Company Parties

[Chimera]

Most companies I've worked for either don't have company parties, or they SUCK.

My current employer's "company party" is an afterwork gathering at Hooters tonight, starting in about three minutes. Obviously, I'm not going.

The only party I regret leaving early is one for Musicland Corporate back around 1993. A young, beautiful, large breasted woman that I worked indirectly with (she was in my planning meetings) allegedly got so wasted that she was dancing topless on the table in some division's hospitality suite.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

My current employer's "company party" is an afterwork gathering at Hooters tonight, starting in about three minutes. Obviously, I'm not going.

My department party was last night at Outback Steakhouse. It was pretty decent, although I took a lot of crap from my co-workers for ordering a burger instead of a steak. I'm just not a steak guy, whatever. Everyone got their buzz on (I did a double shot of Herradura at the bar and drank Newcastles with dinner) but no one got too smashed. My only problem with the place was that they gave us one long table for 16 people and my buddy and I were anchoring one end, so I was barely able to see some of the people at the other end, let alone chat.

Our company luncheon was today. A local BBQ joint catered it, and they brought in turkey, BBQ brisket and ham. It was teh delicious. Alas, it was on company time, so there were no alcohol-related hijinks.

Next year...I'm putting my vote in for karaoke.

 

[Buttercup]

Our holiday parties have ranged from appalingly crazy to deadly boring. Since I work for a large public library system, the staff contributes the money for the holiday party. This year we decided to give the money to the Red Cross for Katrina victims instead.

 

[Mark CMG]

I recently started with a new firm and went to a company party- it was insanely funny (. . .) Is this a common occurance? It felt like a bad episode of "The Office".

I think many office parties are either like that or so uptight and worried they might become like that that they are no fun at all. Some people find it best to show up early, just to make an appearance, and then beg off with some sort of "annual family event" excuse. Seeing people's expressions around the office the next workday can also be a hoot.

 

[drothgery]

I've ditched all the company holiday parties I've been invited to (all at my current job, as it's the only one where I've had a "real" job over the holidays). The first one took place while I was on an airplane (heading back east to visit family over the holidays), and I took it as a sign . HR's always trying to get more people to show up at ours.