Energy giant Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, has sparked outrage by cancelling Christmas celebrations for its entire workforce while simultaneously hosting an exclusive black-tie event for senior staff and management.
Christmas Cancelled for 21,000 Staff
The company has informed its 21,000 employees that it will not be funding the traditional £35 per person Christmas party contribution this year. This decision comes despite Centrica reporting substantial operating profits of £1.7 billion in 2024, with £427 million generated specifically by British Gas.
In a message to staff, Jill Shedden, Centrica's chief people officer, explained the move was made "in light of the difficult decisions we are making to improve the efficiency of the organisation". She acknowledged that "festive celebrations are appreciated by many" but stated the decision "has not been taken lightly".
Instead of traditional parties, staff were encouraged to find "locally relevant ways to celebrate", including sending "virtual messages of appreciation" and volunteering.
Exclusive Celebration for Select Few
While most employees face cancelled festivities, the company organised a swanky black-tie event at the upmarket Park Plaza hotel in Westminster on Saturday, November 15th. The venue is located just a stone's throw from the Houses of Parliament.
The exclusive gathering was understood to be for several hundred people including members of the sales team, senior management, and their partners. The event was designed to "celebrate their successes" according to sources.
A Centrica spokesperson later clarified that "the event this week is not a Christmas party", though they declined to specify what type of celebration it represented.
Redundancies and Executive Pay Compound Controversy
The party cancellations come amid plans for more than 200 redundancies at British Gas, adding to employee frustration about the perceived inequality in treatment.
Further fuelling the controversy is the revelation that Centrica boss Chris O'Shea received £4.3 million in pay and perks last year, following an £8.3 million package in 2023. Mr O'Shea himself admitted during a BBC interview in early 2024 that it was "impossible to justify" his substantial compensation.
Andy Prendergast, national secretary at the GMB union, slammed the situation as "breathtaking". He stated: "It's breathtaking a company like this can hold exclusive black tie events for some, whilst cancelling Christmas for everyone else."
Prendergast added: "At a time when hundreds of staff are facing redundancy, the knowledge that others will be quaffing free champagne simply adds insult to injury. With profits in the billions, it's disgraceful to be cutting hundreds of jobs before, and cancelling hard earned Christmas dinners just makes it worse."
The union representative emphasised that the company should be focusing energies on preventing compulsory redundancies rather than "spending huge sums to celebrate what can only be described as failure".
