Many Young Workers Positive about Yr-End Parties with Colleagues

Tokyo, Dec. 15 (Jiji Press)–Over 70 pct of workers in their 20s and 30s want to attend year-end parties with colleagues, a private-sector survey has shown. Those positive about such parties accounted for 73.6 pct of respondents in their 20s and 74.7 pct of those in their 30s, according to the survey conducted in late October by Nonpi Inc., a Tokyo-based operator of employee cafeterias and other food-related services. But older workers are less eager. The proportion stood at 64.4 pct among respondents in their 40s and 60.0 pct among those in their 50s. The figure for all age groups was 68.2 pct. The internet poll covered workers aged between 20 and 59 who work in Tokyo and live in the Tokyo metropolitan area, also including Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures. Valid responses came from 362 people. Asked to give one or more reasons for their interest in year-end parties, 62.2 pct of overall respondents said they want to socialize with colleagues. Among respondents in their 20s, 59.7 pct said they want to enjoy food and alcohol, exceeding 58.2 pct who give weight to socializing. The two reasons came in this order only for this age group. When respondents negative about attending year-end parties were asked why, over 60 pct in their 20s to 40s said they would not feel relaxed. A Nonpi official said the younger generation may have growing interest in opportunities for enjoying a wide variety of food and drinks after a lack of drinking parties during the COVID-19 pandemic. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]