Secret Santa is a major way for companies to sell cheap gifts and many companies endorse it as a fun way to end the working year. But many Britons, it seems, are over it as 2.5 million unwanted Secret Santa gifts go straight in the bin.

That adds up to gifts that cost more that £32 million and also exacerbates the huge waste load that the festive season creates.

A study by gifting specialist Love2shop claims “most employees are fed up with the annual Secret Santa memo and prefer to spend on priority festive outgoings like food and gifts for family “.

In fact, only 44% will take part this year, compared to 50% in 2023.  For those who do take part, the average cost of a gift is £14, but it’s up to £35 among younger people. 

And while the aforementioned £32 million worth of gifts are binned, workers would prefer a gift card they can spend as they wish, although that would rather go against the ‘fun’ Secret Santa concept.

A number of people Love2shop spoke to said they see Secret Santa “as an extra festive expense they could do without as the cost the living rises, with an increasing number now opting out”.

As for the costs of gifts mentioned above, older people tend to spend more modest amount than the £14 average, with 55-64 year-olds intending to spend on average just £10.

The only age-group embracing the tradition with enthusiasm is 18-24 year-olds who this year “are splashing the cash, increasing their average gift value from £23 up to £35”.

“Secret Santa is just another tradition that is losing relevance in the modern workplace. Not only is it another expense at this time of year, but our study has shown it has a wider impact too,” said Frank Creighton, director of business development for Love2shop. “Millions of unwanted gifts are thrown away and have a negative environmental impact too.”

Interestingly too, the research looked at office Christmas parties and found more workers than ever (63%) don’t want a festive celebration this year – a 7% increase on 2023.

Some 87% of workers would choose a Christmas bonus or gift card over a staff party in 2024 – up 4% from 83% last year. HMRC actually allows businesses to give each employee a non-cash gift up to the value of £50 with no paperwork, no National Insurance contribution and no tax. It’s called the Trivial Benefits provision.