Is the work Christmas party really worth it?

Whether it is Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Happy Holidays, companies are getting festive this time of the year, but has the way we view the holiday season changed? 

The way companies view the festive season varies not only country to country, but business to business. Some companies gladly accept Christmas gifts from clients or suppliers as a thank you for the year, while others frown upon it. Some companies go all out for their Christmas party, whilst others keep it low key or don't do anything at all. The conversation that a lot of people will be having this time of year is "what's your company doing for Christmas?"

It seems that after cost cutting through the credit crunch some big companies are making their Christmas budget bigger than ever. Google employees were treated to a Ferris wheel, ice rink and a whole room dedicated to balloons! The theme was New York and they even had actors dressed as New York Cops riding round on police horses. The whole extravaganza was rumoured to cost €300,000!  While most of us would be happy with a hot meal and a glass of wine it seems some companies go all out this time of the year.

Is the Christmas party a good thing or a bad thing? I think the end of year Christmas party is a nice way of showing employees your appreciation for their hard work throughout the year, but should we need that? Should it be left to the office Christmas party to show your appreciation or is it all just about getting together as a company and letting your hair down and forgetting about stress for one evening a year?

Whatever you do this year whether it’s a buffet in the office or an all-out extravaganza enjoy it, but remember, if your outing is on a work night and the next morning you ring with "the flu" your employer might be a little suspicious!

Kubo would love to know what your doing this year! Leave your comments below!

New report shows Malaria death rate halved since 2000!

This week the World Malaria Report for 2014 was released and showed deaths as a result of Malaria have halved between 2000 and 2013, saving an estimated 4.3 million lives. 

New bed nets with insecticides that kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes have been introduced to Malaria infected areas that last up to 5 years. In 2004 only 3% of those that were at risk and needed a mosquito net had access to one, now that number has risen to 50%.

Medical advances have also played a major part.The use of rapid diagnostic tests has risen significantly from what it was in 2000. 400 million patients received the treatments last year, compared to only 11 million in 2000.

Bed nets, along with rapid diagnosis of the disease and a drug called Artemisinins, have all contributed to the achievements in this week’s report released by World Malaria. 

In sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of malaria deaths occur, new infections have fallen by 26% from 173 million in 2000 to 128 million last year, despite a 43% increase in population.

Each year, more people are being reached with life-saving malaria interventions, the World Health Organisation says. World Health Organisation director general, Dr Margaret Chan said: "These tremendous achievements are the result of improved tools, increased political commitment, the burgeoning of regional initiatives, and a major increase in international and domestic financing. She added: "We must not be complacent. Most malaria-endemic countries are still far from achieving universal coverage with life-saving malaria interventions."

Although malaria funding totalled $2.7bn (£1.7bn) in 2013 - a threefold increase since 2005 - it is still significantly below the $5.1bn needed to achieve global targets for malaria control and elimination, says the World Health Organisation. 

The world’s first malaria vaccine is on track for a 2016 launch after British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline submitted its treatment to EU regulators this year.