Office parties

[minnieandme]

With the holiday season approaching us, some of us have an office party. What does your office do to celebrate the season?

For my office, we usually have a restaurant cater the meat and dressing and everyone brings in a side dish.

 

[Fitswimmer]

We have a holiday party at a local restaruant from 4-8. Only employees may attend, no contractors or significant others. They do this weird thing where they give the impression that it is mandatory-until everyone gets there and then they tell you that it really isn't. Some people really like it, others would rather be with family or friends at that time.

 

[VampHeartless]

Never been to one...although in the Army we had many mandatory celebratory functions, which no one liked attending. Commander's just never got it through their heads that people would rather be at home with their families.

 

[NMAmy]

We have a holiday potluck lunch in our office (which we share with another department.) With all the faculty included, it's about 200 people bringing dishes and stopping by. It's a lot of fun and people start asking me about it before Thanksgiving (like last week!)

I like that people just stop by during their lunches--it's very casual and nothing mandatory about it. Plus, it helps that the food is laid out all around my own personal office. Hey, you do the planning and you get to pick these things!

 

[SC Minnie]

We have a potluck between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We have almost 200 people in the office. Several years ago before we were bought by a larger company we had a very nice Christmas Party but they put a stop to that.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

My small department has a luncheon. We go to a local restaurant for a catered lunch. This year it is in a great Italian restaurant so I don't think I can turn it down. Also, I enjoy the company of the people I work with so it's fun.

I know the larger department I'm in is having a luncheon also. But I don't know many of those people and I'm not a fan of the restaurant they chose.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I get a day off.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I get a day off.

I'd LOVE that! I'd take even an afternoon off over the "mandatory" party.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I was in a different, much larger department last year and they would provide(through catering) the main dishes(turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes etc) and then we would bring desserts and side dishes. This year, my department is smaller and we are going to the Elk's Lodge for our dinner. I don't know which one I will like better. I'm just glad it's that time of year!

 

[azgal81]

We have a company cater the turkey and ham then everyone else brings a dish to share. We usually have a white elephant gift exchange during the lunch as well. It's usually for a couple of hours on the friday a week or two before the holidays!

 

[supercarrie]

We have three! I work at the head office of an Swedish bank in London.

The first is the department party - shared with the account managers (we are their back office support.) This is going to start at the bank with drinks and mingling and continue at the top Thai restaurant in London and dancing later on.

Second - party for our clients - an invitation only event held at our office. Lots of Swedish food and LOTS of alcohol, basically designed to thank them for giving us all their money.

And third - the big one - office-wide held at Somerset House this year! Black tie dinner and dancing event - a very big deal.

All paid for by the bank, which is quite nice!

My boyfriend also works for a bank, and his parties are essentially the same (except on a REALLY over the top scale - really ridiculously blown out - he works for one of the largest investment banks in the world. The bank spends millions of pounds each Christmas on the wide assortment of parties and client events.)

None are mandatory which is also nice - I am going because I will be ending my time in London shortly (my work visa is expiring) however there is no pressure to attend.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I'd LOVE that! I'd take even an afternoon off over the "mandatory" party.

The day I get off is Christmas Day, so it's not really all that great.

 

[Hercules10]

Shows where my mind is...I misread the subject of this one as "Office panties"

Maybe Freud had something there...

 

[gobears!]

A potluck. And if we choose not to bring in food, we have to pay $10 for plates and such.

That's a whole lot of plates.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

DH's workplace:

in the office, last day before holiday, they bring in dish to pass, munchies, desserts - I think company springs for pizza, etc - and they take a nice extended lunch. Depending on what is going on - I think they cut out a little early....

They also have a big evening party (dinner and dancing) for workers and spouses at a nice offsite location - and provide rides home for those who need it.

Not sure they do anything for kids - if they do - we didn't participate last year.

luckily, nothing mandatory...

 

[Chicago526]

I work for a company with about 300 people. Every year we alternate. One year we have a really fancy dress up dinner at an area hotel on a Saturday night in December We get to bring one guest. The "off" year we have a Christmas lunchon during a work day (a Friday) in December at an area hotel, we can't bring a guest, but after lunch we get the rest of the day off, paid. Both parties we have a huge raffle, the grand prize is $1000 with about 40 lesser prizes ranging from gift certificates to gift baskets to airline tickets and weekend hotel stays.

This years is the luncheon year. I don't like the luncheons as much, I love to dress up and have DH take me someplace fancey! Oh well, just something to look forward to next year!

 

[ransom]

I work in a small office. We have a gathering off-site, on a weekend, with spouses invited.

Personally, I don't care for that sort of thing. I'll attend if it's during working hours, but after hours is my personal time.

 

[lizdotcom99]

The holiday parties at my SO's office are incredible. He works in a very small office and has a great boss. This year 20 of us...everybody in the office and a spouse/SO will be going to see Wicked in VIP seats, then after the show we will be going to Bistro 312 for dinner. I am very excited as this these parties are so much fun!

Last year we saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat...before hand we were all given Marshall Field Gift cards and had lunch at the Walnut room.

This year, I think a few of us will be going early to try for the front row lottery tickets, in hope of getting them and giving them to his boss and her hubby We have been very successful at this and have gotten them 2 out of the 3 times we have tried!

Can't wait....the party date is fast approaching!!!

 

[curlybop]

We all go to a restaurant the week before Christmas - our boss pays for it. There is also a company party, but I never attend.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I work in a small office. We have a gathering off-site, on a weekend, with spouses invited.

Personally, I don't care for that sort of thing. I'll attend if it's during working hours, but after hours is my personal time.

I work in a meduim-sized office and they do the same thing. It is usually 8 - 12 the night of the first Saturday in December. I don't want to trapse all the way from Annapolis into DC for finger-food, a cash bar, and an employee "American Idol" style contest. They have a raffle with a lot of prizes, but oddly enough, upper management generally happens to win about half of them (and we worker bees outnumber them by at least 8 to 1). I wish they'd give us each a gift card for the holidays instead of some crappy party.