Phoenix84
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 17, 2011 21:42:35 GMT -5
Posts: 10,056
|
Post by Phoenix84 on Dec 15, 2015 18:12:24 GMT -5
So, what is your employer doing in regards to a company Christmas party?
Are you having a meal, if so what? Are you buying gifts for co workers? Doing a gift swap? If so, what are you getting your co workers?
Inquiring minds want to know.
|
|
Malarky
Junior Associate
Truth and snark are equal opportunity here.
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 21:00:51 GMT -5
Posts: 5,313
|
Post by Malarky on Dec 15, 2015 19:01:34 GMT -5
The owner closed the bakeries early on Sunday and hosted a delicious buffet meal at her home for all employees inclined to attend. There are three locations so it gives us an opportunity to dress up and chat with people we normally only interact with on the phone. Good company, good food and adult beverages-a good time was had by all. It was a short, intense soiree, then we all rushed home to watch the Patriots.
|
|
steph08
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 3, 2011 13:06:01 GMT -5
Posts: 5,508
|
Post by steph08 on Dec 15, 2015 19:04:08 GMT -5
It used to be a big shindig at a swanky hotel, but they moved it this year closer to the office. Still a nice place with good food.
I will probably go unless I get laid off tomorrow!
|
|
Anne_in_VA
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:09:35 GMT -5
Posts: 5,547
|
Post by Anne_in_VA on Dec 15, 2015 19:07:25 GMT -5
We no longer have a "Holiday" party since we were acquired by a larger company and lots of people either work from home or work in different locations. I do have to say, however, my manager gives each of her team members a gift card. I don't remember how much it was last year, maybe $50 or $100?
i give a small gift to a couple of coworkers at my office since we're friends - sometimes something homemade or just a token like a favorite coffee.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 13, 2024 7:14:49 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 19:07:28 GMT -5
Big Shindig at a fancy hotel in January. They had an optional gift/cookie exchange this week that I declined.
|
|
saveinla
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 2:00:29 GMT -5
Posts: 5,275
|
Post by saveinla on Dec 15, 2015 19:09:35 GMT -5
We had a great party with a casino theme, good food and a free open bar. They gave us 500$ worth of chips which we could play and exchange the winnings for raffle tickets. They had a lot of great prices like a tablet, a guitar, a few vinyl players, TV etc etc. It was fun to see everyone dressed up nicely when our usual is just jeans and a t-shirt.
We usually have the party in the second week of December, since we are closed between Christmas and New year and most of the people take off the week before Christmas.
We don't exchange gifts.
|
|
cael
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 9:12:36 GMT -5
Posts: 5,745
|
Post by cael on Dec 15, 2015 19:11:11 GMT -5
We have a holiday breakfast hosted by the mayor (her staff and the HR staff actually) for the whole city. We had that today and I won a Dunks gift card for ugliest sweater My office does lunch out and a Yankee swap for just us (we're doing that Friday), and our floor in our building does a 4th floor holiday party after new years where we do a swap and food and hang out. My old company did big deal Christmas parties catered at hotel function halls, raffles and prizes etc. Those were fun. They stopped doing those several years before they closed. In terms of gifts, it's usually a $10-$15 swap gift for my office lunch. I don't buy gifts for my coworkers, but I make a goodie box with cookies or candy for each of them for Christmas (just the folks in my office, which is like 5 people besides me). One other girl makes food items for everyone too, and the boss gives us some coffee/tea/food gift basket type of thing usually. DH will have two holiday parties right after New Years for us to go to... they're dinner and raffles at a function hall type of things I think. The caterer he's directly employed by does a company party, and he gets invited to the party for the venue whose events he runs.
|
|
ArchietheDragon
Junior Associate
Joined: Jul 7, 2014 14:29:23 GMT -5
Posts: 6,380
|
Post by ArchietheDragon on Dec 15, 2015 19:28:43 GMT -5
We have a catered lunch at the office. My boss gave me some chocolate. I am not giving anything
|
|
Happy prose
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 12:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 3,230
|
Post by Happy prose on Dec 15, 2015 19:34:14 GMT -5
I don't go to our big holiday party. It's a government office, so we have to pay. $65 for buffet and a couple hours open bar, but I don't drink. I went once, and people didn't really mingle; most hung out with their department. My department does an in-house pot luck lunch, which is fun. We also share with anyone who happens by. I'm the supervisor of my dept, and I don't give gifts. I feel I'm a government employee like the rest of them.
|
|
Cookies Galore
Senior Associate
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 18:08:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,892
|
Post by Cookies Galore on Dec 15, 2015 19:39:35 GMT -5
Yesterday was our department party, which was sliders and finger foods at a bar. Any day I'm drinking at 2 on a Monday is a good day! Today was our Board lunch. Oh! The food! Always such great food. Tomorrow is team lunch. We will also do a gift exchange.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,622
|
Post by swamp on Dec 15, 2015 19:42:16 GMT -5
Nothing. I give my assistant 2 weeks pay.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,955
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 15, 2015 20:37:19 GMT -5
We have a big party in mid-January. It's been at the convention center, hotel ballroom, casino space, concert hall, and this year at a local tourist attraction they're renting out. There is dinner, usually live music, and a bar (we get tickets for drinks, and can pay cash for drinks in excess of our allotment).
My team does a secret Santa as well.
|
|
wvugurl26
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 15:25:30 GMT -5
Posts: 21,890
|
Post by wvugurl26 on Dec 15, 2015 21:00:47 GMT -5
Last year we went out for a nice lunch with everyone in the suite. We have to pay being government people. We did get the afternoon off. Later we had a pizza lunch the directors paid for and did a gift exchange game with a $15 limit for just my group.
This year we just went out for lunch. It was today. I did a few errands after and made it home before quitting time.
|
|
Phoenix84
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 17, 2011 21:42:35 GMT -5
Posts: 10,056
|
Post by Phoenix84 on Dec 15, 2015 21:01:24 GMT -5
We're going to a Golden Coral (not the place I would have picked) and doing a voluntary gift swap. Each person who participates buys one gift worth $10 for the event.
I got a $10 iTunes gift card to give away.
Oh, and we pay for our own food, being government workers.
|
|
taz157
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 20:50:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,942
|
Post by taz157 on Dec 15, 2015 21:17:43 GMT -5
In the past, it was a luncheon (in the conference room) and a gift exchange with a $25 limit. Majority of the gifts was alcohol. This year, there was a holiday party (spouses included) at a nice place with an open bar (until a certain time), dinner, and dancing. Also this year is a luncheon and gift exchange, which is this Friday.
|
|
jelloshots4all
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 14, 2013 15:54:13 GMT -5
Posts: 4,642
|
Post by jelloshots4all on Dec 15, 2015 21:31:33 GMT -5
We do a catered lunch for all employees either at the plant or one plant is offsite this year. All employees get a ham as a gift. We had a sit down leadership dinner with spouses last week, paid for by the company (food and alcohol), plus all received gifts from my boss and I.
I give all of my direct reports gift cards for Xmas and a little something extra. I have a great team whom works for me!
|
|
teen persuasion
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:49 GMT -5
Posts: 4,164
|
Post by teen persuasion on Dec 16, 2015 8:37:29 GMT -5
We don't have an official work Xmas party, but the Friends group had their annual Xmas party a few weeks ago (the Friends are primarily current/former staff, Board members, Book Club members). Potluck, mulled wine, cookie exchange, $10 gift exchange games, decorated a tree on the village green for the library (ornaments made by patrons).
|
|
skubikky
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 7:37:12 GMT -5
Posts: 3,044
|
Post by skubikky on Dec 16, 2015 8:46:13 GMT -5
Today we're having a big department pot luck. The company is providing some pans of selections from a Mexican restaurant and everyone brings in sides/desserts/snacks.
It's always a good time.
|
|
yogiii
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 19:38:00 GMT -5
Posts: 5,377
|
Post by yogiii on Dec 16, 2015 9:06:20 GMT -5
Mine does nothing. DH has a holiday lunch some time this week.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 13, 2024 7:14:49 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 9:17:28 GMT -5
My last employer was a "work hard/play hard" place and the rock stars were the ones who went out and brought in business, mostly a bunch of party animals. We had the holiday party at a nearby Intercontinental hotel at noon on a workday. No spouses. Partying started early; the women, especially, dressed a little sexier and everyone brought in food and drink. Yes, drink. You want champagne at 9 AM? It can be found. Then we went over to the hotel, which started with an open bar and hors d'oeuvres and had a sumptuous lunch and entertainment and a lot of speeches, tributes, etc. THEN there were after-parties at other bars in the area. We each got a taxi voucher the day before, to be used if there were any question at all about your ability to drive home safely. A good preventative measure, but also permission to overdo it. I never went to an after-party. Maybe that's why they didn't like me.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,622
|
Post by swamp on Dec 16, 2015 9:29:52 GMT -5
My last employer was a "work hard/play hard" place and the rock stars were the ones who went out and brought in business, mostly a bunch of party animals. We had the holiday party at a nearby Intercontinental hotel at noon on a workday. No spouses. Partying started early; the women, especially, dressed a little sexier and everyone brought in food and drink. Yes, drink. You want champagne at 9 AM? It can be found. Then we went over to the hotel, which started with an open bar and hors d'oeuvres and had a sumptuous lunch and entertainment and a lot of speeches, tributes, etc. THEN there were after-parties at other bars in the area. We each got a taxi voucher the day before, to be used if there were any question at all about your ability to drive home safely. A good preventative measure, but also permission to overdo it. I never went to an after-party. Maybe that's why they didn't like me. Damn, that's some serious partying.
I think it sounds like fun, but my ability to drink from 9 a.m. into the night stopped around age 25.
|
|
emma1420
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2011 15:35:45 GMT -5
Posts: 2,430
|
Post by emma1420 on Dec 16, 2015 9:39:15 GMT -5
We have a potluck for our Xmas party. We are also asked to donate to Harvesters the week of the party. So it's very low key. The organization doesn't provide any of the food, it has to be provided by all the employees. Basically, my organization is pretty grinchy when it comes to a holiday party. But, I am okay with that providing that I get a performance bonus in the spring and a decent raise at the end of the year.
|
|
973beachbum
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,501
|
Post by 973beachbum on Dec 16, 2015 9:40:47 GMT -5
Nothing. I give my assistant 2 weeks pay. See that is an awesome present from a boss!
|
|
NancysSummerSip
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 19:19:42 GMT -5
Posts: 36,695
Today's Mood: Full of piss and vinegar
Favorite Drink: Anything with ice
|
Post by NancysSummerSip on Dec 16, 2015 9:55:07 GMT -5
No big formal party, but my boss' birthday is Christmas, so we celebrate both with a small brunch later this week. I pick up bagels, cream cheese spreads and some other goodies, like salad and fruit. His gift to us this year is next week off with pay; I've never had the entire holiday week off in my working career, so it will be strange, in a good way.
|
|
MJ2.0
Senior Associate
Joined: Jul 24, 2014 10:27:09 GMT -5
Posts: 11,049
|
Post by MJ2.0 on Dec 16, 2015 9:57:58 GMT -5
we have our holiday party tonight. There will be lots of food and alcohol, a DJ, photobooth, games, etc. Cocktail dresses and suits are standard. I'm not going because I don't have babysitting coverage. Besides, all I do there is eat and drink more than I should and semi-secretly eye up all the attractive guys in their suits.
|
|
taz157
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 20:50:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,942
|
Post by taz157 on Dec 16, 2015 9:59:55 GMT -5
we have our holiday party tonight. There will be lots of food and alcohol, a DJ, photobooth, games, etc. Cocktail dresses and suits are standard. I'm not going because I don't have babysitting coverage. Besides, all I do there is eat and drink more than I should and semi-secretly eye up all the attractive guys in their suits. Too bad one of your friends or your XH can't watch DS as it sounds like fun!
|
|
giramomma
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 11:25:27 GMT -5
Posts: 22,156
|
Post by giramomma on Dec 16, 2015 10:03:44 GMT -5
My department rents a room in a conference center does appetizers...you pay for your own drinks. Eh.
I haven't gone to one in a long time. Most of my co-workers want to see the kids, which isn't possible since they are all in school. I usually have to teach during the party, anyway. The co-workers I really care about, I socialize with at other times.
|
|
Waffle
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 12, 2011 11:31:54 GMT -5
Posts: 4,391
|
Post by Waffle on Dec 16, 2015 10:10:50 GMT -5
There was a party for staff at a local hotel. It was from 3 to 6 - one day last week. There were door prizes, food and drinks. I didn't go. My boss each of his direct reports a $50 gift certificate to Kohl's. The company gave every employee a $50 gift certificate to Kroger's. The best is that we get the week between Christmas and New Year's off. I always take a few vacation days before Christmas to make it a nice long vacation.
|
|
MJ2.0
Senior Associate
Joined: Jul 24, 2014 10:27:09 GMT -5
Posts: 11,049
|
Post by MJ2.0 on Dec 16, 2015 10:11:18 GMT -5
we have our holiday party tonight. There will be lots of food and alcohol, a DJ, photobooth, games, etc. Cocktail dresses and suits are standard. I'm not going because I don't have babysitting coverage. Besides, all I do there is eat and drink more than I should and semi-secretly eye up all the attractive guys in their suits. Too bad one of your friends or your XH can't watch DS as it sounds like fun! the last time I went I drank more than I wanted to and half-stalked He Who Shall Not Be Named for most of the night. He is single now, so the temptation for my half-drunk self would be pretty strong. I also get flirty and honest when I drink - not a good look when talking to my attractive bosses.
|
|
taz157
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 20:50:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,942
|
Post by taz157 on Dec 16, 2015 10:13:52 GMT -5
Too bad one of your friends or your XH can't watch DS as it sounds like fun! the last time I went I drank more than I wanted to and half-stalked He Who Shall Not Be Named for most of the night. He is single now, so the temptation for my half-drunk self would be pretty strong. I also get flirty and honest when I drink - not a good look when talking to my attractive bosses. That makes sense too. Hopefully you and DS have big plans instead.
|
|