Company Holiday Party...
My company Holiday Party was last night. I got this party exactly eight days before it was to happen, as the original girl planning it unceremoniously quit.
# of Employees - Approximately 200.
Well, the whole thing came off without a hitch and I'm so tired, I feel like I ran a marathon. The hotel where the party was held did an amazing job with the party location and the food - and the 3 bars kept the good cheer flowing. Main courses were Beef Wellington and Roast Turkey. One of the hits of the evening was an incredible mushroom bisque. Starbucks coffee bar and rich desserts followed the meal.
The higher-ups decided things were going so well, they extended the party an hour - it went on till after midnight. The band was a real find and cranked music that kept the dance floor packed all night. The hotel staff was stellar.
I gave all employees and guests a gift. It was a beautiful fine coffee mug with artisan chocolates and a single truffle - all in a cello bag tied with a gold bow.
Everyone had a great time but I must confess, I'm glad it's over. What's your employer doing in the way of a holiday shindig???
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16 Comments:
Nothing. I'm a government worker. Nothing for my husband either, he works for a government agency.
churchka at 11:23PM on 12/09/07
A holiday dinner in the hospital cafeteria...which is usually prime rib, sides, dessert & eggnog.
Sounds like you did a fantastic job, Chiff!!
JEP at 6:35AM on 12/10/07
chiff those people could not have been luckier. I don't have an employer so there is no shindig waiting for me. Just my Christmas day.
JerzeeTomato at 6:41AM on 12/10/07
My holiday party was like yours, Chiffonade. Lots of people, drinks, dinner and dancing. It was nice, but yours sounds fantastic. I ordered prime rib but ended up with some overcooked salmon. Ah, well, at least the drinks were plentiful!
Congratulations on putting it together on such short notice, it sounds like a great success.
Kerosena at 9:28AM on 12/10/07
Typical black-tie gala at a lovely hotel with atrocious food. So disappointing. :(
sheeats at 10:47AM on 12/10/07
I used to work at a private research foundation, so our holiday parties were semi-formal affairs at a club/restaurant that was rented out for the night for the 100 employees and their dates. But now I work at a university, and our holiday party is a potluck style affair in our cafe (which, I must say, has a great view of the city because it's on the 9th floor of the building). Definitely not the same, especially given that there will be a million kids running around. Oh well. At least I have a job!
charm city cupcake at 11:48AM on 12/10/07
nonprofits represent! we're all going to a local brewery (buy your own beer!), the favors will be stuffed monkeys. haha... gotta love it. more money saved for the (foster)kids though!
(i work at a residential treatment facility for foster children)
chlamers at 4:49PM on 12/10/07
I'm in the federal employee group. We have committees to plan parties but we have to pay to participate so participation is usually low. Like everyone else, I'm grateful for my job and jealous of your great parties.
KtMc24 at 5:00PM on 12/10/07
my bf's company has dinner at a posh area hotel/spa- we rented rooms this year & we're making it a(much needed) mini vacation with a pre-dinner trip to the spa.
bisbee at 5:03PM on 12/10/07
My old company, a family-owned newspaper, had a catered dinner at the senior center with a DJ. It was nice. My new, much larger company does diddly squat. Our small staff -- from two newspapers that work in the same building -- is having a little party this week with "Chinese" food from Pick-up Stix and a silly gift exchange. At least we're not ordering from the atrocious Mexican food restaurant in town that seems to cater to everyone's parties (but the food is like slop!).
I had fun when my husband worked for another newspaper a couple years ago that had a party at a hotel in the middle of nowhere. We got free drink tickets, the food was good, and there was a free raffle for really good gifts!
misseditor at 8:16PM on 12/10/07
My former employer is a family owned construction company. Party was held in the horse barn for maybe 400 people, including construction workers in their jeans and muddy boots, office workers, sales people (my group), companies they dealt with, like mortgage people, bankers, flooring and kitchen suppliers, designers, architects, etc. Quite a diverse group. Attendance was mandatory. Wasn't fun. Food was catered Italian. Sales all had to go back to work after "lunch" party, since our sample homes were open on weekends. Of course, I've had other jobs where there was absolutely nothing. Sure hated working Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
PerkyMac at 11:35PM on 12/10/07
i'm in private practice. we all went out dutch. fooey!
cybercita at 12:03AM on 12/11/07
Wow - these parties run the gamut from absolutely nothing to the truly posh!
I must agree - I hate it when you go to a party that should be serving excellent food and it's rubber chicken. Yech.
The smaller, family owned operations tend to have less of a party budget than large scale corporations that pull out all the stops. The company where I work is owned by one single individual who can be very extravagant in one respect, then a total penny pincher in another. He's tough to predict. He didn't even attend the party...where was he? In London for the Zep reunion.
Past "Holiday" events included trips to the Aquarium; Busch Gardens; and Walt Disney World for all employees and their children. This was much less a "production" than past parties and employees seemed to enjoy the less "frantic" nature of a more elegant party. (Especially the HR assistant who seemed to have a full agenda at every past party!) Some employees were thrilled about the more grown up party. They liked the ability to mingle with adults while not chasing their children around. I'd like to organize something for the kids in the company to take place at the office with Santa and gifts. I'm going to see if that idea flies or if political correctness will win the day and squash the Santa idea. Given my boss is so unpredictable, I can either get laughed out of the office or get the go-ahead to run with it. He's very mood-driven.
therealchiffonade at 6:41AM on 12/11/07
Husband's company party was at a restaurant- about 1/4 of the employees participated and both of us were dreading it but we had an ok time. We won the big door prize for the night ($50 Visa gift card, woo-hoo!) so at least our gas was paid for.
I work for a HUGE company with zillions of locations so obviously there are multiple parties. Our facility is quite small so we're all going out for lunch today instead of trying to find a caterer for a party of 12. I'm praying the restaurant is ok since I picked it. I've eaten there recently and the food was decent but a little pricey.
The ex-husband's former employer had great parties when they were still small-ish and privately owned. Once the company grew and got more corporate the parties got more formal and less fun- kinda like the marriage. HA!
AuntJone at 10:15AM on 12/11/07
As a student, my only job is an on-campus one that's not likely to accrue party events, too bad.
Chiff0nade, you did amazingly, that's really impressive!
Christina at 11:31AM on 12/11/07
Wow that sounds rough to have to plan it so last minute like that! I'm glad it went well!
Our company is renting out the banquet room of a nice restaurant. If you've heard of Di Pescara, that's where we're going! I have never been there so 'm excited. My boyfriend works for a larger company and we're going to a country club for dinner drinks and dancing!
Hillary
Chew on That,
Chew on That at 12:58PM on 12/11/07