Anonymous
Post 12/10/2015 09:32     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My agency had a big Christmas party at a venue with catered food. My office will have a small party after the holidays since people are on travel.


How? How do you pay for it? I've never heard of an agency having a free Christmas party.


It wasn't free. We each had to pay a fee.


And its held by our MWR who makes up the rest of the money with proceeds funds.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2015 09:29     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My agency had a big Christmas party at a venue with catered food. My office will have a small party after the holidays since people are on travel.


How? How do you pay for it? I've never heard of an agency having a free Christmas party.


It wasn't free. We each had to pay a fee.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2015 09:03     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
My division has a big party in the main office, which you have to pay for. My section has a party which is potluck or contribution. My subsection has a lunch with a white elephant gift swap.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2015 08:48     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
I work in a division of about 50. We just got the flyer announcing the plans for our holiday party. It's at an off site restaurant and the cheapest meal options range from $22 - $29. And there is an optional gift exchange ($10 limit). No thank you. To the OP, if you want people to come, don't do this.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2015 08:24     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Anonymous wrote:My agency had a big Christmas party at a venue with catered food. My office will have a small party after the holidays since people are on travel.


How? How do you pay for it? I've never heard of an agency having a free Christmas party.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2015 08:23     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
My agency had a big Christmas party at a venue with catered food. My office will have a small party after the holidays since people are on travel.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 20:07     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
We're meeting at a local restaurant for an extended lunch. Have to chip in $20 if we want food, free if you just want to participate and not eat. Doubt we'll be given the whole day off after, I'm pretty sure we're going to be expected to go back to work.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 18:37     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
My sub-agency has a big party at a local hotel. It's from 11-3, then early release for the rest of the day. It's $20 a ticket to attend. The larger organization has a two-hour holiday fest with free food in the afternoon. Usually 1-3.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 18:09     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
It's holidays, not holiday's.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 18:07     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm one of those people who avoids office social events. I would make it a point to attend if there were some kind of incentive for me - especially if it was a 59 minute, early release award or something similar. I've gone to parties or participated when I knew there was a raffle 59 minute award. Or even better, have it and let everyone leave after.

I'd also figure out what kinds of food people like and order/bring that. If you have coffee drinkers, know what kind they like.

Make it as easy as possible to attend. Keep it on site. And don't charge anything for it.

Or hire someone to come in and give 10 minute seated massages for everyone.


Surely you aren't a fed? We can only do ours over lunch and how can you NOT charge anything for it? Where would the money come from? We don't have extra budgets for these things. I feel like if my agency hired a masseuse for us, it would make the news and we'd be ridiculed.


At my agency, the managers will get together and pay for the whole party (food/decorations etc.) for the employees. That's where the money comes from. And its a good way to make the staff feel valued and appreciated.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 12:22     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
We have a potluck. Payment isn't required.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 12:22     Subject: Re:How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Most of the groups (divisions, projects, etc) have a holiday party that includes lunch. Most are pot-luck, bring a dish or bring $10. The $10 (only for those who don't bring a dish) covers the plates, napkins, etc and entree foods. Others just charge $10 per head and they supply everything. We have a couple of groups that are doing late parties that don't include lunch. Those are then $5 (or bring a dessert or $5).
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 12:20     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm one of those people who avoids office social events. I would make it a point to attend if there were some kind of incentive for me - especially if it was a 59 minute, early release award or something similar. I've gone to parties or participated when I knew there was a raffle 59 minute award. Or even better, have it and let everyone leave after.

I'd also figure out what kinds of food people like and order/bring that. If you have coffee drinkers, know what kind they like.

Make it as easy as possible to attend. Keep it on site. And don't charge anything for it.

Or hire someone to come in and give 10 minute seated massages for everyone.


Surely you aren't a fed? We can only do ours over lunch and how can you NOT charge anything for it? Where would the money come from? We don't have extra budgets for these things. I feel like if my agency hired a masseuse for us, it would make the news and we'd be ridiculed.


Yes I am a fed. All the managers chip in to fund any celebration. Serious if you have a group that doesn't want to participate you better not ask them to pay for anything. Or just don't bother.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 11:21     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We don't do anything We had a potluck last year that cost $20 to attend (for plates and decorations I guess??), but most of us don't go.

What do you mean by "the AA"?


AA means administrative assistant. What did YOU think they meant?


I was also dumbfounded. But not nearly as much as I was by the PP who thinks that government employees can get even a single free cup of coffee!


Bahahaha!!! We often have meetings with the private sector. They'll come into meetings and ask me (because I'm a woman? We don't have a secretary) for coffee. We just laugh. Coffee makers are outlawed and Starbucks is 3/4 mile away.
Anonymous
Post 12/09/2015 11:21     Subject: How is your Federal Agency celebrating the holiday's
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We don't do anything We had a potluck last year that cost $20 to attend (for plates and decorations I guess??), but most of us don't go.

What do you mean by "the AA"?


AA means administrative assistant. What did YOU think they meant?


I was also dumbfounded. But not nearly as much as I was by the PP who thinks that government employees can get even a single free cup of coffee![/quote]

Bahahaha!!! We often have meetings with the private sector. They'll come into meetings and ask me (because I'm a woman? We don't have a secretary) for coffee. We just laugh. Coffee makers are outlawed and Starbucks is 3/4 mile away.