Holiday parties at federal agencies

[Anonymous]

Now that doge is gone, are agencies having big, multi-hour “holiday parties” during working hours?

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

I don’t even think we’ll be doing a sad pot luck lunch this year.

[Anonymous]

We're having a pizza holiday lunch, and people can bring desserts to share. I'm fine with that, seems pretty low key.

[Anonymous]

Not department wide to my knowledge, but my office just had a Thanksgiving potluck and there is also a couple hour Holiday party planned with several other offices in a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Seems like it will be the same as in past years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that doge is gone, are agencies having big, multi-hour “holiday parties” during working hours?

Should be after hours.

[Anonymous]

I think ours is like 2 hours. We pay for everything ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that doge is gone, are agencies having big, multi-hour “holiday parties” during working hours?

Should be after hours.

People go to private sector parties because they're nice (open bar, free food, DJ, raffle) and because your career suffers if you don't go.

Federal parties are paid for by attendees, organized by volunteers, can't have alcohol, and you don't meaningfully hurt your career by skipping something that happens after hours. An evening party is a nonstarter. Just say you don't want them to have parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that doge is gone, are agencies having big, multi-hour “holiday parties” during working hours?

Ours never did that. We did have a no-host holiday pot luck, held during lunch. It was made quite clear that it could not be claimed as any form of paid time.

[Anonymous]

Traditionally, my office does an all hands meeting, followed by a potluck and team building games. We aren’t even doing that this year.
Someone is putting something together for after hours, but those typically aren’t very well attended. We asked for input, roughly 1/4 want to meet at a bar. I won’t do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that doge is gone, are agencies having big, multi-hour “holiday parties” during working hours?

Should be after hours.

People go to private sector parties because they're nice (open bar, free food, DJ, raffle) and because your career suffers if you don't go.

Federal parties are paid for by attendees, organized by volunteers, can't have alcohol, and you don't meaningfully hurt your career by skipping something that happens after hours. An evening party is a nonstarter. Just say you don't want them to have parties.

Ours have alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Ours is at a restaurant after hours. Pay to go. Not allowed to have any celebration onsite.

[Anonymous]

Our political appointee is ordering a catered lunch from Maggianos and then there is an optional white elephant which is an office tradition.

[Anonymous]

Ours is just a potluck during our regular lunch hour. I actually really like them though and like socializing with coworkers. I don’t mind the potluck part.

Our administration is crazy and doesn’t let us email about anything like this so it’s word of mouth. They don’t want to get in trouble for letting us have a potluck.