[Rant] Company holiday party.

[Free Spirit]

First world problem, I know, I should feel lucky my company has even offered us a party because my last employer did not but I feel a little bit slighted. Full disclosure: I am a bartender in a very fancy resort. It's not a huge company, even when you count in the seasonal workers there are still under 50 total staff members but we are in the off-season so, quite a bit less, we are sitting at about 30 right now.

 So, last month they announce plans for the holiday party. They will host a cocktail hour with heavy hors d'oeuvres in lieu of a full dinner *and* a night's stay at the resort for each person and their plus 1. If you can't stay the night of the cocktail party then they will give you an alternative date to be used within a month. Cool great, we are usually closed 1 day a week this time of year so everyone expects that it will be on that day of the week and awesome that we can pick another date right? WRONG. They picked 6:30 P.M. on a Friday (busiest night of the week and most people are scheduled!) and unless you are actually out of town you can't have your hotel stay changed to another date.

 But wait, there's more. So, we've all pretty much accepted that most of us will have to work during the actual party. Most have decided to host a block party in the resort rooms. Except there's a catch. The latest anyone clocks in to work is 3:30, check in for the resort is 4. So, we have to wait until we are off work (roughly 10pm in the off season) to check in and the rooms are in our names so we can't even let our spouse check in for us. Sigh. I think I'll just go home instead.

[Fields of Gold]

I want to go to a staff holiday party like the one in A Christmas Carol given by young Scrooge's boss, Mr. Fezziwig.  Looked like so much fun.

“A small matter,” said the Ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.”

“Small!” echoed Scrooge.

The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts in praise of Fezziwig: and when he had done so, said,

“Why! Is it not? He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?”

“It isn’t that,” said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. “It isn’t that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

[Freedomin5]

I have to travel two hours (one-way), four hours total (by public transportation), to a company holiday party tonight. If I take a taxi, it will cost $50 one-way and will take an hour.

Last year, DH won an iPhone X. Wonder if we'll win anything this year to make it worth it. :P

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I work for a megacorp, and they spend tons of money on a fancy holiday party. It's super nice, I appreciate that they do that. But, I have been to one party in my 20 year career. No need to repeat. I'd rather hang out with my husband at home, eating leftovers & sharing a nice bottle of wine. A sitter would be $80+. We'd Uber to the party because parking would be a nightmare, so that's another $60-70. I own no suitable outfit. . . Anyway, our party is this weekend, & if you gave me $300, I still wouldn't go. ;-)

But, I sympathize with you, because either through an absolutely mind blowing amount of not thinking this through, or intentionally not caring, your company has not done a very good job of creating an actual employee party.

[Pizzabrewer]

I once worked for a small, family-owned company and was one of the few employees who was not either a family relation or an employee of the family's previous business (which the family had sold for a small fortune and used the cash to start up the new business).  On the management chart I was theoretically the 4th highest position in the company.

First Christmas season, the company had a holiday dinner at a local restaurant.  Not fancy, but a nice place and it was a good dinner.  But we were told it was strictly for employees only, no spouses or SOs.

My wife was mildly miffed but all I could do was shrug my shoulders and say "that's the policy".

So when I turn up at the dinner, the CEO's wife was there, the VP's wife was there (VP is son of CEO), the boyfriend of the Marketing Manager was there (Marketing Manager is daughter of the CEO's business partner), as well as the wife of my assistant (this wife was the CEO's daughter).  Oh, and the warehouse manager (who worked for them in their previous business), he got to bring his wife.  And two employees of the previous business, who didn't even work for the company and who I had never met before, showed up with their wives.

First world problems, yes.  But that place was a clown show. 

[lizzzi]

Bah, humbug!

[Just Joe]

I'm gun-shy on employer Christmas parties. Worked for a small company once. DW and I attended. Food was okay. Was hosted in the owner's home. Things progressed to board games which he cheated and twisted rules on so he could win. When someone called him out on a maneuver he became very juvenile about it. Just let the boss win so we all can go home... 

This year's company party supplied the food, some employees brought sweets, Dirty Santa was played. Mostly laughs and giggles from the group. I think one person felt they lost a gift that they wanted. Its only fun if nobody gets invested in a gift they picked. DW made her special apple pie (in a new pie dish from Aldi) as my gift to give to keep the prices low. I came away with a trinket that I can make use of. It was fun. Hasn't always been fun but everyone made the effort to have fun this year and it made all the difference. 

[Cellista]

Miss Manners (Judith Martin) felt the same way. Her view was that the best Christmas party is the one where the boss thanks everyone for their work during the year and then gives them the afternoon off.

[MayDay]

My current company does a potluck during the day, a free breakfast, and small groups do lunch out at a moderate restaurant.  I would rather do those type of things during the work day than have an evening party.  Obviously the best case scenario is just being sent home for the afternoon :)

My old company decided Dec to too hectic and had a party in January.  That was nice too.

My H just had a near miss.  It was almost an Introvert Emergency.  He started a new job and promptly got invited to a coworkers christmas party.  Since he got invited having just met the fellow, he assumed it was the whole work group.  Plus kids were invited!  Ok then, we'll go!  Thank the lord he asked new coworker for a few details- it ends up it is really a family party, but he invites coworkers as well (and almost none go).  And also no kids come.  Good lord that would have been awkward. 

[DreamFIRE]

I skipped the company Christmas Party this year.  It's actually just a dept. Christmas party.  I like Christmas get-togethers with friends and family, but more hours spent with the people I work with doesn't sound like a good use of my time.

[Just Joe]

Hey I got a peek behind the scenes courtesy of a coworker. CW said that boss wanted to ask a local restaurant to host a potluck. Rent us tables and we'd bring our own food potluck style. That would give a select few personnel who like to drink access to the restaurant bar CW and I agreed. Can't have alcohol in our office (appearances).

Good grief.

We could have had a Christmas party there where everyone went "Dutch" and bought their own meals at about $10 or so per head.

Nobody wanted to be the one that had to call the restaurant and ask awkward questions about bringing our own food to a restaurant so it just didn't get done.

[BlueHouse]

I want to go to a staff holiday party like the one in A Christmas Carol given by young Scrooge's boss, Mr. Fezziwig.  Looked like so much fun.

“A small matter,” said the Ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.”

“Small!” echoed Scrooge.

The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts in praise of Fezziwig: and when he had done so, said,

“Why! Is it not? He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?”

“It isn’t that,” said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. “It isn’t that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

perfect response and a great reminder!  Thank you for posting this!

[fuzzy math]

Hey I got a peek behind the scenes courtesy of a coworker. CW said that boss wanted to ask a local restaurant to host a potluck. Rent us tables and we'd bring our own food potluck style. That would give a select few personnel who like to drink access to the restaurant bar CW and I agreed. Can't have alcohol in our office (appearances).

Good grief.

We could have had a Christmas party there where everyone went "Dutch" and bought their own meals at about $10 or so per head.

Nobody wanted to be the one that had to call the restaurant and ask awkward questions about bringing our own food to a restaurant so it just didn't get done.

What!!! I believe someone on this forum went down in flames for suggesting showing up at a restaurant and using their space for free... You should direct that coworker here to be tarred and feathered.

OP, I hope your entire crew just boycotts the party. Worst idea ever.

[Dicey]

Hey I got a peek behind the scenes courtesy of a coworker. CW said that boss wanted to ask a local restaurant to host a potluck. Rent us tables and we'd bring our own food potluck style. That would give a select few personnel who like to drink access to the restaurant bar CW and I agreed. Can't have alcohol in our office (appearances).

Good grief.

We could have had a Christmas party there where everyone went "Dutch" and bought their own meals at about $10 or so per head.

Nobody wanted to be the one that had to call the restaurant and ask awkward questions about bringing our own food to a restaurant so it just didn't get done.

What!!! I believe someone on this forum went down in flames for suggesting showing up at a restaurant and using their space for free... You should direct that coworker here to be tarred and feathered.

OP, I hope your entire crew just boycotts the party. Worst idea ever.

Solution here is to rent some kind of neutral space. A VFW Hall, an Elk's Lodge, community center, church with a kitchen/dining space, etc, but an afternoon off is much easier, lol.

[Free Spirit]

Unfortunately it got a little bit worse, lol. They gave most of the staff the day off so *almost* everyone got to attend the party. There were 6 of us that had to work. Seems like adding insult to injury or just plain favoritism. I dunno, we have a fairly new director of operations and even though this person is incredibly good at what they do, I think this is their first time dealing with an on site restaurant. In past years they have divided the parties up by department so that everyone had the option of attending. Lumping everything together while expecting business as usual feels like a rookie mistake. People tend to forget about the late shift crew. It's ok though, after hearing about the party and all of the shenanigans, I was happy to wake up without a hang over and in my own comfortable bed.

[Dicey]

Unfortunately it got a little bit worse, lol. They gave most of the staff the day off so *almost* everyone got to attend the party. There were 6 of us that had to work. Seems like adding insult to injury or just plain favoritism. I dunno, we have a fairly new director of operations and even though this person is incredibly good at what they do, I think this is their first time dealing with an on site restaurant. In past years they have divided the parties up by department so that everyone had the option of attending. Lumping everything together while expecting business as usual feels like a rookie mistake. People tend to forget about the late shift crew. It's ok though, after hearing about the party and all of the shenanigans, I was happy to wake up without a hang over and in my own comfortable bed.

Then the six of you should get alternate time off with no requirement that you all assemble somewhere off-site.

[Just Joe]

Hey I got a peek behind the scenes courtesy of a coworker. CW said that boss wanted to ask a local restaurant to host a potluck. Rent us tables and we'd bring our own food potluck style. That would give a select few personnel who like to drink access to the restaurant bar CW and I agreed. Can't have alcohol in our office (appearances).

Good grief.

We could have had a Christmas party there where everyone went "Dutch" and bought their own meals at about $10 or so per head.

Nobody wanted to be the one that had to call the restaurant and ask awkward questions about bringing our own food to a restaurant so it just didn't get done.

What!!! I believe someone on this forum went down in flames for suggesting showing up at a restaurant and using their space for free... You should direct that coworker here to be tarred and feathered.

OP, I hope your entire crew just boycotts the party. Worst idea ever.

Our group took a chance and over rode the boss and had the event in the conference room. Ordered food in, everybody brings sweets, and we'd have fun. And it was. Like I said I think most of us would have happily bought our own lunches at a restaurant but nobody wanted to suggest to a restaurant that they let us bring in our own food so a select few could order alcoholic drinks. Boss is a good guy but awkward at times.

[PharmaStache]

My H just had a near miss.  It was almost an Introvert Emergency. 

I love that phrase!