Employees report mixed feelings around workplace socials, data shows

While workplace socials remain a central feature of company culture, many employees feel pressure to attend and prefer more inclusive formats, research from Capital on Tap revealed.

The survey of 2,000 UK workers examined attitudes toward social events and regional differences in participation.

Employees in southern cities attend the most workplace socials, with Southampton leading at an average of 4.6 events per year, followed by Bristol at 4.1 and Plymouth at 3.6.

London-based employees attend an average of 3.4 events annually.

Lower attendance was recorded in Liverpool at 1.4, Glasgow at 2.3 and Brighton at 2.4, suggesting that smaller or more dispersed teams have fewer social interactions outside core working hours.

The findings indicated a growing divide between those who see value in socials and those who feel uncomfortable about attending.

Nearly half of employees say socials contribute to a positive workplace culture, and more than half believe these events help them connect with colleagues they would not normally work with.

However, 35.6% of workers said they feel pressured to attend, and 34.2% worried they will be judged if they choose not to.