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The concept of the employer and/ or corporate Christmas/ holiday party has been evolving for decades.
I was just talking to someone about my personal recollections going back to the 70’s when it was possible to attend parties ( financial services) nearly every day of the week in December. Often times there were multiple parties on the same evening. My underage status at the time presented, no problem. That I was the absolute lowest on the corporate totem poll did not present a challenge.
I quickly realized I did not possess the physical constitution to “ hunt with the big dogs” when it came to alcohol.
Some of these parties trended beyond wild. Professional dancers and occasionally strippers were brought in by some brokerage firms. Parties would go on for 5-6 hours and then there were the after parties. Karioke was popular. No shortage of men at all levels behaving badly were always present. And sometimes women, too. No one was more surprised than I was at the time, how many young women brought a change of clothes for some of these parties and it was understood the bathrooms would be jammed with women getting dolled up. No shortage of guys would leave work early to get into the party mood, before the party.
Offices were filled with hung over people the day after and stories. Who was wearing yesterday’s outfit? Who got the drunkest? Who did the most outrageous thing? Who got hit on? iWho were the hitters? Who told the boss off? Who threw up? How many times? Calling in sick was very bad form.
As the decades rolled on, increasing alcohol liability caused most companies in this sector to moderate. Some companies provided hired car service to drive people home. Some drastically reduced hours. Some gave every attendee 2 drink tickets and after that it was a cash bar. Some limited party to catered luncheons in the office. No alcohol. And some chose to trend to family oriented affairs.
I have no recollection of anyone ever being pressured to attend or anyone noticing or caring if one did not attend or made an appearance and left. There were always some who begged off on religious or moral grounds or because they were recovering alcoholics and sought to avoid temptation or had issues with smoking. No one seemed to care.
It is unimaginable that an employer or corporation of size or recognition would sponsor a party on the scale that once existed in the last days of Mad Men.
As for me... I met my husband ( to be) at one of these parties. He did not remember me the next day. Lol.
Not all office parties are treated as optional events. Some are mandatory, especially if they are scheduled during normal work hours. Even when they aren't, non-attendance is often frowned upon. Gotta be a "team player," and all that, you know.
Parties scheduled during office hours rarely include alcohol or the time is very limited.
It’s the alcohol that tends to fuel people behaving badly and creates potential liability for the sponsoring company.
Nah, that's the writer's perspective, but it's not the only reason holiday parties, whether or not they are work-related, are a nightmare. Free-flowing alcohol is a real problem, and one that can have lasting consequences for both the perpetrator of bad behavior and the hosting organization. I'm all for having a bit of fun, but watching people stumble around, talking way too loud and making complete idiots of themselves, is simply not enjoyable for me and many others. There are always a few bad apples who don't know when to quit, and they ruin it for the rest of us. Vox is smart to limit the drinking at its holiday party, and other companies should follow suit.
and here it is again. Miserable people thinking for others.
Misery loves company.
Parties scheduled during office hours rarely include alcohol or the time is very limited.
It’s the alcohol that tends to fuel people behaving badly and creates potential liability for the sponsoring company.
They may be rare, but they do exist. I didn't just pull that out of the air.
I went to one such party. It started at noon, at a location away from the office. The options were to go, or to remain in the office and work. Lots of food, lots of booze, and a small scandal when a junior employee who happened to be related to one of the VPs got arrested for driving home drunk.
My company rents a venue, has a live band, huge buffet that includes fish and Prime rib along with all the side dishes. We also receive a $50 gift card, the bar is free (beer and liquor), they provide the parking passes, and this is on-top of the $$$$ Christmas bonus all employees get......come if you want or stay home...
We are a small business, just went over 200 employees, and we just had out 25 year being open anniversary.
My company rents a venue, has a live band, huge buffet that includes fish and Prime rib along with all the side dishes. We also receive a $50 gift card, the bar is free (beer and liquor), they provide the parking passes, and this is on-top of the $$$$ Christmas bonus all employees get......come if you want or stay home...
We are a small business, just went over 200 employees, and we just had out 25 year being open anniversary.
No problem at all with that kind of deal, although I do hope they took steps to make sure people didn't drive home if they over-indulged.
It cetrainly doesn't equate to "most", and I'd argue that in this day and age of lawsuits most co's forgo the parties entirely.
I don’t know about that. Seems to me foregoing or limiting alcohol is a more common trend.
My husband’s office party is today. This company, in a prior decade, threw large lavish parties with professional entertainers/ DJs and unlimited alcohol that went on till the wee hours. Then it evolved to giving tickets for 2 drinks to each employee. After that, it was a cash bar.
Then finally and presently, every department is given a generous budget based on headcount for catered buffet lunch- no alcohol. Just incredible and plentiful food, ranging from pizza to prime rib, lobster and international fare including kosher. There’s something for everyone. People seem to look forward to putting the feedbag on and the company incurs no alcohol - fueled liability.
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