A party or a gift

[Lord Manhammer]

So my company is based in Maryland but most of my coworkers live outside of Maryland or even the US. As the holiday party is mandatory (as the end of year meeting is before it begins), people have to fly in and get hotels. That is really annoying to do JUST for a party and a meeting that IMO could've be done on a video call.

Wait so you have to fly into this mandatory “party”
On your own dime? I’ve never heard of that.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Wait so you have to fly into this mandatory “party”
On your own dime? I’ve never heard of that.

The flight is comped but not the hotel (that's what I was told but I don't fly in since I live 30 minutes away). My company is small, as in less than 20 people but everyone is spread out all over. One of the marketing leads lives in Vancouver so she has to travel a long way just for a party *eye roll*.

 

[fla4fun]

The big complaint about our parties was that as the years went by they became employees only, no plus one. A few couples worked for the company, and they would always attend, and some of the unattached singles would also, but anyone in a relationship would generally skip it.

 

[HopperFan]

The flight is comped but not the hotel (that's what I was told but I don't fly in since I live 30 minutes away). My company is small, as in less than 20 people but everyone is spread out all over. One of the marketing leads lives in Vancouver so she has to travel a long way just for a party *eye roll*.

Unacceptable for a mandatory meeting and add on party.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Unacceptable for a mandatory meeting and add on party.

I completely agree. Hotels are expensive!

 

[TipsyTraveler]

So my company is based in Maryland but most of my coworkers live outside of Maryland or even the US. As the holiday party is mandatory (as the end of year meeting is before it begins), people have to fly in and get hotels. That is really annoying to do JUST for a party and a meeting that IMO could've be done on a video call.

My husband’s Maryland-based company does crap like this. Most recently they decided they wanted to do a “retreat” — basically a weekend of drinking — because it was “good for morale” or some such nonsense. So, they flew everyone in from around the country and put them up in hotels to the tune of $70k. In the end, what they got from it was a sexual assault, two employees who could no longer work together due to their pending court cases against one another, and then the company failed to reach its financial goals and was unable to give employees their bonuses the next time that rolled around. Good for morale indeed.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Depends on what "party" means/entails. Sit around & chat & eat catered dinner = no. Event/activity = yes (bowling, museum, go karts, arcade... anything but a dance).

 

[disneychrista]

Depends on what "party" means/entails. Sit around & chat & eat catered dinner = no. Event/activity = yes (bowling, museum, go karts, arcade... anything but a dance).

Sit around eating with people you don’t know beyond you interactions at work. Beer & wine may or may not be available and may or may not be at your own cost. After eating the CEO will say how wonderful and hardworking everyone is, highlight everything that has been accomplished in the last year and they will recognize those with long periods of service. The majority leave at this point. Then a DJ will play and a handful of people will mingle and dance.

You are allowed a plus one, which is nice for those who have someone to bring.