yebbut they'd've spent it on women and weed.....

When I worked for GE we had tremendous benders for any an all office parties until the lawyers got into the mix. Pete's company used to have unlimited open bar (free booze) but that got expensive and there were occasional behavior issues so they are cash bar. The crew voted for the party for my work to be at a school so no booze.

I use to work for a company that celebrated beer:30 every Friday afternoon. In the office. For some it was vodka:30. You can imagine what the Christmas party was like!

Before the recession, my law firm always had a huge Christmas luncheon and party hosted in a local hotel ballroom. An amazing spread and open bar. From about noon to 4, and then one of the partners would open a tab at a nearby bar into the wee hours of the morning and we would take over the bar. When I was younger, I'd be there for the whole thing and then off to the bar all night. For the more recent ones, I'd go grab some shrimp cocktail and carved turkey and then go home to the wife before the kids would get home from school.

Every few years, someone would be in trouble the next day for what they did the night before.

Since the recession, they have some pies in the cafeteria, and I'll go get a slice of pecan pie. Yes. I like pecans on my pie.

OK, we have discovered the Brit equivalent to the brag-and-gag letter: the whinge-and-cringe email/phone call. Could you please pack it in, relatives who we never hear from the rest of the year. We don't want to hear how fucking awful it was for you and how much better we have it.....or the intricate details of your latest home improvement scheme gone unbearably wrong. you say you wonder why we left.....? :lol:

One of the best business traditions the Japanese have is when everyone goes out together after work.
Lots of alcohol may be consumed and lots of things get said about others, including the bosses.

The nice thing about their tradition next morning is no one, including the bosses, acknowledges or
remembers any thing that was said the night before.

Thats what it was like when I worked for the Hyatt Regency in Cincinnati...usually after wrapping up a big ass banquet. They also threw a big Xmas party for us managers in the ballroom, too. Hangovers were expected the next day.

I work at a hotel, and we have our "christmas party" the second week of Jan. The ballrooms are just WAYYYYY to busy before Christmas. This year I think the banquets department is hosting 39 Chritsmas parties in 28 days, not including regular meetings, and the events hosted in the Bar and the Restaurant. At least 6 of those events are 475+ people. The Rotary Dream Auction for example was 483 people, 4 course Served meal. Served in an hour! The Banquests team rocks!

At our staff party there is booze. 2 free drinks, then $3.50 each after that.


As for pet peeves of the season: fake scents, thats just a headache waiting to happen.
I hate cranky clerks. You know its a busy season, you know people will be bitchy. I am in the customer service industry and I know I will get miserable people, but I try very hard not to let it affect my day. Its not fair to ruin someone elses shopping because the person half an hour ago needed to get laid, have a nap, have a drink, or simple was an ass. Just smile and be freindly.. its not that hard, even if you have to fake it a little.