Dreading your office party?

The office Christmas party is the biggest festive nightmare for British workers, according to a new report.

Almost half of the people polled in a workplace survey - 46 per cent - dread the Christmas meal laid on by their company. They fear their bosses will follow in the footsteps of Ricky Gervais's creation David Brent in the television series The Office and make spectacles of themselves.

Forty per cent felt they would be bored, while 18 per cent were concerned they would have to be on their best behaviour.

But a further 18 per cent were brutally honest - complaining they simply did not like their colleagues. The survey, conducted by YouGov for the Waitrose supermarket chain, also reveals almost a quarter (24 per cent) now consume three Christmas meals in December. More than one in 10 tuck into five festive meals, with young people likely to eat the most. But all that turkey does not turn Britons off the traditional Christmas Day family gathering - despite complaints of boredom and rows.

Ninety-one per cent of the 1,583 questioned expect to have at least one meal with their families over Christmas and the New Year, with 55 per cent insisting they will be eating their main meal with relatives.

The figure is lower among the 18 to 29 age group: just over half name the family meal as their favourite, and 23 per cent believe dinner with the relatives will be their least enjoyable. One in six admit they are dreading the family gathering, with 27 per cent fearing someone will start an argument and ruin the day. Fortyone per cent simply feel it will be a bore.

The in-laws are still the seasonal problem. Almost one in five of those surveyed are least looking forward to Christmas with their partner's family. More than half are dreading a row and almost one in five confess to not liking the other guests at all.

It seems mothers still reign in the kitchen at Christmas, catering for 30 per cent of those polled - although 22 per cent claim there is a joint family effort. Only five per cent of fathers don the apron, it is revealed.

Waitrose's Mark Price said: "Food is a great healer. Despite the seasonal pitfalls of stress, rows and boredom, one key element essential in ensuring a successful celebration is good food. If you are going to be sitting down to three or more Christmas meals this season, you need to enjoy fantastic food."