SURVEY SAYS: Is Your Firm Hosting a Holiday Party This Year?

Seventy-nine percent said yes, and 21% said no.  

Those who chose “other” indicated that holiday parties have been pared down to a potluck gathering or a luncheon.  

Here are the “other” responses: 

• We’re having a party, but it’s a no host gathering. Not mandatory. 
• On-site with no booze. 
• If you call a pot luck luncheon a party, I guess we are having one. I won’t be going. 
• Sort of – the Firm’s rented out a movie theatre, to show ‘The Polar Express’, with lunch and a visit from Santa, for the employees’ children. 
• The holiday event used to include spouses/guests. This is the second year that it is employees only and a simpler affair. 
• But only a pitch-in and employees have to provide all food. 
• We will have a holiday lunch. 
• It’s “mandatory” in that if you don’t go to the party, which is during the work day, you must be in the office or take vacation time. 
• We have a luncheon catered on company property. Nothing fancy, but great food. 
• We have a potluck that lasts all day long. Great fun, a chance to pick up new recipes and eat old favorites. Also a time to catch up on what is going on in co worker’s lives. 

Among the verbatims, my favorite is: “Make sure you know who the obnoxious lush is at the party. If you can’t spot him/her, it might be you.”  

Verbatims 

Have it during the workday and let everyone go home early. 

Not generally correct in these economic times when pay raises are still far behind – employees would rather have the money! (or a day off with pay) 

Not to be a scrooge, but I spend more time at work than with my family, so to the extent possible (i.e. not alienating the boss too much) I try and avoid company holiday parties. I am not against them, but I’d rather spend the scarce free time with family. 

We have a lunch paid for by the company. Gifts have gone by the wayside. This year we’ll get to leave early from work after the holiday lunch. 

On Friday, December 23 we are having a lunch for employees only, with the rest of the afternoon off. 

I’ll only go if there are enough activities to keep me busy so I don’t have to mingle. Is that wrong? 

Once you start, how do you stop?!? That seems to be the rub. 

We are having hors d’oevures and chit-chat (maybe a carol or two) at the office (employees and spouses), then going to an upscale restaurant a few minutes away for a nice dinner. I haven’t heard whether we’ll be exchanging Christmas ornaments this year… 

Verbatims (cont.) 

We have management serve the "traditional" meal to employees, and we host a children's party. Our GM is Santa (in real life he looks like Sir Richard Attenborough so makes a very convincing Santa), and this year our CEO is attending. He will read Twas the Night Before Christmas to the kids before Santa's arrival. 

A free lunch with holiday entertainment is a delightful break in the middle of the week. No booze, so no regrets the next day. 

I like my colleagues, so I actually do enjoy socializing with them. 

Employees gripe about them and wish that they would just get money instead but I feel it's a great way to say thank you. 

About 1/2 of employees are boycotting the pitch-in. 

Make sure you know who the obnoxious lush is at the party. If you can't spot him/her, it might be you. 

This will be the last one for our firm, as we are being acquired. Hope all the people get home safely. 

Our party is at Bacara spa in Santa Barbara, but we are waiting until January since it is so busy at the end of the year. It is a great way to start off the new year! 

It's work in a social setting. Don't get too frisky or it can come back to haunt you! 

But not until off-season, February, they believe their employees have enough going on during the holidays...love it. 

Christmas party not "holiday" party 

We're having a cocktail hour, employer will pay for 2 drinks per employee and spouse, then dinner then dancing with a dj. I'll need more than 2 drinks... 

Don't like them, don't go to them. 

You always have a few that get drunk and act ridiculous. 

Bad economic times and poor business results. We had a bad year. 

The last time we had a party no one really wanted to go. 

They can boost molrale and comraderie 

After hours parties were done away with and I was relieved not to have to deal with the drunks anymore.