I'm curious. Do you have a holiday party where you work?

[Temptress_1960]

And if you do, do you enjoy it or is it just another damn thing you have to do for work?

We do a very entertaining party. Great food, nice restaurant or lodge, lots of socialising. No kiddies, thank goodness.
I get to dress up and get a bit tipsy.

There's an entertainment committee, and they always plan something amusing. Sometimes there's dancing, too. The only things we let the boss do are pay the bills, buy us all drinks, and hand out checks.

He loves to host the party, especially since he doesn't have to do any of the planning.

 

[Nefarious]

Ours sounds less grand than yours. We shut down the plant a mid day and adjourn to a restaurant banquet room not too far away. Catered meal, DJ, liquor.

I hand out the bonus checks and gifts from the exchange, because I've been there forever and I know all the faces that go with the names, even the temps. Even Human Resources doesn't know everybody.

Last year there were a couple of folks who got pushy after a few drinks, but they're not part of the company this year. We hang out and party and socialize until the restaurant is ready to close down. The bosses all bail early, so it really is an employees party.

 

[penguindance]

 

[Temptress_1960]

Nefarious, yours sounds just as grand as ours. We don't have anyone who gets pushy or rude, usually. But it's a small company, only about 20 employees.

Grown-up time is the best, PLS. My hubby's work has everyone bring the kids, and that just sucks.

 

[Diablogrl]

ours is at one of the partner's house...I haven't attended, and probably won't this year (its in the middle of finals). Apparently its a lot of fun and a lot of booze.

 

[Killswitch]

I couldn't care less about my employers party.

But tomorrow night is my wifes holiday party.
It is at a sweet hotel. I reserved a room, and after the party we are going to the hot tubs.

They have these places here with like maybe 25 rooms......all with hot tubs......some/most are outside .....we have the fuji spa reserved.....there are plants all over.....its big too..... very cool........so a romantic night is planned.

Her employer has a very upscale party......it should be and will be a sweet night.....

.....Killswitch.....

 

[concrete]

Oh ya..
about 400 - 500 people..
great food, drinks, dancing..too much office politrics for me..
allways a nice present for the wives or girlfriends though..

 

[Wiggles]

We're going to have a party at a little restraunt down the street from work. If I was 21 the boss would be buying me about three free drinks.

As it is, there's only one guy that works there. He's cute, but not my type. The rest are women, about twenty of them. I only kinda know about three or four of them. And I'm shy!

I don't really want to go, I have a hard time socializing with people that are only there because of the circumstances. But I'm going because we did a Secret Santa thing, and I picked a name.

My boss better give away some massage tickets or something. And I better not get another damn wallet or alarm clock either!

 

[morninggirl5]

I saw a "directions sheet" to a co-workers house for a Christmas Party in the staff lounge one time. The date was the same date as the December PTA Meeting. Nothing has been mentioned at any staff meetings or grade level meetings. Planning and coordination are not the greatest strengths of our administration.

 

[ma_guy]

Hmmm.. yeah we do.. My company is out of CA but there are 8 of us that work in MA so we have our own. Last year I chartered a corporate jet and we all flew out (those that had spouses brought them too) to LA for the weekend so we could attend the company party there.

This year the folks that work for me decided they'd rather do a dinner cruise so that's what we're doing (company paid cruise, dinner and drinks..). They planned it all and I have no idea what to expect but we do have a rule that there is no business discussed at any gathering that happens outside of the office.

 

[lilminx]

Our small staff has a little breakfast, with a Secret Santa gift exchange. Everyone brings in something for the breakfast (I usually bake), and since two of the people are Jehovah's Witnesses and won't partake of the festivities, they watch the students for about 1/2 hour when the school day begins. It's not bad.

 

[HeavyStick]

I haven't been to a work Christmas party in 5 years. It's nothing more than an internal political arena.

Last years party the wife of an employee won the big drawing $500 cash, and a couple of other high dollar prizes.

So this year, the powers to be wrote a memo saying only employees can enter and win drawings. I'm definitely not going tis year.

 

[peachykeen]

Mr Keen's company always has a big fancy thing at a big fancy hotel. I don't mind going, most of the people he works directly with and their s/o's are cool to hang out with, and it's nice to have an excuse to get all dressed up and get the hair and nails done and all that.

As I am with a new company this year, I am not sure what to expect - our is tomorrow night. I assume it will be good; it's at an organic gastropub and my company is relatively small and full of really decent folks, so I am hoping it will be a nice night out.

 

[Cheyenne]

Mr Keen's company always has a big fancy thing at a big fancy hotel. I don't mind going, most of the people he works directly with and their s/o's are cool to hang out with, and it's nice to have an excuse to get all dressed up and get the hair and nails done and all that.

Mine is coming up, too, and sounds a lot like Mr. Keen's.

I'm bringing my SO to meet everyone this year. I never bring a guest so there will be a few shocked faces. hehe

 

[scrymettet]

Mine is coming up, too, and sounds a lot like Mr. Keen's.

I'm bringing my SO to meet everyone this year. I never bring a guest so there will be a few shocked faces. hehe

you do what ?

we have 3 parties.
a big posh one : company
a smaller one : IT only
and a team one

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Our CEO likes to think of himself as the captain of a very fancy ship...when we're more like a little dingy

I work at a small community mental health center with about 45 employees. We're going to a hoity-toity restaurant with a cash bar and lots of stilted boring conversation. My supervisor and I have been elected to entertain...we'll probably sing. Worst of all it's scheduled for my youngest son's birthday.

The biggest draw is the chocolate fountain. I'm hoping to get pleasantly sauced and go home early for some more merry fun with hubby!

 

[Lili]

Nope, not a one. Nothing.

We've tried in the past to have parties, but as soon as you say the word "Christmas" people get their panties in a knot and start worrying that we might offend non-Chritians. Um, I'm a non-Christian, and I'm not the least bit offended. Just about every culture has *some* kind of feast/festival/party/celebration at mid-winter.

So rather than risk offending even one person, we don't do anything at all.

I'm on the social committee for our branch and we wanted to organize something, offered to do it, but they won't even give us a budget.

Bonus checks? We didn't even get a raise this year.

Merry Xmas!

Lili

 

[Liontamr]

Yup, Since I work at a small family owned store, we are taking part in a huge community christmas party where staffs of other small businesses get together on the 21st.

Not looking forward to it though as I'll be the only one without an SO. I suppose I'd look forward to it more if I knew I could meet others, but it never works like that.

Nothing like 5 couples and the 11th person going by himself solo to a party 3/4ths of the downtown business district will be going to..

 

[Nora]

The one for my company last year was pretty fun. We rented out a country club and did the dinner/dancing thang. The Veep talked too much, though. Oh and my feet were KILLING me cuz I got these strappy little fuck-me sandles to wear with my dress...

but I digress.

The company I just started at it having a dinner at a comedy club, which should be fun. The only thing is that I don't know if we (my team) is invited cuz we're contract workers. Apparently there was a flap over contract workers going last year, but nothing was decided...I think I'll just avoid the complications and say that I have alternate plans.

 

[Kalyn]

Man, this thread is making me very sad. At my old company, we had a great party, nice dinner, entertainment, awards ceremony, drinks, dressing up, no kids, big prizes. It was a resort marketing company too, so every year there was a grand prize drawing for a week at a condo anywhere in the world, along with $1000k cash prize. Plus there was a smaller party within my dept. I miss it!!!