Does your company invite +1's to the holiday dinner?

[Anonymous]

I am a small business owner with about 15 employees, and we have invited +1's every year to our holiday dinner. Not everyone comes with a SO, so I'd say it increases our dinner cost by about 70%. I do feel it creates a lot of good will for the employees, and it makes the outing feel more fun that a business chore.
I was talking to another business owner and he said he does not invite +1's and rarely anyone he knows does so as to keep costs under control.

As an employee, do you appreciate it if your employer invites a +1? I value my employees and I am open to spending more if it is something that matters to them, but would rather spend the money elsewhere if this is not something that they are indifferent about.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

We do not invite +ones to the dinners. It's typically just a department dinner.

However, that said there are some leaders that hold holiday parties in their homes and they will invite spouses or +ones

[Anonymous]

That is a nice gesture! With just 15 employees, what does it cost if 30 attend, doubling your attendance? Is there a sunk private room rental charge regardless? Is it the alcohol? If it's like $250/head, does that $4000 spend better elsewhere that would provide the same goodwill? I've attended about 1/2 of my spouse's functions over the years, depending on lined up childcare, other commitments, etc. They were super large functions so I am not sure anyone notices who comes or not. Appreciated the invite though. What was more enjoyable was when the boss would have a dept. (<10) dinner or function and invite everyone to bring a +1. Perhaps ask around prior to next year's planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is a nice gesture! With just 15 employees, what does it cost if 30 attend, doubling your attendance? Is there a sunk private room rental charge regardless? Is it the alcohol? If it's like $250/head, does that $4000 spend better elsewhere that would provide the same goodwill? I've attended about 1/2 of my spouse's functions over the years, depending on lined up childcare, other commitments, etc. They were super large functions so I am not sure anyone notices who comes or not. Appreciated the invite though. What was more enjoyable was when the boss would have a dept. (<10) dinner or function and invite everyone to bring a +1. Perhaps ask around prior to next year's planning.

Thank you. OP here. I'd say it adds about $1500 to the budget to have the +1. I honestly feel it's a worthwhile expense to foster some goodwill with the team, but was surprised that it was not a very common practice.

[Anonymous]

Mine does not. DH's company does but not everyone brings a +1.

[Anonymous]

Of course we do. Unless it is something right after work by the office or at lunch why not a plus one.

My holiday party is at a fancy hotel, suits, dinner open bar, dancing, gift baskets. on a Saturday night usually around 8pm

Kinda weird not to invite a guest

[Anonymous]

My company used to, and then one year they sent out a survey to all employees.

Would you rather:
1) team lunch with coworkers
2) company wide dinner event with plus ones
3) $100 gift card but no holiday event.

Choice 3 was the favorite by HUGE margins. With a few people picking 1. 2 was the least favorite.

We send out $100 gift cards in a holiday card now instead of

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course we do. Unless it is something right after work by the office or at lunch why not a plus one.

My holiday party is at a fancy hotel, suits, dinner open bar, dancing, gift baskets. on a Saturday night usually around 8pm

Kinda weird not to invite a guest

That's more than a holiday dinner. That's a full night out lavish party night out. Holiday work dinner for me is a 5:30 pm dinner at a restaurant near the office, no spouses. Everyone leaves by 7:30 pm.

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of the survey and would also choose the gift card. I'm single, so do not need a +1.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My company also gives cash in a drawing of the plus1s. Every plus 1 wins between $20 and $500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course we do. Unless it is something right after work by the office or at lunch why not a plus one.

My holiday party is at a fancy hotel, suits, dinner open bar, dancing, gift baskets. on a Saturday night usually around 8pm

Kinda weird not to invite a guest

That's more than a holiday dinner. That's a full night out lavish party night out. Holiday work dinner for me is a 5:30 pm dinner at a restaurant near the office, no spouses. Everyone leaves by 7:30 pm.

How does that show appreciation to the actual people who make it all happen? My old firm sent gift baskets, Omaha steaks, gift cards etc. each year to the spouses directly. They are ones who cover while we work late. Men or women Spouses were inviged to Holiday party. Female spouses got Flowers when they gave birth. At Holiday party we even one year sent Limos to pick up and drop off spouses. Another company at offsites whole family invited, we had family picnics, take you take your kids to work day, family baseball outings, even one place a family holiday party bring the kids.

The workers get paychecks. The family and kids are one who work unpaid. Heck we let Moms and Dads come and one year a 24 year old single girl we recognized her friend who came who watches her dog on business trips and when she works late. We invited her to party and sent her a gift basket.

[Anonymous]

The place I used to work did not allow +1 and it wasn’t a budget thing. Apparently it was so people could get drunk and fool around with other people.

[Anonymous]

I’m fine either way but if there is no +1, I’d prefer a holiday lunch to dinner (sorry, but not interested in having a holiday dinner with just my coworkers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course we do. Unless it is something right after work by the office or at lunch why not a plus one.

My holiday party is at a fancy hotel, suits, dinner open bar, dancing, gift baskets. on a Saturday night usually around 8pm

Kinda weird not to invite a guest

That's more than a holiday dinner. That's a full night out lavish party night out. Holiday work dinner for me is a 5:30 pm dinner at a restaurant near the office, no spouses. Everyone leaves by 7:30 pm.

How does that show appreciation to the actual people who make it all happen? My old firm sent gift baskets, Omaha steaks, gift cards etc. each year to the spouses directly. They are ones who cover while we work late. Men or women Spouses were inviged to Holiday party. Female spouses got Flowers when they gave birth. At Holiday party we even one year sent Limos to pick up and drop off spouses. Another company at offsites whole family invited, we had family picnics, take you take your kids to work day, family baseball outings, even one place a family holiday party bring the kids.

The workers get paychecks. The family and kids are one who work unpaid. Heck we let Moms and Dads come and one year a 24 year old single girl we recognized her friend who came who watches her dog on business trips and when she works late. We invited her to party and sent her a gift basket.

That seems very 1950s. Not sure where you work, but I would say 1/3 of my coworkers are unmarried/don’t have a partner and maybe 1/2 don’t have kids. Maybe your firm poops gold bricks, but I wouldn’t waste a company budget line item on someone’s dog sitter.

[Anonymous]

Our holiday party invites +1 and I would say half bring a spouse and half do not. We do drink tickets, everyone gets up to 2 alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks are included and unlimited.