Dreaded work Christmas party

[yorktown]

Does your workplace still have a Christmas party ?

At my work we used to have one after work for 2-3 hours in one of the larger cafeterias.

Then they decided more people would come if they had it 2-3 hours before the work day was over. Some people decided to go home early instead of going to the Christmas party.

Then they decided to tell people if you come to the Christmas party you get paid to go to the Christmas party, but if you go home early you don't get paid and you have to use vacation time. Now a lot of people just show up for 10-15 minutes to get there nametags have a drink, then go home early for the day.

The company is to damn cheap to have an offsite party.

At my wife's work they do a dinner/casino night thing in March sometime. It was OK once, but now that they've done it for the last 3 years or it's kinda lame so we didn't go last year. You win fake money playing the casino games they you buy raffle tickets with your fake money for the lame door prizes. The door prizes are stuff like a set of 6 drinking glasses, a set of wooden salad bowls, a set of expensive golf balls, a duffle bag with 2 towels, etc... More people would come to the party if the door prizes were stuff like golf clubs, TVs, Bluray players, XBOX360, etc...

 

[mccoyrj]

... More people would come to the party if the door prizes were stuff like golf clubs, TVs, Bluray players, XBOX360, etc...

Agreed. I think those casino parties are lame too. Real casinos are bad enough when you can't win, but fake ones are almost worse because when you do win, you don't.

After hour office parties are more fun I think. If you have them on a Friday or Saturday evening (and throw in a few prize perks) they seem to draw a crowd.

 

[lakebum431]

For the second year in a row the firm I work for (PricewaterhouseCoopers) has cancelled our annual "Holiday Partys". These parties used to be HUGE. In the Atlanta office it was a couple thousand people with amazing food, a band, and of course open bar. The firm leadership decided that having such a party (both last year and this year) would be like spitting in the face of our clients and those in the community who are having tough times so instead they donated the money to various charities. I support the decision 100%.

 

[Bobby]

What a wonderful idea!

 

[kenny911]

I'm sure they donated the money into the managers checkbook via bonuses.

 

[mccoyrj]

I'm sure they donated the money into the managers checkbook via bonuses.

That would be too bad if the company is going under due to poor managment. But if it's staying afloat in this economy and the employees are keeping their jobs, maybe those bonuses are justified.

Everyone loves to jump on the managers - like most got where they are by doing nothing.

 

[lakebum431]

I'm sure they donated the money into the managers checkbook via bonuses.

I'm SURE you are wrong. Thanks for providing a negative attitude though...

 

[Ronnie-]

That would be too bad if the company is going under due to poor managment. But if it's staying afloat in this economy and the employees are keeping their jobs, maybe those bonuses are justified.

Everyone loves to jump on the managers - like most got where they are by doing nothing.

I agree with this.

To the OP, we did our christmas party again this year too. Generally ours is onsite, and we, the bosses, cook the food ourselves. We start grilling early in the morning and do chicken, ribs, baked beans, potato salad, stew, ect. We do it at lunch, then shut down for the holidays. We pay out checks and bonuses before we eat, so the employees can stay and eat, fix a plate and go, or just go. 95% of them stay and eat. Pretty good time for all.

 

[yorktown]

I agree with this.

To the OP, we did our christmas party again this year too. Generally ours is onsite, and we, the bosses, cook the food ourselves. We start grilling early in the morning and do chicken, ribs, baked beans, potato salad, stew, ect. We do it at lunch, then shut down for the holidays. We pay out checks and bonuses before we eat, so the employees can stay and eat, fix a plate and go, or just go. 95% of them stay and eat. Pretty good time for all.

It was like this at my work about 8 years ago. Once the new VP of the group started the fun stuff ended.

 

[bhelms]

Been very quite here this year. We recently had a sizeable R.I.F. at some sites so all official parties were cancelled at all sites for, you know, decorum. Past parties here were the "mandatory" 1/2 day types at our local Damons. Good food. (Bar was cash only for liability reasons.) Lotsa door prizes. Have some fun and food on the company...or else take 1/2 day vacation (or no pay if you didn't have any time remaining).

This year we each got 2 slices of pizza and a coke instead...

But some of us got to keep our jobs as well.

We also did in-office "pork outs" every Fri. during Dec. where everyone would sign-up to bring in one covered dish on one Fri. then share the bounty for the whole month. Nothing this year...

Given the current situation for many ex- fellow employees, keeping the celebrating to a minimum will serve us well in the long run...

 

[navychop]

Yep. Let go 5 guys today. Let go 2 previously, but that was for failure to show up for work at a remote job site. Probably at least 1 more to go. All while I'm finding it almost impossible to hire a bookkeeper, which we sorely need. Those jobs are going begging around here.