Full time remote workers - what does your workplace do for holiday parties for you if anything?

[Anonymous]

Sitting in my St Louis home office chatting over Slack with the other full time remote employees as the office enjoys a festive holiday dinner in NYC, where the office is based. There was zero acknowledgement to any of us that anything was happening other than one remote employee (who is 1.5 hours away from NYC) being told by his manager to stay tuned for details of a holiday party in NYC with no follow up.

I think they should have sent us a gift card or something...am I off here?

[Anonymous]

It basically feels like there was a party and we weren't invited. Which as I type this is what happened.

[Anonymous]

Also probably 30 total employees, six are remote.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. If we want to go to the party (three hour train ride for me) we can. Otherwise nothing. It's worth the six years at home though, so I'm fine with it.

[Anonymous]

Everyone at my law firm has a "home office" and they are welcome to attend the holiday party. If they choose not to travel to it, that's their decision.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. Zero. Zip. Nada. Ever. Ten years of fully remote.

I am sure there are a few large corporate parties at the large corporate offices.

One year, I got a mug in the mail.

But, to be honest, I don’t really care.

[Anonymous]

I think it is weird you expected an invite to this party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. If we want to go to the party (three hour train ride for me) we can. Otherwise nothing. It's worth the six years at home though, so I'm fine with it.

Yup this is pretty much what DH said about his.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is weird you expected an invite to this party.

I don't expect an invite but I don't think it should be a huge secret AND I think it would be a thoughtful and inclusive gesture to send a $30 GrubHub card with a note that says thank you for your service.

But I am not sure what the standard is here, hence my post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is weird you expected an invite to this party.

I don't expect an invite but I don't think it should be a huge secret AND I think it would be a thoughtful and inclusive gesture to send a $30 GrubHub card with a note that says thank you for your service.

But I am not sure what the standard is here, hence my post.

No you are ridiculous. Part of the office holiday party, in fact really the entire point, is team building. Sending a gift card to remote workers is not building the team.

[Anonymous]

Working from home is it's own reward. I could travel to the party if I wanted to, at my expense. Just like I could drive to the party, at my own expense, when I worked in an office. That's fair. I don't expect them to mail me gifts or anything.

[Anonymous]

No, you're not entitled to anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is weird you expected an invite to this party.

I don't expect an invite but I don't think it should be a huge secret AND I think it would be a thoughtful and inclusive gesture to send a $30 GrubHub card with a note that says thank you for your service.

But I am not sure what the standard is here, hence my post.

No you are ridiculous. Part of the office holiday party, in fact really the entire point, is team building. Sending a gift card to remote workers is not building the team.

Doing nothing is also not building the team.

[Anonymous]

We have a couple of Webex "parties" where we play some silly online games. We usually get a meal sent to everyone via DoorDash or whatever and eat during the party.They're actually pretty fun as long as we don't do another online escape room. ( )

[Anonymous]

If you don’t attend work in person, why would you expect to be included in an in-person gathering? I presume you could go into the office if you chose.