It's employees only, after work from 4-8 or so. Includes open bar, apps, buffet dinner (chicken, salmon and beef), raffles (they give everyone 10 tickets), and 2 free uber rides up to $25.
Yes, we have one and it's tonight! I've been here 15 years, so it's looked at lot different at times. It's in our new office this year. Food and beer/wine (2 drinks per person). We do not pay for it.
We do a potluck luncheon (state university employee). I don't mind it because it's during the day, and I don't want to hang with my coworkers after hours. Plus, if we did a dinner or happy hour, I'd have to pay a lot more than I do for the cookies I'm bringing to the potluck, ha!
We have one. Spouses are invited and the company pays for everything: apps, meals and open bar. We are a private company so nobody can bitch about what we do with our own money. My sister is a teacher and she has to pay for her food + her drinks. People would be raising hell if their taxes were used to pay for ::gulp::: food for the teachers and staff...
Like lots of places, we used to have a holiday party (at a restaurant, with a limited menu) where spouses were invited, but that has turned into an employee-only holiday lunch at the office that the owners/managers provide. No, we do not pay for anything.
My H's company has a holiday happy hour (last night) and they provide a heavy app buffet, maybe some drink tickets or something. It's only for employees, which I find kind of borderline, because it's like 4-7. If it's during work hours, do whatever, but I feel strongly if it's in the evening hours you should allow guests.
We do an in-office team lunch where we order in off the menu from a local restaurant. The company pays for it.
DH's company does a full Christmas party at a hotel with dinner, dj, open bar, etc. and pays for a hotel room for anyone that wants to stay over. Since it's a family owned trucking company they figure it's cheaper in the long run to pay for the rooms then loose a huge portion of their employees to DWIs.
Employees only but it's at a club and is a big dance party - apps and booze. It's honestly pretty amazing - the first time I went I was a little shocked at the quality of the hired band, dj and light show.
Old company used to have one where a +1 was invited. It was always at a cool architectural space. Lots of food and alcohol. Dj hired for later in the evening (never good).
Company before that had a lunch for employees only. In the burbs. It was a FAR drive from both work and my home. Royal PITA.
Never paid for a holiday party. I'm in technology.
I'm a teacher. We get a nice breakfast from the board of trustees on the last day of school.
I also own a company with my brother. We provide dinner and box seats to our local hockey team. We have 20 employees and they all get a +1. They do not pay for anything.
Post by tarzanswife on Dec 5, 2019 11:45:00 GMT -5
Yes. This year they are taking us to a hotel in Palm Springs for the weekend. This includes dinner, all you can drink and your hotel room. There will be dancing and a photo booth, etc.. During the down turn we just did potlucks in the office.
We have one in-office during an afternoon; catered apps with beer and wine. It's OK. It used to be a full buffet and most people would go. Over the years it's gotten to be less and less (now apps instead of a full meal). You can definitely tell not as many people go. People usually end up at the bar down the road after making an appearance at the party.
This year a bunch of us are going to an escape room after the party, so I'm really excited for that. It's a group of people from various departments, but we all work together regularly and they're a lot of fun.
I work for a small credit union. We have a catered lunch during the day, and get cash for christmas gift. I also host a separate lunch out for my team - dinner and drinks at a nice local restaurant.
Yes. We've had them at fun places like House of Blues or other really cool venues. It's buffet or seated dinner plus open bar and a +1 is always welcome. Out of our entire company, ours is the only office who goes all out. Only bad thing is that it's on a Thursday evening and this year it's really far from my house so I'm passing.
Yes. It’s lunch at the local country club. Company covers the cost. It is not open bar, but they give you 2 drink tickets (it’s the middle of the day and some of us go back to work after)
DH’s is at local restaurant after work - company covers it.
We had a large company wide party that was hosted. We also have smaller team lunches and such, if the manager chooses to do that. They would also be reimbursed.
This year, our company elected to cancel the holiday party and instead just close the office for the week between Christmas and New Years. It is actually cheaper for us to do this, and everyone is happy about the time off.
Post by litskispeciality on Dec 5, 2019 17:08:06 GMT -5
At my last job we had a college wide, free (but budgets were cut to save money for it) party, no bonus. This happened during the day. Then we had a staff one during the day where our boss bought lunch and we did a poorly planned yankee swap. My new job we'll have a pot luck with several offices, no bonus, yankee swap that promises "lots of laughs". My new union has a separate party, but you have to buy a ticket, and pay for your own drinks. Silly me to think the dues would cover the cost of a party?
ETA: We have to go back to work after said parties, and no booze at the staff ones or potlucks. I'd be happy with a later/end of day, or we all close and leave at 3pm party since you don't accomplish anything after 2 hours of eating and small talk. Also no spouses, which I'm fine with. I'm not a big fan of having to go to your spouses party.
These threads also make me sad. I've never had a bonus more than a generous boss who gives you $5 or $10 in coffee gift cards.
Yes, and we pay for it. Catered dinner in our space, or we take over a restaurant. Free booze and usually live music with dancing after. We have just under 60 employees, it’s a shit show and $$$, but super good for morale lol. (except the one person who legit doesn’t come back in the New Year due to their behavior, there is one every year).
Post by thebreakfastclub on Dec 5, 2019 20:08:30 GMT -5
My total office is 1000 people - we have a catered lunch followed by a half day. My smaller group of 90 people has a party in a local pub, with free food and 2 drink tickets. It goes from 3-7pm on a Thursday night.
Bonus is totally separate and will be awarded in early spring, based on results and individual job grade.
I’m at a new company now and their party is next week. It’s at the yacht club in the evening. Apparently there is food but you just get 2 drink tickets (not an open bar). We have about 600 employees.
My last company did one as well at a local hotel, food and open bar.
Never have had to pay, and would not go if I did. I don’t even really want to go anyway because walking into these things, seeing the hundreds of people that I now have to go talk to .. freaks me out a bit lol.
Yes, we have one and no we don't pay. It's a pretty good meal and then they give away pretty good prizes. TVs and such. I did get a extra vacation day.
one is for our department - we did a vip tour of a brewery and a catered lunch - amazing. the other is for the entire location - at the office, catered appetizers, wine/beer, kind of fun.
Post by oregonpachey on Dec 6, 2019 1:09:43 GMT -5
Nope. The company I work for has almost 300,000 employees throughout the world. My department is 25 people but we are spread across the US and travel is limited. I send my staff a gift card to go out to dinner but I pay for it out of my own pocket.
Post by HitchedIn2006 on Dec 12, 2019 11:16:08 GMT -5
This year we had heavy apps (from Sams Club) that we’re department purchased. Leftover apps have been brought in to work this week. Lol. The VP gave $100 for booze. Hosted at a team members house on a Friday afternoon. It wasn’t horrible.
Last year it was at a local Mexican restaurant on a weekday afternoon. VP bought a round of drinks and the department bought a few apps. Meals were in your own. I work for a non-profit currently.
Last company (a government entity) we had week long potlucks. Every day had a “theme” (apps, desserts, international, soups, etc.). It was always bountiful. Departments decorated their food tables. It was always well received and fun. Typically not a fan of potlucks, but they did it well. Then 2 days before Xmas the local major credit union sent a huuuuge seafood appetizer platter to our team- it was a highlight every year and we kept it to our team and didn’t share with the building. #Scrooge
Joys of non-profits.
DH has worked for my large international companies and they do small things during the daytime. No spouses. His first year at an adult job, his mentor had a Christmas party at her house, which was super awesome and not technically a work event, but she retired and moved soon after. Bummer cause I liked her!
We don't really. We used to have a evening dinner/party but our team is so much smaller. I really miss a good company Christmas party. My husband had one but it was more for the lawyers and none of his team was going to be there. It was supposed to be fancy.
Yes and we don't pay and spouses are invited. We have it at our office (we have meeting/rental space). It's a plated dinner, open top shelf bar, and a live band. They also pay for Ubers. It's a drunken mess of a time, but super fun. This is actually only the third year we've had it and I've been there 15. Prior to this we'd have a "pig out day" which is cutesy for pot luck.
LOL at myself for saying it's super fun. This was a few days before ours this year. Drunken mess of a time did happen, but let's just say there probably won't be any more parties for a looooong time after this one. I can't say much b/c I'm not sure how far I plan on going with things but think #me too and victim blaming.
Yes. We had a cocktail and apps reception at the Ritz. We were given 2 free drink tickets and had to pay for anything above, which is fine. But the hotel wanted drink tickets for a glass or water/soda. It was nearly $20 to buy a glass of basic white wine without the ticket and there were only 3 appetizers that came out and barely any for anyone.
Everyone, my director included, complained that they should have spent less on the venue and more on the food/drinks/etc. We dont need to stand in the Ritz to talk to our coworkers, we can stand in any restaurant. FEED US.
The office shut down at noon for the the day though and the party was from 1-5 but I was able to leave by 3 so the shorter day was nice.
2 years ago we had a plated sit down dinner with music etc at a nice venue, spouses invited for free but they change to the during work hour cocktail reception and gave us the entire 24th off (vs a half day prior) with the money they save in the budget so I really cant complain. I would take the full day off on the 24th over a fancy sit down dinner.