You Gotta Fight For Your Right (To Party)

I don’t know about you all, but I’m still stuffed from my Thanksgiving feast (and the days and days of turkey leftovers). That, coupled with the way-too-fast vacation, has left me feeling a little lethargic and, I hate to say it, unmotivated.

Usually, I can get through the December doldrums by looking forward to the holidays (read: more time off), and consequently, the company holiday party.

However, because of the current state of the economy, I recently received notice that the holiday party has been canceled. And my company’s not the only one. Apparently lots of companies are canceling their holiday parties.

Now, while for me, the holiday party is a chance to get free food, dance on the tables and tell my boss what I really think of him (that he’s great, of course), for most people, the holiday party is a great motivator. It’s a chance to kick back, relax, hobnob with the company bigwigs and celebrate the year’s accomplishments.

e-BIM has plenty of articles proclaiming the necessity of people-related decisions, especially during the recession. For example, Al Adamsen’s recent article or Katherine Mehr’s article. And yeah, while the articles aren’t technically about holiday parties, they do tout the importance of not succumbing to mob rule during an economic crisis.

Anyway, what do you all think? Is your holiday party canceled? If so, has the company offered you something to replace it, such as an extra day off (the Friday after New Years Day, for example? I mean, really, who wants to come in to work for one day? But that’s a whole other rant…)? Are you as up in arms about this as I am?

Or, after last year’s debacle (who told you to take them up on their offer of an open bar, anyway?), are you content to just bunker down until January 1?

Jessica Livingston
Editor
jessica.livingston@e-bim.com