Press Release
“I’d rather get a root canal”
New study: 1 in 4 U.S. workers dread the office holiday party
Press Release
“I’d rather get a root canal”: 1 in 4 U.S. workers dread the office holiday party
• 1 in 4 U.S. workers would rather have a root canal than attend the office holiday party
• 1 in 3 would rather go to the dentist, for any treatment
• Men and Northeasterners top the party dread rankings
• National poll is latest sign of “The Great Disconnection”
• Psychologist: “The Great Disconnection isn’t going anywhere, unless we address it.”
• Sunny’s new white paper on workplace disconnection says:
> Hybrid working, AI and multi-generation workforce are all drivers
> Connection is key to engagement, trust, and performance
Over one in four (27%) U.S. workers would rather have root canal work than attend the office holiday party, according to a new national poll. One in three (33%) would rather go to the dentist for any reason than the office bash.
Men and Northeasterners dread the office party most, finds the nationally representative poll of 1,155 full-time employees conducted by independent pollsters Censuswide, on behalf of Sunny, a non-profit tackling the modern crisis of social connection in both our working and daily lives.
“Our poll findings are fresh evidence of ‘The Great Disconnection’ – the ever-growing signs of workplace disengagement,” says Dr. Iain Smith, industrial psychologist and Sunny’s Head of Behavioral Science.
Or might it just be evidence that office parties are grim? But other findings of Sunny’s poll tend to support Dr. Smith’s view: 40% of U.S. employees, for example, would also “rather go to the dentist than socialize after hours with my boss.”
The Great Disconnection at work commonly refers to the growing sense of disconnection among workers. Energized by Design, Sunny’s new white paper on social connection at work, blames factors including hybrid working, AI tools, and the multi-generational workforce.
“But unlike ‘the Great Resignation’ during Covid, the Great Disconnection isn’t going anywhere, unless we address it,” says Dr. Smith. “It doesn’t take much. You can design connection back into how teams are already working, so they stop running on social empty.”
Sunny’s new white paper cites several other recent studies that all confirm the same trend.
• 41% of Americans report feeling lonely, according to the 2024 report, Social Connection in the Modern World: Insights from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey.
• Gen Z workers are the loneliest of all. Nearly half (45%) of workers aged 18-25 say they regularly feel lonely at work – way more than any other age group, according to a 2024 Harris poll for the American Psychological Society.
• 42% of employees say work friendships directly contribute to their resilience in tough times, according to a 2024 study by KPMG, Workplace Friendships Play a Critical Role in Employee Mental Health, Job Satisfaction
“Work is a contact sport,” says Dr. Smith. “The right interactions create the chemistry teams need to perform.”
Sunny’s new poll also found clear differences between social groups:
• 30% of men would rather get a root canal than go to the office party, vs just 23% of women.
Northeasterners lead the party-shy, with 36% preferring a dental visit over their office holiday party, vs. just 29% in the Midwest.
“You can’t Zoom your way to an engaged culture,” says Betsy Parker, Sunny’s CEO. “Connection takes design, not just calendar invites.
“Modern offices optimize for output over connection,” adds Parker. “But social connection at work isn’t a luxury; it’s the fuel that powers performance, trust, and engagement.” All keys, in fact, to a great office holiday party.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
Methodology:
The Sunny poll figures are based on a nationally representative poll of 1,155 full-time U.S. employees aged 18+, fielded November 12-17, 2025. The research was conducted by Censuswide, an independent pollster, which abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles.
Respondents were asked the question, “To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements:
• “I’d rather have root canal work than go to an office or work holiday party”
• ”I’d rather go to the dentist than to an office or work holiday party”
• ”I’d rather go to the dentist than socialize after hours with my boss”
ABOUT SUNNY
In a world that’s more digital yet lonelier than ever, Sunny provides science-backed solutions to help people improve their social lives and fuel meaningful connection. Its Sunny Workplace™ platform, built into the flow of work, reignites team connection and vibrancy from the inside out. Sunny’s free app for consumers tracks and boosts your Social Battery™, while offering simple steps to connect. Sunny’s purpose-over-profit model means it reinvests every dollar into expanding its reach and impact.
