Your Workplace Holiday Party: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

[Boozy]

her jaw dropped and she just kind of sat there startled, then got up and walked down stairs (we were in a private room upstairs) and her husband followed her.... and apprently had to convince her not to leave....

I think it might have been better if she had.

I hope that after she sobered up she realized what a favour you did for her.

[persephone]

I haven't been to one of "my" office Christmas parties since the Christmas before Daughter was born (either I wasn't working or for one reason or another, I didn't want to go to the party). However, we go to Husband's office Christmas party every year.

Husband works for a company that is family run. As in, when he was hired seven years ago (the year before Daughter was born and what brought us down here), he was the only person working there that was not somehow related, by blood or marriage, to the CEO, who was also the owner and the person that founded the company. The company has grown in the years since, but not so much that it isn't still a big family (there's about 20 employees as of right now).

So what do they do? They schedule the "Christmas Party" for lunchtime sometime during the week of Christmas, usually early in the week. Or, if Christmas is early in the week, they do it on like the Friday before. They work around the local school breaks, because the party is a big family party. All the wives, husbands and children of every employee are invited. There's all kinds of good food catered by a local restaurant, usually a local barbeque joint. Santa comes every year with a big bag that holds a present for every employee, spouse, significant other and child that is there (and presents for the ones that couldn't make it that are a steady part of the "Family" (i.e., children or wives that couldn't be there, ect.)). The presents to the employees include their holiday cards and bonuses. And then? After lunch? The office closes for the rest of the day so the employees can leave with their families and spend the rest of the day with them.

Hubby times his vacation for us to go home for Christmas with the party (cause the kids like it) and we usually leave directly for Tennessee from the party. The kids presents keep them pretty occupied during the car ride (the CEO's assistant actually asks the employees what their kids might like, so they're usually things Daughter and Son have fun with).

Hubby works for a great company. We're lucky. But I wouldn't expect this kind of party from most companies.

[Kirkygirl]

We just...don't have one. Nobody to run the store otherwise.


But there is a kid's christmas party (I think it was last week). Didn't go, didn't want to.

[draftermatt]

I have never worked for a company that has held a Christmas party. (Or a party in general).

My wife's company does, and we've gone all but last year when she was sick.

At the 1st one we went to a girl got drunk (well a lot of people did) but got so drunk that she decided to start trying to hit on and then go home with one of the maintenance men.

Her boyfriend was none too pleased, neither was the maintenance man's girlfriend. But the grandparents of the maintenance man were really upset, being the owner's of the company and all.

Oddly enough the girl was let go shortly after the holidays.

That's really the worst I've seen/heard about. There's always lots of dancing (some drunkenly). This year the girls were all dancing with a girl who recently lost over 150 lbs thanks to gastric bypass. They were dancing with her and grabbing her boobs, but otherwise innocent enough.

[Jester]

I have been to several Christmas office parties, some tame, some wild, some a good mixture of both. Usually have fun with them, too.

Last year both of my bars had their party on the same day. I passed on The Bar's party and went to the Waterfront Bar's party, and it was entertaining. Wandered late into The Bar's party, and it was equally amusing. Nothing all that wild or unexpected at either one. AFTER the second one, though, is where my night got interesting, as I ran into a female friend of mine, fresh out of HER Christmas party, and for some reason, we spent much of the rest of the night making out, something we had never done before, nor since. But it WAS entertaining, to say the least.

This year, once again, both bars have their parties on the same day. I'll be attending The Bar's this year. Should be interesting to see what surprises it holds this time around.

Remember, kids, I work with a bunch of drunks at both places, so drinking a lot is not only not abnormal, but is expected and encouraged! It's what ELSE happens that makes these parties truly a fun experience for me!

I was quite frankly surprised and a bit disgusted at some of the behaviour that apparently occurred.

There was infidelity, drug use, confessions, gossip, and unprofessional behaviour all around.

I left early, and thankfully missed everything scandalous.

Sounds like all the ingredients for a great and memorable Christmas party! And the scandalous stuff? Watching it unfold is half the fun!

Oh, and one of my friends tried to do a behind-the-back, through-the legs shot and bashed himself in the foot with his ball.

Well, I suppose it's better than bashing himself in his ball with a foot!

[PuckishOne]

My personal favorite in the "ugly" department was at the construction company...the young female accountant got completely wasted and spent most of the evening staggering between tables chatting up just about every man there, with her clueless (and equally drunk) husband in tow. Made me happy to be a lightweight drinker as well as the kind of woman who knows she doesn't have to drink the guys under the table to hold her own with them.

The best one was here at Evil Insurance Co - the first year I was here we went to this dinner cabaret show and it was freaking awesome!! Nothing like drag queens and acrobats to spice up an office shindig, I always say.

Oh, and Irv...I need to go bowling with you sometime, since I thought I was already a shoo-in for the title of Crappiest Bowler in the World.

[JoitheArtist]

Oh, and Irv...I need to go bowling with you sometime, since I thought I was already a shoo-in for the title of Crappiest Bowler in the World.

Can I come? When I took bowling in college, me and my partner were the 2nd worst in the class...yet finished 2nd overall! Why? Well, we had a HUGE handicap, and then since we got better every week and consistently bowled over our handicap....yeah, it was hard to beat us. The rest of the class wasn't particularly happy with us.

[Evil Queen]

I've never been to one. I tend to either work or use the "i'm sick" excuse.

[Chromatix]

I've been to exactly one decent office Xmas party. This was back when I still worked for a small high-tech company with a sense of humour, which hadn't yet been assimilated by the Corporate Overlords.

It involved fancy dress - provided, not brought. Mine was, fortunately, relatively tame.

It involved contests, set up in a very humourous way. Skill could be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on both the particular contest and the personal goal you were aiming for.

There was, shall we say, a sexuality theme, but everyone knew that everyone else had a sense of humour, so it was fine.

Most people even managed to last the night without getting stupidly drunk - at least not beyond normal levels for them. The rest of the party was sufficiently entertaining that alcoholism wasn't required to fill the gap.

Before the following Xmas party was due to be organised, the ultra-cool Marketing guy whose idea it had been left the company. And took most of the soul of it with him.

[Iris Kojiro]

Well, I suppose it's better than bashing himself in his ball with a foot!

Dammit, Jester! I was just about to say that after I got done reading through this topic.

As for me, I have never been to any work-related parties outside of the workplace. And after reading these stories, I'm glad for that.

[Bandit]

Been to a few over the years

Auto Parts - Went to a sum total of one there. Nothing like dealing with a bunch of surly people to start with get drunk and hit on the then wife. Only did the departmental ones after that. Only bit that I saw that was of any interest was the office affair (we all knew) suddenly came to the knowledge of the man's soon-to-be-ex when the two of them were shitfaced on the dance floor and basically started stripping each other.

High-Tech - AMAZING Christmas parties. $20 to go (cover hall rental), and the company gave 3 free drinks. Though I always knew who to ask for more tickets. Food was pretty good, the kids had their own party in another room, and the best thing about it were the giveaways. Now, this Array Technologies company used AMEX as their corporate credit card for everything. They also had enrolled in the points program, but the COMPANY accumulated the points - and used them to get prizes for a raffle. And we're not talking about a $20 gift certificate to Wally World - the big prizes were along the lines of 2 weeks in Hong Kong - all expenses paid, or airfare for two anywhere in the world. Even the small ones were at least $500. And the way they ran it was if someone had won something one year, they were disqualified from the raffle the next year as it was about 50-50 that you would walk out with something. I miss the .con bubble days.

Telecom - never went to any. Hated the cow-orkers with a passion, as did my whole department. We went to a good lunch ourselves instead and the boss would give out $50 gift certs to the Beer Store, LCBO, or the such.

Bank - couldn't stand it long enough to get to Christmas. Looking back at it - that was a good move.

Auto Service - strange - in a Manson Family way. Only did one (held in April) and didn't make it there until the next one (Screw you, oil speculators!)

Life Sciences - There is a Recreational Association there who puts on the parties. It was canceled this year. Out of about 500 staff, a whole 9 tickets were sold. (Screw you, AECL!)

B

[Jester]

I thought I was already a shoo-in for the title of Crappiest Bowler in the World.

Impossible as long as I am still breathing.

In regular bowling, I am truly horrific. The fact that I can't stand it and have rarely participated in it helps keep my scores down, admittedly, but even so, I am pathetically sad at regular bowling.

I say "regular" bowling because I am actually damn good at Wii bowling AND at a mini bowling game we had at one sports bar here for a while (mini as in the pins were much smaller, and on strings for reset, and the balls were about the size of shotputs).

Ours is currently underway.

Wait, what? Yours is underway?!?! You are checking CS.com and making entries during your office Christmas party?

Dude, I know you don't drink, but still, I really thought you'd be more social than THAT!

I've been to exactly one decent office Xmas party.

Everyone has a different version of what is "decent." For example, a lot of posters on this thread have expressed dismay at some of the wilder goings-on at such parties. Myself, I prefer parties like that, and at the tamer parties that these people would prefer, I would be bored off my cute little muffin ass. Everyone has their own cup of beer tea, as it were.

[BethB]

I injured myself at our "party" today. That killed what little (and I mean microscopic) love I had for christmas. Stupid games. Who thinks it's a good idea to mix a scavenger hunt with musical chairs?!! I'm a tiny person who can't really keep up with the 6ft boys who will run you over to win some cheap prize. I didn't even volunteer, i got volunteered. As I heard the rules for the game a part of me just said "go back and do some real work!"

I don't "hate" Christmas itself, I hate what it becomes. It's a time to celebrate with family but anymore it's the season for greed and selfishness. I don't ruin it for other people. some people live for the red, green and cheesey and I just smile and nod. My kids get very nice (and costly) gifts but they don't ask for tons and tons of gifts so we aren't stressed over getting them the "hottest" new gift that they will tire of in 2 weeks. That's what bugs me to no end! "giving to your fellow man"-my foot!! more like giving to your spoiled brat!!!

[Misanthropical]

My company doesn't have Christmas parties nor does my husband's. Our companies make a lot of money, but are very cheap.

[Bella_Vixen]

Ours is being held in January, I think...at a bowling alley.

I've heard it should be good.

But that was the owner's son's opinion.