Is it time to ditch Secret Santa?

Over a quarter (27%) of workers have admitted they think workplace Secret Santa is a waste of time and money.

Despite it being the season for gifting and goodwill, only a quarter (25%) of UK workers on average appreciate the presents they anonymously receive from colleagues, and one in five said they’d rather have a gift card than any gift at all.


What employees really want for Christmas, according to reward provider Appreciate:


The spirit of Secret Santa is felt more by women (31%) than men (17%), yet it causes stress for both (21% of women vs 12% of men).

Regionally, Londoners (25%) are the most stressed about what to buy for Secret Santa, followed by those in the Northwest (21%).

Is it bah humbug then to bath bombs, booze and chocolate?

Not quite, given nearly a quarter (23%) of UK workers are keeping the spirit alive as they enjoy keeping up the tradition.

This survey of Secret Santa preferences was taken by YouGov on the behalf of corporate reward provider Appreciate between 11 and 19 November 2021. It worked with a UK representative sample size of 1,000 adults aged 18 and above.