(MENAFN- EIN Presswire) EINPresswire/ -- As companies across Australia start planning their end-of-year celebrations, new research from GroupTogether reveals a surprising truth: not everyone is counting down the days to the office Christmas party.

In a survey of 541 Australian workers, only 30.7% said they can't wait for their EOY event. The majority landed somewhere between lukewarm and reluctant - with 37.3% saying“It's fine”, 8.3% attending out of obligation and 5.9% openly dreading it. Another 17.7% said they're not having a party at all.

And when it comes to what type of celebration employees actually want? Smaller, simpler and less forced fun came out on top.

The Data: How Employees Feel About the EOY Work Party
- It's fine: 37.3%
- I can't wait: 30.7%
- We're not having one: 17.7%
- I go because I have to: 8.3%
- I'm dreading it: 5.9%

The Data: What Kind of Party Employees Prefer
- Team lunch (immediate team): 26%
- Activity (escape room, cooking class, etc.): 22.5%
- Don't care as long as there's food & drinks: 21.4%
- Big event (department/company-wide): 18.3%
- No party, leave early: 11.8%

GroupTogether Co-Founder Ali Linz says the results echo a broader shift in how employees want to wrap up the year.

“A lot of people enjoy a party - but just as many don't want the big, company-wide event,” says Linz.“Smaller, low-pressure celebrations are winning out. And if you really want to make people feel valued? Give them something they actually want, a gift card with a personal card.”

With workplaces increasingly catering to hybrid teams and more flexibility, many businesses are now pairing simpler celebrations with more practical, personalised year-end gifts.

To support this shift, GroupTogether's eGift Card platform allows companies to send 1 or 1,000+ customised eGift Cards in minutes - perfect for teams who'd rather skip the big bash altogether.

Why workplaces are sending end-of-year gifts with GroupTogether:
- Send the AnyCard, the recipient can choose from 100+ eGift Card brands.
- Personalised digital gift experience for every employee.
- Add your company logo and unique message.
- Track delivery and resend as needed.
- No platform fees and no minimum spend.
- Works for hybrid, remote and national teams.
- Send holiday eGift Cards to your whole team in 5 mins. So easy.

“Whether you're having a party, a small lunch or nothing at all, you can still finish the year on a high,” says Julie Tylman, GroupTogether Co-Founder.“A simple, thoughtful gift & note goes a long way.”

About GroupTogether
GroupTogether is Australia's leading platform for office celebrations, used by more than 1 million people from Westpac to Atlassian. Designed to make gifting easy and meaningful, GroupTogether helps workplaces organise gift collections, group cards and eGift Cards with zero hassle - for birthdays, farewells, milestones, EOY gifts and more.

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