Work Holiday Parties

[Lord Manhammer]

This has been alluded to on other threads so let's have one dedicated to it. Work Holiday Parties. How do you feel about them? I have my second of three holiday parties tonight where I will be attending a reception thrown by my University President including trustees and donors. I will wear my best suit. I have another casual party on Friday. What about you? Will you be having a holiday party at work? If there was another thread dedicated to this, I apologise for the duplication.

 

[MamaMermaid]

This has been alluded to on other threads so let's have one dedicated to it. Work Holiday Parties. How do you feel about them? I have my second of three holiday parties tonight where I will be attending a reception thrown by my University President including trustees and donors. I will wear my best suit. I have another casual party on Friday. What about you? Will you be having a holiday party at work? If there was another thread dedicated to this, I apologise for the duplication.

I teach high school so don't really have a corporate party like most. We have a department party at someone's house that's usually a potluck and relaxed. Doesn't mean I always want to go though Then, the school tends to host a holiday lunch in the cafeteria for us after exams before break.

I'm grateful to not have the pressure of corporate work parties!

 

[Lord Manhammer]

I teach high school so don't really have a corporate party like most. We have a department party at someone's house that's usually a potluck and relaxed. Doesn't mean I always want to go though Then, the school tends to host a holiday lunch in the cafeteria for us after exams before break.

I'm grateful to not have the pressure of corporate work parties!

I had a party for Department chairs last week, the one tonight and then a faculty union party on Friday. I actually have more parties now that I'm in higher ed than when I worked in the private sector.

 

[EACarlson]

My department does a potluck, I won't be participating. I work from home 80-90% and will make sure to be home that day.

 

[Smugpugmug]

What a coincidence, mine is today but during work hours so I'm sitting in the office right now. There will be an after hours event at a local bar, which I will NOT be participating in and will immediately drive home once the mandatory part of the party is over.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Ours is tomorrow, during work hours in our conference center. First time in 3 years there's no virtual portion for those not wanting to come downtown.

I'm planning to go, but really second-guessing why I said I would. I want to stay home.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

What a coincidence, mine is today but during work hours so I'm sitting in the office right now. There will be an after hours event at a local bar, which I will NOT be participating in and will immediately drive home once the mandatory part of the party is over.

My event today will be in a newly renovated building on campus with fancy wine and cheese. It's a big to do. I'm actually looking forward to it.

 

[SteveH]

We do our "Christmas" party after the new year, and we go bowling. No pressure, no dress up, drinks are on your own, families invited and we pay for the food and fun. We have a huge turn out every year.

 

[SC Minnie]

We have a company luncheon today for the Commercial team which my department falls under. I'll be going because it's kind of required plus I'm in the office today.

Our department is rather small and over half work remote. Last year we did an outing but nothing is planned this year and I'm OK with that.

I work in our headquarters. We used to have a big party with dinner and a band. Everyone got dressed up and it was fun. They stopped doing that when about 15 years ago.

 

[footballmouse]

Our office party was last week. I was in charge of planning it so I felt that I had to go. We had it at a trendy bbq restaurant, had the private room reserved. Food was excellent and we had a white elephant gift exchange (I didn't participate in this). I made the gift exchange fun and did Never Have I Ever questions. I received a lot of compliments on the party and the game so I guess I can put party planner on my resume.

 

[cedricandsophie]

When I was working, we usually just did small parties within our department. Each manager could take direct reports out and expense it back up to a point. I always spent way over the budget. One year I took the 5 of us into Chicago for a champagne toast at the Drake hotel, a little Michigan Ave shopping and then dinner at Spago ( a 5 star restaurant). Needless to say I was a popular manager. Otherwise people did home parties. Attendance was never required but we were all like a family so it was always fun.

 

[Smugpugmug]

My event today will be in a newly renovated building on campus with fancy wine and cheese. It's a big to do. I'm actually looking forward to it.

Sounds better than the freezing cold office building I'm currently sitting in lol. I'm not even too sensitive to cold but it's like a frozen tundra in here.

 

[leebee]

Usually we have a department get-together pot luck but not this year. Instead, there was a poster session/retirement party for a faculty member, with sandwiches and sweets and things. I couldn't go as I was teaching. Also, the University President will have a luncheon for all employees, catered by Dining Services, today, but I'm not in town.

DH's former University (he changed jobs this summer) has a huge reception every year- it was last Saturday night. All kinds of fancy food stations, different ethnic options at about a dozen different stations, mini lobster rolls and chilled shrimp platters passed by wait staff, huge sushi bar, open bar for beer and wine, endless dessert bar. It's always fabulous and is not being able to attend anymore is the ONLY thing he misses about the old position!

 

[starry_solo]

Blech. We have one this afternoon. At least it takes place during working hours, but that just means I have to use non-work hours to catch up on work....

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

In Ireland, many hotels do Christmas Party Nights. This is where a company or business buy a table at an event night. First there is a 3 course meal and then some entertainment and then a nightclub / disco. The company usually pays for alcohol during the meal, but then after the meal you buy your own.

 

[soccerdad72]

Our college does a big holiday gala each year at either a large party venue or this year at a downtown hotel ballroom.

I've never gone - when my kids were younger, we usually had some activity or something that conflicted. Now, I just don't feel like going.

My wife's firm has some sort of holiday party each year, but they often do it in early January so as not to conflict with other parties. We usually have to go - my wife feels obliged as a partner.

ETA: I'll take my staff out for lunch next week before we leave for break.

 

[jimmymc]

Ours are pretty good. We usually go bowling and the director buys pizza and soda for everyone. We also do it during the workday, so you're getting paid for it.

 

[BrianL]

I don't mind the on-office during work hours type stuff, as long as they don't make us play silly games. After hours parties are usually pretty tough for me, but it can depend. I used to be with a smaller department (like six of us) and the boss just took us to a very nice restaurant. That I found enjoyable, but the larger gatherings were always kind of annoying. Not to mention, for someone like me who is pretty introverted, it's like still being at work!

 

[Schneewittchen37]

I have 3 work parties on my radar. I'm a director. Middle management with around 100 staff under me. Some parties is just a part of the game, but the thing I look forward to most is going to the King's Dominion Winterfest with family this weekend. There should be 7 of us, I'm so excited.

The first party was this past Monday. A very casual cookie exchange hosted by my Assistant VP. It was nice, pleasant, etc. A nice time with my peers and a few of my staff in management roles.

Tonight is a formal reception hosted by the President. Heck no, I'm not going. I don't want to fly too close to the sun. I expect scary politicking and want nothing to do with that. One of my friends is going, but she's an unrepentant gossip, so I expect to get all the dirt tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the party hosted by my VP. These are always a blast. Hundreds of people show up. Good food, prizes, activities. A great chance to bond with my team and catch up with old friends. Ugly Christmas sweaters everywhere.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

I don't mind the on-office during work hours type stuff, as long as they don't make us play silly games. After hours parties are usually pretty tough for me, but it can depend. I used to be with a smaller department (like six of us) and the boss just took us to a very nice restaurant. That I found enjoyable, but the larger gatherings were always kind of annoying. Not to mention, for someone like me who is pretty introverted, it's like still being at work!

Yeah, I miss adult fun. My previous AVP used to take us out to a fancy lunch for Christmas. That was lovely.