How weird is this re: office holiday party

[Anonymous]

I switched jobs about 6 months ago. My former workplace was undergoing a lot of changes - notably changing full-time employees to freelancers, slashing benefits, laying people off, etc. I left voluntarily but who knows what would have happened had I stayed (I likely would have been ok as my replacement is still there and my position still exists where a lot of others don't, but that's not really relevant). I keep in touch with a bunch of former co-workers - some who still work there, some who left voluntarily and some who were laid off.

I just got an invite to this year's holiday party, which I find totally strange. A lot of the laid-off people were also invited. It seems borderline insulting to me to basically say to people, hey, we've got enough money to throw this party and "celebrate" how well the department is doing (which it's not), not to mention invite all these extra people, but we couldn't keep you employed! I'm not sure if I'm going to go - I genuinely like most of the people there, didn't leave on bad terms or anything, but the whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

If you genuinely like the people, why not go? It's not a celebration of how well the firm is doing, it's a celebration of human bonds and friendship that we want to cherish and consider this time of year.

[Anonymous]

That smells to me of good intentions without thinking through the consequences of how it is perceived. DUMB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That smells to me of good intentions without thinking through the consequences of how it is perceived. DUMB.

+1

[Anonymous]

What kind of a holiday party is it? Evening cocktail party at a hotel downtown or lunchtime potluck?

[Anonymous]

Strange. I agree. I was "fired" and then "invited" to my "going away party."

[Anonymous]

I think their intentions were good. I could also see going being a good thing for those laid off, to keep up their contacts and references, but I know it would potentially be painful. At our office, we fund the party by selling $25 tickets to employees, which also funds guests/non-employees. If your office does something similar, the party really doesn't say anything about how well the company is doing.