Comments on: Beware the holiday party

By: Steve, Charleston, WV

Steve, Charleston, WV — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:33:39 +0000

I once had the temerity to dance at a corporate holiday party. I thought — if they paid good money to hire a good band, then surely they want people to have fun and dance, right?. And lots of other people were dancing, I might add. Except, when I looked around, I was one of the very few who had taken off my jacket, and the only one who had loosened my tie, and absolutely the only one who was moving free-form in a limitless sphere rather than practicing the white-man’s overbite and occasionally moving my left foot. I had transgressed. I still dance like that, but with a different group of people.

By: Rebecca, Philadelphia, PA

Rebecca, Philadelphia, PA — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:25:47 +0000

I’ve only been in my current job for a few months, so I haven’t been to a holiday party here yet — and won’t be at this year’s, either, because they scheduled it on a night when I have an ironclad prior commitment.

But I’m glad I’m not going, for two reasons. One is that there’s a mandatory anonymous gift exchange. Screw that. You can’t make me spend my own money on my bosses and coworkers, especially if you’re not going to let me pick one of the two or three I actually like.

Also, at the last staff meeting, it was proudly announced that this year, for the second year in a row, employees would not have to kick in their own money to pay for the party.

Umm… ?

By: AK Baltimore, MD

AK Baltimore, MD — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:18:37 +0000

Bing! STOP, Please STOP. You are giving away one of my keys to business success over the years. I am not that smart, forward thinking or innovative, but BY GOD, I will not get stupid drunk at any “bunsiness” event or party and make an ass of myself, like so many others have – God Bless them!

Oh the memories of these fools, making it soooo easy for me to look good. The comedy is purely a bonus. When every other person that was hired at the same time as me (out of college) by my old firm was gone and buried by the downsizers- I credit this piece of wisdom that someone once gave me to the fact that I survived.

The holiday parties – what fun!

By: Kristy, Charlotte, NC

Kristy, Charlotte, NC — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:06:11 +0000

Judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from poor judgement. Don’t know who said it, but it’s true. My fiasco wasn’t at a Christmas party, but at a night out to a concert with my husband’s boss, his boss and their wives. I drank too much (or was I overserved?) and ended up babbling to the wives in the bathroom and eventually running out of the concert hall for fear of throwing up on my husband’s boss. To my defense, my husband and I had gotten engaged a few days before and were celebrating, but, still — distinctly inappropriate behavior! Luckily the boss (not sure about the boss’s boss) had a good sense of humor and to this day asks my husband (who has since moved to a new job) how the lush is doing. Needless to say, I now live by the “one drink behind” rule when with colleagues/clients/bosses of husband (yes, he did still marry me).

By: thebingblog

thebingblog — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:01:39 +0000

Actually, today I prefer a good single malt myself. Laphroig is my favorite, too, but any one will do, really. They’re all lovely. And as a person more evolved, at least in years, I have naturally gravitated to Black Label also. But back then? It was Dewers and JWR all the way. I still wouldn’t turn down a bottle if any of you wanted to send me some.

By: Brandon W, Ann Arbor, MI

Brandon W, Ann Arbor, MI — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:46:40 +0000

My god, if you’re going to drink a blended, at the very least get a hold of the Black Label. If you really want a good blended, you’re going to have to open a bottle of Blue Label. But then, I’m a single-malt snob with a preference for Highland Park 18, or at least some Laphroig 15. Neat, of course.

Being such a snob means I don’t get falling-over-myself-drunk at business events sucking down Dewars over ice from a tumbler.

Of course, beyond preferring the higher-grade Scotch, this is all a carefully crafted image.

If you’re going to sleep with the girl from the mailroom, make sure it’s in a hotel two towns over, paid for with cash. It will protect your image… and preserve your opportunity with the cute blonde in accounting.

By: wrf Toronto Ontario

wrf Toronto Ontario — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:43:47 +0000

Ah! what joy full memories of excess and debauchery in the name of Christ and the good old Corp.