Career counselors never counseled me on office parties. Office parties are a distant memory for me now. They were good and some were even fun.
The festive events have changed but were always varied by company and the business conditions at the time.
Free booze, entertainment, dinner gave me reason to go but to my surprise not all co-workers would attend. Of course, some variables such as location, time, guest allowed, and entertainment provided could weigh on your decision to attend. I think the ones including spouses are the best ones.
I recall one were my wife won a limbo contest. That was a fun night.
Another party I attended was took place in Ireland (my wife was not on the trip) and the party took place at a local restaurant. One the young “lads” was not too experienced yet at holding his booze because at one point he fell across the table and most of his evening consumption came out. Luckily the vomit missed me. He was too drunk to be embarrassed but I must believe the next day was not a good one for him.
Probably the worst for me over the years was a badly placed joke I suspect. I don’t remember a specific event but I’m sure I’ve misspoke at some point somewhere.
Since the holiday office party season is over, do you have any office party stories to share?
19 comments:
Yum! Free food and free drink. I'm a big office party fan but I don't always attend. We have game night every month and I've been terrible about attending. My most memorable office Christmas party was the year two drunk sisters wouldn't stop hitting on my ex-husband. Funny thing is, I was kind of hoping one of them would steal him from me, no luck. Kind of a dark confession, I know. This years office Christmas party was great. The worst thing that happened was I got barbacoa taco juice on my shirt.
well good thing (I guess) that no drunken co-worker tried to eat your tasty shirt. Thanks for sharing but one question if I may, was he your ex at the time? I'm assuming no.
No he wasn't but I was already hoping he would go away, he was a horrible husband. I was just so naive that I didn't know quite how to make that happen.
I never worked in an office, and did fast food management/waitressing for a long time before I started working from home. Since I worked the night shift with the kids at the fast food, I always did a pizza/taco/whatever they wanted to eat party and a grab bag of candy for them (and I paid for it myself as well as got bitched at by MY boss).
As a waitress, you'd think we wouldn't have anything, but several companies did something. The best one was Waffle House that we took our kids to the skating rink, had pizza and the company gave the kids a toy. Since we had to sign up with age and gender of the kids, my son at the time got an action figure that was around $12 (but all the kids got nice toys).
Some of my jobs had us drinking with meetings and the like, not specifically on Christmas tho. I always kept my drink to one, even if they were paying for it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU SIR!
thanks for sharing. BTW I love Waffle House. You have the right idea about free drinks - they might not turn out to be completely free in the end.
thanks
Happy New Year - wishing you a good beer
I have always found a way or reason to get out of attending office parties, with the exception of my husbands holiday parties (and those aren't usually too bad). Now that I've read your experiences, I'm going to stop complaining about sitting in corners with my iphone hoping the party ends soon, and start working on how to limbo.
now that's a resolution I have not come across - work on my limbo next year - that could be healthy.
thanks
I didn't like office parties very much - the last place I worked we were require to go! I had to leave before the end one year to get my kids from the sitter and the door prize I won was given to someone else in my absence. A very Grinchy trick, I thought.
I was never a fan of the 'office party'. I never liked paying for the alcohol or the effects it has on my workmate's dignity. I'd rather take everyone out bowling, to a ball game, or ocean fishing for a day for LESS money and more fun!!! W.C.C.
Back in the mid-80s I worked for a male dominated publishing company who held their annual holiday party at an exclusive men's club-- All men's club-- who made "allowances" for the three female employees to attend. It was in NYC and in the middle of a blizzard. The coat check guy wouldn't take "ladies coats". It was insane and silly and all so full of you know what. It was not a fun party for the "girls" but the food was great.
Wishing you a great 2012!!!
jj
Thanks for sharing that story. You should do a post on it. I believe the world has changed quite a bit from those days. When I think back on those years many of the changes of the sexual discrimination type started around the end of the 80s. Overall the changes are good.
thanks
I was never on the paying side so that didn't concern me. I've enjoyed company picnics. thanks
That's wrong. It's not like you were not there. You just had to leave.
thanks for sharing.
This year's office party was pretty tame, just light dinner and drinks at the president's house. Nothing compared to the all-night drinking parties that the University would throw. I remember one in particular when I definitely had too much to drink. I *may* have worshiped the porcelain goddess when I got home. I still made it to work by 8:00 the next morning, though.
I don't do that anymore :)
I don't recall ever having that happen to me at an office party but by the time I was office partying I had enough experience with the porcelain goddess from my wilder days. Everyone should listen to their bodies when they have a big message like that. thanks for sharing
Sounds very interesting! I will check this out! gray hair remedy
Thanks for sharing that story. You should do a post on it. I believe the world has changed quite a bit from those days. When I think back on those years many of the changes of the sexual discrimination type started around the end of the 80s. Overall the changes are good.
thanks
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