Christmas Parties - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

MoreThanSparrows08 · December 2013

I don't get many invites to Christmas parties in the little town we live in, but I know most employers have a Christmas or Holiday Party for their employees. What's your opinion on these Workplace Parties? Fun or Awkward?

Last year, I was working for a different company that is known for giving matching shoes to their employees for Christmas. Last year they gave really cool Converse low-tops, but they were bright orange - light hunting orange. I worked in the front office of a pediatric dental office and was required to dress "Business Casual" - so the shoes didn't really go with anything in my wardrobe. Plus, they were the wrong size, despite giving the owners my shoe size prior to them ordering them. Apparently Converse was out of that size. The company refused to send them back and get the front office staff dressier flats, so most of us were stuck with the wrong size shoes that looked horrible with our business casual wardrobe... If that wasn't enough, our Christmas bonus was a $25 gift card to Wal-Mart.

This year, my boss didn't think about planning a Christmas party until one of the employees asked him about it a couple weeks ago. It will be my job to plan it (there's only about 10 of us). Since this is my first year with this company, I have no idea what to do or if there's a budget or a tradition or what... and I have no idea what to expect at the party. I don't even know if he does Christmas bonuses or not....

All that to say, I really don't like Workplace Christmas Parties - they seem forced and awkward. To make things worse, depending on when the party is, I don't know if I will have told my boss about my pregnancy or not. I'm just hoping I don't have terrible MS at the party and not be able to eat anything

YaMrWhite · December 2013

Love!

MoreThanSparrows08 · December 2013

@pink021 - I wouldn't mind planning the party, except that my boss simply said "Find out who's available when; get as many people as you can" and then hung up - didn't give me any other information or give me a chance to ask questions - he had another call coming in and said he'd call back, but I know he'll most likely forget... lol

davisBC · December 2013

Hate em'! (Unless it's family & close friends). I am finding any way possible not to attend my husband's office Christmas party. Not only do I not want to spend money on a dress I'm going to wear once, I'm not in the mood for the "schmoozing and incessant smiling and nodding"...UGH!

liz4paws · December 2013

I usually like work ones because it's good food and an excuse to get all dolled up.

We also throw an annual party at our home and invite coworkers. It's always a good time!

Regufsevolem · December 2013

This is my first year with a work holiday party, the last job, the bosses were cheapskates. I'm looking forward to it, except the part where I can't drink and have to hide that fact.

Belle3184 · December 2013

LOVE! We have a Xmas party in our department and it's great because we are all really close. However, I can see how in some situations it could be awkward.

KaleMonster · December 2013

I've never had a work Christmas party but I always thought it'd be fun to go to one! I enjoy planning things like that (which is why I help supervise my school's prom committee!).

seventhumbs · December 2013

I usually love them but without booze? Ugh. TORTURE.

Sstennes · December 2013

I love Christmas parties! Especially work parties everyone gets crazy!

shevaCC · December 2013

I like them, at least the more casual dinner kind with my immediate coworkers. Not a big fan of the larger cocktail-style parties for the entire division where I don't know many people.

BeachM · December 2013

Navy Christmas parties are always a combination of fun and awkward. Awkward because some spouses and female sailors dress like prostitutes which sometimes makes the CO look very nervous. Fun in the sense that they are something we call "forced Navy fun." Going without being able to drink will be torturous.

katieandababy · December 2013

Is love 'em AND hate 'em an option?

Dh has a job that involves lots of networking, which ends up meaning not just his company holiday party but lots of client's parties as well. A lot of thought and expense goes into all of these parties, so they are all lovely. I just get partied out. Dh does too - even though it's a party it is still work and a lot of these parties end up being important in terms of networking and deals so it's not like he can just relax and enjoy the evening. It also means that I spend the evening talking to the "other wives", most of whom I don't know and that can sometimes be really fun and sometimes super awkward.

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