My company has weathered 4 bad years and is starting to do well. No xmas party except a1.5 hour office potluck and no bonuses. But they are nice people and I signed in in the middle of the bad times after getting laid off from a crapoy big firm with lots of cash who treated everyone badly.

I am happier tgan I have been in years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State employee here: having a potluck; my department can only stay 30 minutes because otherwise we are "wasting state time." Sigh.

You must not work at DMV.

Pretty sure pp meant state department

Hope, original PP here, and I actually happen to know I work for state government in a very small department which I do not want identified, since the beatings will continue until morale improves. And, obviously not the DMV. Hahaha!

My organization used to have legendary Christmas parties. Then a few years ago it was decided that it no longer looks good for an international development organization to throw big bashes, and the organization-wide parties were kaput. But all the departments and networks now hold their own since there's no ban on that. And instead of one big reception we end up with twenty+ slightly smaller ones. Which is a-OK.

I wish my company would cancel our dull party and instead give employees bonuses. I refuse to go to these dumb events because we're a nonprofit and seeing 20 sushi boats come out when nobody except upper management is paid well makes me want to scream.

^^^^I should mention that the party is held at someone's home on a Saturday, not at school, since I mentioned alcohol.

Anonymous wrote:I work for the public schools. Even though we pay social dues, we still pay for our holiday party.

Yup, us too. Plus it's a potluck in January with no alcohol. I guess we're paying for decorations?

Fed employee here. Holiday parties were discontinued in my building years ago when some drunk Homeland Security guys said inappropriate things to people walking by the building...

While I know the overall budget for ours has gone down in recent years, they still put on a good show. Small company - 100ish people. It was a hotel last year - very nice one, just can't remember. Previously we've done PNC box at Nat Stadium, some club I can't remember name of and my all time favorite was O Street Mansion.

The only thing I've noticed is that the open bar seems to end earlier every year.

But I'm always impressed with how well the planning committee does with shrinking budget.

Probably helps that ours is an Awards Gala in January instead of holiday party in December.

I work for the public schools. Even though we pay social dues, we still pay for our holiday party.