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Ghosts of Holiday Parties Past
Dec. 7th, 2023 05:33 pmThis past Saturday I joined my spouse for her company's holiday party. We were both skeptical beforehand about a party at a ping-pong bar but it actually went well. We had fun beyond our expectations.
That got me thinking about other company holiday parties: what do I like, what don't I like, etc.
I'm not big on holiday parties for the holidays' sake. My recent blog about Bah, Humbug shares some of my thoughts on that. But I do like holiday parties for the chance to socialize with coworkers, and meet their spouses/life partners/other +1s, outside of work.
I've enjoyed holiday parties that are done with a relatively small format. Obviously at a smaller company, that's all you get. But even when I worked at a 10,000 person company years ago we had a party at the department level one year that was really nice. I mean, it wasn't nice in the sense of having a lavish budget.... The year before that company had had a massive bash at a local sports arena with a big-name band and spendy food. The year I joined they apparently were still paying off the bills from 12 months earlier so we had a small cover band in our company cafeteria. But it was a fun evening soiree with a small enough crowd, all people I knew or needed to get to know from in my department, that I could spend the evening visiting with everyone in a festive setting.
Hawk's current employer has had some good, smaller parties the past few years. Two years ago it was "Casino Royale" theme with fun-money gambling tables set up at a private club. I had fun dressing up in my tuxedo. ...Not the butler tuxedo, but actual black tie. The stated goal was to look like Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. I wound up looking halfway between James Bond and The Godfather. 😂
Hawk's company did another play-gambling party last year. It wasn't themed for black tie but I dressed up again anyway. People who were there last year remembered that. I got questions this year like, "So... are you more comfortable in formal attire or casual clothes?"
I'd say I'm looking forward to my company's holiday party next... but we don't have one. My employer doesn't really "do" holiday parties. In the now 7 holiday seasons I've been with them they've had a holiday party just once. Well, maybe three times counting the twice when they invited us to take ourselves out to eat (or shop for groceries!) up to about $75 and claim the bill as an expense. As for those... nice little gesture, but I'm more interested in the relaxed socializing with colleagues and their partners than cadging a free dinner.
That got me thinking about other company holiday parties: what do I like, what don't I like, etc.
I'm not big on holiday parties for the holidays' sake. My recent blog about Bah, Humbug shares some of my thoughts on that. But I do like holiday parties for the chance to socialize with coworkers, and meet their spouses/life partners/other +1s, outside of work.
I've enjoyed holiday parties that are done with a relatively small format. Obviously at a smaller company, that's all you get. But even when I worked at a 10,000 person company years ago we had a party at the department level one year that was really nice. I mean, it wasn't nice in the sense of having a lavish budget.... The year before that company had had a massive bash at a local sports arena with a big-name band and spendy food. The year I joined they apparently were still paying off the bills from 12 months earlier so we had a small cover band in our company cafeteria. But it was a fun evening soiree with a small enough crowd, all people I knew or needed to get to know from in my department, that I could spend the evening visiting with everyone in a festive setting.
Hawk's current employer has had some good, smaller parties the past few years. Two years ago it was "Casino Royale" theme with fun-money gambling tables set up at a private club. I had fun dressing up in my tuxedo. ...Not the butler tuxedo, but actual black tie. The stated goal was to look like Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. I wound up looking halfway between James Bond and The Godfather. 😂
Hawk's company did another play-gambling party last year. It wasn't themed for black tie but I dressed up again anyway. People who were there last year remembered that. I got questions this year like, "So... are you more comfortable in formal attire or casual clothes?"
I'd say I'm looking forward to my company's holiday party next... but we don't have one. My employer doesn't really "do" holiday parties. In the now 7 holiday seasons I've been with them they've had a holiday party just once. Well, maybe three times counting the twice when they invited us to take ourselves out to eat (or shop for groceries!) up to about $75 and claim the bill as an expense. As for those... nice little gesture, but I'm more interested in the relaxed socializing with colleagues and their partners than cadging a free dinner.
