Now that we're officially in an economic recession, it probably won't come as a shocker that this holiday may seem a little short on company-sponsored festivities. Even the traditionally lavish Google is downsizing its holiday party this year — gone are the days of ice sculptures of the company's logo.
According to one survey, 2008 will have the lowest percentage of corporate holiday functions seen in the US in the past 20 years; roughly 20 percent of businesses are downsizing or canceling Christmas festivities, with at least 65 percent of New York businesses scaling back or cutting their holiday functions. Some are forgoing virtually all overhead costs, opting to throw a potluck party at the most memorable of settings: the office. Holiday parties are far from a necessity, so it makes smart sense that companies have seriously slashed these costs.
How is your employer handling the holidays this year?
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Both my company and my department are having parties this year - similar in scale to last year. It's a nice gesture, but I'd rather be secure in my employment.
1We just had our company holiday party on Saturday.
We usually get a Christmas bonus and I'm crossing my fingers that I'll still get it this year.
That being said, I'm with valancyjane in that more than anything, I want my job to be secure!
2Department (6 of us) lunch out during work hours. And honestly, that's really all I need. I work for a non-profit, so even prior to the recession the company didn't spend big bucks on a holiday party. Honestly, I think the best part is not the meal, but the fact that it's a couple of hours away from our computers for the day!
3My boss just decided this afternoon to have a holiday party at our office next week which is something we didn't do last year. I have mixed feeling about it because 3 employees were recently told they would not have a job here after the first of the year because there is not enough money in the budget to pay them. If we can't afford to pay them their salaries, why are we paying for a catered holiday party???
4our office party is at head office, 3 hours drive away at 7pm at night on a thursday! (idiots).
So for the local team I managed to wrangle dinner out of the boss for us and our partners. its only 15 people
We are going tonight 
5We had ours on Sunday. It was nice but no alcohol allowed
. They even gave out several
high-dollar door prizes including a 32' flat screen tv, ipod nano, and nintendo ds. Of course, I didn't win anything. I wasn't working there last year but a coworker told me the grand prize
was $500 so I'd say they went a step up with the tv.
6We got the memo that the big she-bang was canceled.
Our department is doing a small potluck though. To be honest, I don't really mind. Rather a job than a party at a cheesy restaurant.
7We just had a client party at Cipriani on 42nd Street last Thurs. Very expensive and lavish venue and we had about 1300 clients plus 200 of our employees!!! I found out that a place like that is $250-300 a head at least so we're talking around $450,000 (ridiiiiiculous!!) The reasoning behind the CEO spending that kinda $$$ is that if we will maintain the clients we have and build better foundations with those who are prospective clients. Wine em and dine em I guess.
Officially, our holiday party is an "after the holidays" party because (according to the preliminary invite) "the holidays are a time to be spent with friends and family". Regardless it's at the New York Public Library Celeste Bartos Forum and it's black tie with drinking and dancing for all AND our significant other! Super stoked on bringing the boy : ).
BUT, aside from fantastic and opulent parties, the main thing that I really care about is keeping my job!!!
8We're still having ours. Appears to be the same as last year...
However, no info on those year-end bonuses yet...
9I've been to 2 out of the 8 we will have this year. It's insane. I really enjoyed the first party and that's all I needed, but there are different departments, different bosses, etc, etc, etc.... it makes for a lot of holiday hooplah.
10we were going to have a potluck at my bosses - cancelled for lack of interest!
11so we're having a secret santa pizza lunch for our small team next week, and for the bigger department we're having an afternoon thing at the bar down the street....we're fundraising to make money for it, and charging 7$ for the tickets...so essentially you're paying your own snacks and drink. but at least it's something!
our official holiday party was cancelled- corporate cancelled all. but our office is having a holiday luncheon next week for a small celebration. we made donations or volunteered to bring something in
12My company sent out an email saying we couldn't have office holiday parties and if managers want to show appreciation, they have to do it at the expense of themselves or the employees and that they must do it offsite. we were also told not to decorate-bah humbug!
13Last year we had a blowout and this year we are doing absolutely nothing! How things have changed...
14I also work at a nonprofit, so we were pretty much barebones from the start. We have a small holiday party at a local Italian restaurant for our Board of Directors and Administration, and a staff holiday luncheon catered by some pizza and wings place. However, I'm actually really glad that there's nothing more since I had to plan BOTH.
15we have an office luncheon at a country club and play dirty santa. it's fairly fun. I know we're getting bonuses this year but I'm not sure if they will be less than we expect because of the economy.
16I haven't heard yet, but I've been hoping all year that there's no holiday party or dinner. I have having to spend my personal time with people I work with, about 30% of which I don't even like. Plus, I feel weird with the owner paying for my dinner, like I can't even order what I really want. As long as I get my Christmas bonus, I'm a happy camper.
17Me and 5 other people at our job plan the holiday party in our office every year. They cut our budget this year by about 50%. We cooked the food ourselves, cut down on the decorations and didnt rent tables or any of the usual things we do and we still came in a few hundred under budget. It was the best office party we have ever had.
18This will be my first Christmas with this company and they usually do a breakfast. I'm thankfully for it however, I'm not too big on Christmas parties so either way I'm find.
19We're having the same Christmas party as the last. I'm not sure about the Christmas bonuses but I think that's about the same too. We did just fine in this economy. [I work at a mid-sized law firm. We are very scrupulous with our budget so we can afford this annual party.]
20My bosses are last minute on everything so nothing's been planned or spoken of yet. I hope they don't have one because I've been hearing threats lately. Things like, "we're giving you more work because we don't want to have to lay anyone off." (hint hint) and officially doing work on all 7 days...
21we aren't having a holiday party this year actually. my company is saying that it's because we're moving our office to a new building right after the new year, and that we'll have something festive there, but i think that it's partly to do with the economy and the cost of having a party.
22We're having a party this year on the same scale as last year's party.
23Speak it and it shall happen! I got my bonus yesterday afternoon and the boss didn't scale that down, so yay!
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