Can I take a look at that schedule?

can't say my company dinner party suffered from these symptonms.

5 star restaraunt
$10000 open bar
about 60-70 people

/drank it dry

So only 7 hookers and two pounds of cocaine this year?

AntiNorm: In these tough economic times, companies are downsizing their holiday celebrations. More at 11.

FTFM

My company rented out half of a high-end restaurant, had an open bar, and live music. I did not attend as it seemed like a pain to go there and back and hire a baby sitter. Besides, I really despise most of the people that work there. The Christmas bonuses (cash) were handed out that night. The office manager called me the next day to tell me that mine was at the office waiting to be picked up. I told her to mail it to me via certified mail. I really hate that place and avoid it at all costs.

Ours is BYOB and BYODessert. They didn't even have one last year.

HOT

COCOA

SAMPLER

BOX

Last year, we hired a nightclub and had 2 well known bands.
The year, we had farking lawn bowls.
So I'm really getting a kick out of... Ummm...

Huh, my companies Christmas party consisted of gathering the employees together and telling us how grateful we all should be for having a job that pays peanuts.

I got a nice bonus and was told to get the hell out and spend time with my family. So that works too.

Instead of dropping $5-10k on a big evening out, with our coworker's families, beginning last year, everyone at our company decided instead to team up with a local charity and sponsor a half dozen local, needy families (usually single moms w/ young kids) to anonymously give them the best Christmas they've likely had. The company takes us out on a low-key lunch, splits us into equal groups, gives us some $750-1000 (depending on family size, kid's age) and gives us the afternoon to shop for them. The company also gives them a $100 gift card for grocery store and $100 gas card. Since we heard donations were down this year each group also had an extra $100 just to spend on buying toys for Toys-for-Tots.

It's much more fun and rewarding to do this, instead of blowing money on a single evening when we're all tired with the holidays.

/plus we get a personal x-mas bonus
//my office rocks
///cool story bro

All of my republican friends have stated that their company christmas party was literally a line of his co-workers and himself spreading their ass for their boss to bang.

MrSteve007: Instead of dropping $5-10k on a big evening out, with our coworker's families, beginning last year, everyone at our company decided instead to team up with a local charity and sponsor a half dozen local, needy families (usually single moms w/ young kids) to anonymously give them the best Christmas they've likely had. The company takes us out on a low-key lunch, splits us into equal groups, gives us some $750-1000 (depending on family size, kid's age) and gives us the afternoon to shop for them. The company also gives them a $100 gift card for grocery store and $100 gas card. Since we heard donations were down this year each group also had an extra $100 just to spend on buying toys for Toys-for-Tots.

It's much more fun and rewarding to do this, instead of blowing money on a single evening when we're all tired with the holidays.

/plus we get a personal x-mas bonus
//my office rocks
///cool story bro

Filthy hippie. I bet you live in San Francisco. *checks profile* Just as bad. Those single moms already sold the stuff at pawn shops and bought crack. But at least your company can feel smug and get a break on taxes.

So true. Four years ago my little company gave everybody a $25 gift card and a nice pair of mittens.

Three years ago my little comapny gave everybody a $50 gift card and they threw some money at my supervisor and told him to order pizza.

Two years ago my little company bought a larger company. We had $50 gift cards, a catered dinner in the factory, and a prize raffle (I won a Vikings tailgating chair)

Last year my smallish company gave out $50 gift cards and a company sweatshirt, had a dinner in a reception hall, and had a bigger raffle with everybody a winner.

This year we're having a pot-luck.

Ouch.

To show you how much we value and appreciate your hard work, and in lieu of a Holiday Party:



Pick 1.

krispos42: This year we're having a pot-luck.

There is no way in hell I am eating anything that a coworker brings in. I have too much to live for.

Panty Sniffer: Filthy hippie. I bet you live in San Francisco. *checks profile* Just as bad. Those single moms already sold the stuff at pawn shops and bought crack. But at least your company can feel smug and get a break on taxes.

Yeah, I used to have to spend way too much time dealing with who are essentially the scum of society (as a reporter) - but what these people have on their 'wish list' is pretty damn depressing, and not anything too pawnable/valuable.

For mom: crockpot

For 9 year old boy: winter jacket, underwear, socks, slippers, he likes super hero movies

For 6 year old girl: warm hat, winter jacket, underwear, socks, likes camp rock.

For 2 month old: diapers, blanket, onesies.

If they're taking that stuff to the pawnshop - they're aiming too low.

The organization behind it as a pretty good rep too: Vision House (new window).

we got a $10 gift card from chinese owned walmart

"Downsizing? I have no problem with that. I have been recommending downsizing since I first got here."

Panty Sniffer: krispos42: This year we're having a pot-luck.

There is no way in hell I am eating anything that a coworker brings in. I have too much to live for.

True this. Eating at a potluck means you have to place considerable faith in both your fellow guests' culinary skill and grasp of basic food safety techniques. I trust my friends with both, and my co-workers with neither.


We do have wine and hors d'œuvres (usually canapés from the local deli) at lunch on the Fridays before the long holiday breaks, which is really nice.

My company gave many of us a government paid holiday.

MrSteve007: Yeah, I used to have to spend way too much time dealing with who are essentially the scum of society (as a reporter) - but what these people have on their 'wish list' is pretty damn depressing, and not anything too pawnable/valuable.

For mom: crockpot

For 9 year old boy: winter jacket, underwear, socks, slippers, he likes super hero movies

For 6 year old girl: warm hat, winter jacket, underwear, socks, likes camp rock.

For 2 month old: diapers, blanket, onesies.

If they're taking that stuff to the pawnshop - they're aiming too low.

The organization behind it as a pretty good rep too: Vision House (new window).

I stand corrected. If the money is actually being used to buy these basic things, it is a good charity. I know I came off as kind of harsh and judgmental, but I have seen charity scams that make me sick, especially since I grew up dirt poor in a large family.

My company is hosting a Christmas party. It's on a Tuesday evening and everyone has to pay $55 to attend. I declined.

Ironic, in that company parties were started to help people through the depression ....

Our company decided that despite the tough year, a lavish party would boost the morale of the executive team. No expense was spared - it was held at a ritzy hotel, the finest caviar from Russia and champaign from France was Fed Exed in. In the true holiday spirit we did not forget about our former underlings who lost their jobs - hell, no! We hired them back for various jobs like bathroom attendants, busboys, and clowns for our children. The guy who was hired for human doormat expressed his appreciation with every grunt.

A free room at Mohegan Sun casino, catered prime rib dinner with open bar and dancing, plus $50 in casino chips goes a long way when I know I'll be laid off next Friday.

No change in policy for my company. Previous years we went to a bar and consumed as much as we could on the company dime. This year we're doing the same thing.

It's hard to downsize what was fairly small to begin with, and basically the only kind of bonus we get from the company all year.

Sherjo311: can't say my company dinner party suffered from these symptonms.

5 star restaraunt
$10000 open bar
about 60-70 people

/drank it dry

Our battalion set a record for most spend on booze during a marine corps ball at the e-clubs on Okinawa. Not counting the kegs that we had purchased from the fundraiser profits, we were well over 10k. And that is with cheap beer and mixed drinks. We were so profitable that they are sponsoring our christmass party.

My boss's husband was a big wig at some alcohol distribution company. We had all the free booze we could drink. We always had to wait until the nuns left before shiat started getting real (I work at a Catholic hospital (don't get me wrong, us Catholics loves us some booze, but the Sisters frowned on people getting straight up trashed.)) That said, it was a pretty good time. There was always top shelf stuff available too. There wasn't any Pepe Lopez tequila or anything like that. It was the fancy pants stuff. And, just for fun, there's always a couple of bottles of that Cabo Wabo tequila (we're classy like that (but it's actually not bad)). But, yeah, good times.

/This story seemed cooler before I actually typed it out
//But the typing is done now and I'll be damned if I'm going to delete it
///Yeah, yeah. Cool story, bro

chemical_angel: Can I take a look at that schedule?

Sure, you can get it here
http://www.fark.com/2007/book/

My company has done away with the bagels on Friday mornings, holiday party, bonuses, we moved to a smaller office with no drinking water except for the bathroom sink, fired %50 of the workforce, and we all got pay cuts. They have stated repeatedly that they "don't pay overtime" while demanding that the hourly workers put in 50/60 hours per week around the holidays. I'm hoping one of them gets pissed and calls the department of labor to get them a fat fine. Yes! Happy Holidays!

One of my clients invited me to their office christmas party this year, as they have for years. This year it was held at a McCormick & Schmick's, and employees were encouraged to bring there spouses or girl/boy friends. It was a very nice evening, the food was excellent for a chain restaurant, and there was plenty to drink (open bar) and they had a small combo for entertainment.

Would you believe that some of the employees farking complained? Wasn't grand enough for some of them. One clown was crying that the bar didn't have his brand of single malt. I really felt like cock punching the ungrateful shait.

Panty Sniffer: There is no way in hell I am eating anything that a coworker brings in. I have too much to live for.

I just baked the chocolate chip-bacon-pecan cookies. You sure about this?

/Recipe from National Public Radio
//New motto: "NPR: It's not just for Jewish people any more"

Pretty much the same party as usual. We have a great caterer we do work for and he caters our Christmas party. We do the $20 gag gift thing (Don't tell anyone, but I am giving a certificate for dinner at a chicken and waffle place that is so good you can actually feel your arteries hardening at the dinner table)...plenty of booze, food that's a little upscale for my tastes. All in all, it's pretty decent. Won't lie...it has been a tough year. I am one of the owners of the company and my partner and I cut our salaries about 50% so we wouldn't have to let anyone go. Made it through ok, though...if I had a crystal ball, not sure we would have made a lot of the big 2008 infrastructure and staff investments...but so far so good and we'll end up having a pretty "meh" year this year...more or less flat over 2008. I think a lot of folks would trade us.

I have to attend three parties for various levels of my employer. They're basic drinks and finger food at a local bar or in one of our buildings, but I have no complaints. I have a drink, make a circuit of the room greeting people, then I'm out the door and home an hour or two early.

Remember

In order of importance

1. Shareholders
2 Customers
3. Employees

This Christmas, find a shareholder and kick him in the nuts. HARD.

Best holiday party I ever went to : The week before xmas, my bailed-out 'too big to fail' bank had a giant party at a hotel in midtown, with free food, free booze, no spouses allowed, and no supervisors.

Worst? "Yeah, we're gonna need you to stay on site through the Christmas party and service this new client"

What a holiday party SHOULD look like...

Two years ago we had a fancy shindig in a ballroom with steak and such and the bosses gave out good gifts to everyone.

Last year, one of the bosses borrowed an event location from someone they knew, and it was more of a family thing, with BBQ and such. There were games, and the winners got gift cards, and everyone else got a hot cocoa sampler (ok, not really - I got a ham. It was really good and I didn't mind at all). We all knew times were getting tough.

This year we had to lay off a ton of people and our holiday thing is a potluck at the office.

I mind that a little more, but we're also a small enough company that I know that if they did the fancy shindig this year they'd have to lay me off to do it, and I'd rather have a job.

I've only worked at a few places that had parties. Usually, it was a little cash, time off or meat. I was on the benefits committee at one place where the budget for parties was $50K for about 100 people. Another place cut summer sausages in half and gave everyone a little cheer. Everyone would hold them like a penis and run around the shop.

Now I work at a big company where the party is a day the employee discount is a couple points higher. I miss those cellophane rewrapped sausages.

Where I work, the holiday party isn't for employees, it's for clients, vendors, etc. so they go all out - great food, open bar, etc. This year it was bigger than ever and a lot of fun - they just chose to downsize our bonuses instead :(

Yeah, but upper management will still get their bonus this year, so it's all ok.