Company Holiday Party

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That is the ONLY place I've ever worked that didn't supply coffee/tea for staff and especially for clients! The place I work at now has a regular coffee pot, Keurig, assortment of coffees/teas/cocoa for anyone. We also keep bottled water in the fridge for clients. That's the first thing we ask someone if they come in for a meeting, "can I get you something to drink?".

I know the alcohol is hit or miss on how companies do it, my last job we paid for our own, but we were also a non-profit and high bar tabs would not look good on an audit. My former boss had a very profitable firm and his only reason was that he was cheap. He once took a paper plate from me after I had eaten some pizza and said, hey that's not dirty, I'll use that for my pizza. What??!!

Free coffee is a great perk but I didn't work at a place that had that. They did install Keurig machines though they got so heavily used it wasn't uncommon for one of them to be down for repairs. None of the outings I know would have ever included alcohol to begin with so that point is a bit moot for the company I worked for.

On the other hand my husband's company does give free coffee and the last time they were switching the type of coffee out they even asked for employees to give opinions on which of the few choices! All of the outings would at least include some alcohol. As often joked about my husband's company is a drinking company with an engineering problem. Now I don't say that to mean they are all drunkards just that it's extremely common for alcohol to be present in many events. They used to have 'ice cream socials' with alcohol in the afternoons about once a month for the employees outside of the main building in the courtyard.

That's pretty gross about the plate though

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am actually curious how it will work this year because the event is being held at a winery that has a minimum purchase requirement as part of the contract.

I would have no idea how your company would handle it but I kinda think at a winery that would come off cheap IMO to make employees pay some sort of fee that would go towards that. If you're not going to include alcohol I can't see the point in having a company event at a place where the main purpose is alcohol even though it's not entirely uncommon for wineries to have other activities.

 

[disneychrista]

I would have no idea how your company would handle it but I kinda think at a winery that would come off cheap IMO to make employees pay some sort of fee that would go towards that. If you're not going to include alcohol I can't see the point in having a company event at a place where the main purpose is alcohol even though it's not entirely uncommon for wineries to have other activities.

I have a feeling that we might get X glasses paid for then cash bar for anything over that. But I really don't know.

I kind of wish it was being held at a brewery since I am a beer drinker not so much a wine drinker.

 

[Nancyg56]

That actually seems pretty normal to me.

I have never worked for a place that provided coffee/tea for staff. Where I work now there is a Keurig (bought & paid for by employees/former employees) and everyone just bring their own.

And other than working for the brewery, alcohol has never been paid for by the company. I am actually curious how it will work this year because the event is being held at a winery that has a minimum purchase requirement as part of the contract.

when I worked at a larger place we chipped in for coffee but now in a smaller firm my employer supplies coffee and tea. We choose what K cups we want our admin to order, and he buys that and teA bags.We supply the coffee cream.Someone always brings in specialty tea and cocoa. I think that this gesture is one of the things he does for us that is indicative of the other things he pays for we don’t see but that we benefit from.

 

[BLAZEY]

Ours is a big fancy dinner at a local golf course. Lovely dinner. A few speeches thanking everyone for all the hard work the past year. ALL employees get a door prize. (I got a $50 gas card, $25 mall GC, and little bottle of Crown Royal and a baseball cap.) Upon arrival, I got my door prize, a ticket for the draw prizes (Big ticket items iPad, $500 cash, a weekend getaway, and NHL tickets), 8 drink tickets for the bar, the coupon for your cab ride home and fake money to play the casino later in the evening. At the end of the night, there is an auction for other prizes that you pid on with your casino "winnings". A great fun evening with a delicious catered meal. We've never been to DH Christmas party as he's heard it not great, and usually on a work day. Mine is always on a Saturday, next years party is already booked.

 

[EveDallas]

Not this year. Our boss decided it would be fun to hold our holiday party at a bar with appetizers and karaoke. I don't drink and don't like singing in front of people, so not my idea of fun at all.

 

[disneychrista]

Not this year. Our boss decided it would be fun to hold our holiday party at a bar with appetizers and karaoke. I don't drink and don't like singing in front of people, so not my idea of fun at all.

That doesn't sound fun. Even if I was to drink, it would take A LOT to get me to karaoke.

 

[CdnCarrie]

About 15 years ago I worked for a small accounting firm for a year, there were maybe 12 staff total. The owner was one of the stingiest people I've ever met, didn't supply coffee or tea for staff or clients, those of us who drank coffee put $5 in a can every month and someone would buy the supplies with that. That's just one example. Anyway, we did go to a nice restaurant for our holiday party and were allowed to bring a plus one, however he only paid for the meal, drinks were on your own. So it was really awkward, the poor server had to keep all these separate tabs with one or two drinks on them.

May be normal in a private company for them to supply coffee and tea. Not normal in public institutions. I work for a public institution and it's not provided.

 

[BLAZEY]

May be normal in a private company for them to supply coffee and tea. Not normal in public institutions. I work for a public institution and it's not provided.

I think it varies I work for a private company, water cooler, coffee, tea, hot chocolate with milk, cream, sugar and coffee mate all provided by the company. MIL worked for the provincial government, her office had water, coffee and tea provided.

 

[ronandannette]

I think it varies I work for a private company, water cooler, coffee, tea, hot chocolate with milk, cream, sugar and coffee mate all provided by the company. MIL worked for the provincial government, her office had water, coffee and tea provided.

Our private company provides every conceivable beverage including pop and juice and a few snack items as well. 6 months ago they eliminated bottled water though, for environmental reasons. It sucks actually in this day and age when everyone is used to the convenience. Not so bad when one is in the office all day but it was great before being able to take a bottle or two when we went into the field. Also when people come for meetings it's awkward to give them a paper cup of water instead of a bottle.

 

[Sabeking]

I went last year but decided not to go this year. It’s dinner at an Ale House paid for by ourselves with an ornament exchange. Yuck to both! Every year I get another ornament I dont want; waste of money in my opinion. This probably sounds so harsh but I don’t have enough time to be with the people I want so I certainly don’t want to be with coworkers on an evening. Yes; I’m Scrooge.

 

[disneychrista]

... with an ornament exchange. Yuck to both! Every year I get another ornament I dont want; waste of money in my opinion...Yes; I’m Scrooge.

I feel the same about my works white elephant/ gift exchange. I could choose to not participate but that would be awkward.

 

[AndreaDM]

Our private company provides every conceivable beverage including pop and juice and a few snack items as well. 6 months ago they eliminated bottled water though, for environmental reasons. It sucks actually in this day and age when everyone is used to the convenience. Not so bad when one is in the office all day but it was great before being able to take a bottle or two when we went into the field. Also when people come for meetings it's awkward to give them a paper cup of water instead of a bottle.

Yeah that would be awkward. We have a full set of dishes, mugs, glasses, and silverware here and that's what the employees use. But, we do keep bottled water for clients, and it is nice to grab one if we're doing an on-site visit, some of those are up to an hour drive away.

(sorry OP didn't mean to hijack your post)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I feel the same about my works white elephant/ gift exchange. I could choose to not participate but that would be awkward.

When they had that going on at the call center I opted out. Never felt bad. Instead I opted to donate to charities nothing big but I felt much better about it. One year the team leader of the team I was on was collecting toiletries and other small things to put in pillowcases to give to homeless teens. I felt that was a far better usage of my money. That's not to say you couldn't do both but I just didn't feel the need to be pressured into doing something at work for people I really didn't know all that well nor who probably really cared in the end.

On the other hand we did a white elephant gift exchange with local DISers last year and will do it this year as well but it's a way different vibe than doing it at work. No pressure and for people who would appreciate a random nick nack item that isn't much $.

 

[disneychrista]

When they had that going on at the call center I opted out.

I don’t participate in the company wide “secret Santa” but this is just our small Department’s exchange. I just figure it’s one of those things you do to be part of the group.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don’t participate in the company wide “secret Santa” but this is just our small Department’s exchange. I just figure it’s one of those things you do to be part of the group.

Nah. You don't have to if you don't want to. If other people have an issue with it then they are missing out on the purpose of the season anyways. Giving someone a trinket doesn't make me part of a group anyways. Working and collaborating and doing my actual job makes me part of a group and I did that everyday of my job anyhow.

 

[marthachick]

I work for a local government. They used to do an employee luncheon for employees only. They haven’t done that in several years. We are not provided any sort of coffee, sodas, tea or anything. We have a kitchen area we can use for the food we bring. And another employee brought a Keruig for anyone who wants to bring their own pods. Some of the people are doing secret Santa but I am off the day they do the reveal so I’m not participating.

 

[ronandannette]

I don’t participate in the company wide “secret Santa” but this is just our small Department’s exchange. I just figure it’s one of those things you do to be part of the group.

Agree but luckily, now going on 14 years in my job, I'm more than well-enough entrenched that I can give it a rest. No more stupid Secret Santa for me! It seems like every year the number of people who choose to participate is smaller and smaller. The exchange is no longer an official part of the Christmas potluck we have but instead the organizer just hands the gifts around at some point in the week before we break for the holidays. Apparently this year, in order to avoid lame presents like bottles of wine and boxes of chocolates, each participant had to list 5 very specific things they wanted and one of those things must be purchased.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Agree but luckily, now going on 14 years in my job, I'm more than well-enough entrenched that I can give it a rest. No more stupid Secret Santa for me! It seems like every year the number of people who choose to participate is smaller and smaller. The exchange is no longer an official part of the Christmas potluck we have but instead the organizer just hands the gifts around at some point in the week before we break for the holidays. Apparently this year, in order to avoid lame presents like bottles of wine and boxes of chocolates, each participant had to list 5 very specific things they wanted and one of those things must be purchased.

If you lasted 14yrs at the call center you'd deserve a medal. Most lasted a year to 2yrs specifically on the phone. No one would even remember you participated and who didn't from year to years especially with shift bids every Aprol or so and attrition rates.

Most people I knew who didn't participate IF their team even opted to do it was because they were already donating to The March of Dimes through their paychecks and donating towards the team's raffle basket and contributing to food days and this and that.

According to my mom who still works for the company in the same building, though for home office, they discourage secret Santa now because they've noticed in recent years a dip in charity donations (which at a company level for notoriety means more). They also put a much lower $ cap on the team raffle baskets. A survey went out and employees felt it was all too much between the push for 401k contributions, the push for March of Dimes, the raffle baskets for Christmas, the food days, etc (eta: totally forgot push to do Salvation Army ringer rotations at the grocery store closest to the group of buildings and ETA also forgot the Angel Trees/adopt a family though at least the company contributed a healthy amount per team so employee obligation was fairly low). A secret Santa was becoming a burden and was not really a "group" thing to begin with. Out of the 12 supervisors I had in the 4+ yrs only three even had it only their agenda. One left the company before that time of year.

Different corporate cultures I guess. Though my husband's District (mostly engineering) didn't do that stuff either. They do more local charities donations as where they would rather the employees spend their efforts on. The yearly charity golf tournament is a bigger deal.

 

[disneychrista]

Apparently this year, in order to avoid lame presents like bottles of wine and boxes of chocolates, each participant had to list 5 very specific things they wanted and one of those things must be purchased.

This would SUCK for me. I am really bad at having “things” I want. For my birthday this past year I asked my kids for things like paint the kitchen, mow the weeds in the backyard, take the stuff collecting in the garage to goodwill, etc.