Among Friends

[We rescue cats]

When I had my business we took everyone to a great local restaurant for dinner each year, we had it in one of their small private rooms-it was lovely. DH's company has a party that is nice and is very casual, 'pizza, wings, snackages' and an open bar. About 30 people, combining the mechanics and the country club crew... I prefer this party to any of the others we attend.

[Franklinbell]

Yes! I enjoy them! Great time to catch up and socialize!

[Wsmom]

Yes, both my husband and I did...  Much more fun when I was younger.  I stopped going as I got older.  

One of my favorite Christmas stories ever is one of the young guys who worked with my husband had been at the mall the day of the party and asked a cute elf to come to the party.  A group of them had rented a limo for the night.  Well, the elf and the guy had a bit to drink, left everybody stranded by taking the limo and headed to Reno to get married.  

I never found out how long it lasted.  I know they were giving it a try when they got back but that's it.

[Laura14]

No, and I am so happy the current owners don't have one. I hate them! 

[wilma]

We always had a party, either pot luck or catered at school  or a reservation at a restaurant, after students were dismissed the last day before the holidays. The last day was always a half day so we had the afternoon to celebrate. Those parties were great fun! I always had a good time! 

[Snowpuppy]

We have been on remote work since Covid. Saves Corp a kwap ton of $.

That said, the higher ups try a holiday luncheon in office but only a few make the drive to attend. No alcohol allowed.

I don't go. Long commute for me and so not worth it.

[judy0330]

Thankfully I am retired.  A friend and I left early from the last one I went to.  Turned out that after we and a bunch of others left, the remaining people (including the president of the company) all ended up in the hot tub nude.  Only one friend who was still there chose to sit alone in the living room.  Talk about an uncomfortable situation.

[lynnie61]

I'm retired now, but we usually had a potluck, maybe the week before, and the last several years our boss took the 10 of us, and it was much better without higher ups.  We enjoyed a nice lunch, then usually got out early.  It was nice.  

[shoptilyadropagain]

We have a catered evening meal for the entire corporation but it's in the evening.  For a multitude of reasons, I don't attend.  Our department has one but it is normally a family get together in January and I do go to that one.

[SoCal Bred]

The job that I retired from the week before Christmas the owner of the company would shut down the office and warehouse at 11:00a and would have lunch catered for all the employees, they would decorate and set up tables/chairs in the warehouse to accomodate everyone, we would have a raffle afterwards, one year I won a Samsung 52" Flat Screen TV, I was really shocked as I never win anything. 😊 

The day before Christmas Eve we would have a pot-luck dept luncheon (there were 18 of us) and exchange gifts as well, everyone really enjoyed themselves.