employment tribunals citing Christmas and Christmas parties. They found that there were 12 Christmas-related tribunals in 2018, 16 in 2019, 14 in 2022, 22 in 2021, 10 in 2022, 14 in 2023, and 11 in 2024.
Another case heard how one worker at Lloyds Bank – called Jamilla Griffin – took her employers to tribunal after being handed an ‘Always Late’ prank award at a Christmas party. She alleged discrimination on the grounds of race and disability, but in the end withdrew the claim.
A spokesman for Hamilton Nash said this week: “Christmas parties have been cited in eight employment tribunals already this year, down from the 11 cases decided last year. We are warning businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector, to be extra vigilant this year.
“The new Worker Protection Act 2023 lets workers file claims for sexual harassment by third parties such as customers or visitors to the employer’s premises.” Jim Moore, employee relations expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, said: “The traditional office Christmas party can be a minefield for businesses.
“There’s so much that can go wrong, as these employment tribunals show. We’ve seen cases this year of furloughed employees reacting furiously to being sent a Christmas hamper, and bad reactions to getting an ‘always late’ awards at a festive party.
“More seriously, there have also been company bosses assaulting employees and sexual harassment cases that began at Christmas parties. Employers need to remember that Christmas parties are officially work events, and they can be found vicariously liable for misbehaviour that happens on their watch.”
He added: “We’re concerned that too many businesses may not be aware of their obligations under the Worker Protection Act 2023. For example, a hospitality employer is potentially liable for sexual harassment against their staff by intoxicated Christmas party revellers.
“Companies that aren’t clear how they need to protect their staff from sexual harassment should get advice from an HR consultant as soon as possible, and make sure their Christmas party doesn’t end up in court.”