Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I Jinxed It

Earlier this year, someone made a comment to me that they no longer had a company Christmas (excuse me, holiday) party at work anymore. I thought that was really sad, and I mentioned that I was glad that we still had ours.

Ours is a great one. We rent out a hotel lobby and banquet room(s). It's open bar before and after dinner. We have a sit down dinner of pretty decent food. There's a great, huge live band that plays until after midnight. Each person who comes gets a raffle ticket for neat prizes -- everything from a GPS unit to a gift certificate to movie tickets. There are lots of prizes, although I've never managed to win in the time that I've been working here. They even let us off work early that Friday so we can get home and pretty up for the party.

A few days after I made the pronouncement about how we have our great Christmas party, an email announcement came out that we were not having our traditional Christmas party this year. Instead, we'd have a party at our new headquarters to cut costs, and we were no longer to bring a guest.

I was bummed, but ... I can deal.

This fall, expenses were cut further, and no Christmas party at the division level. The individual departments could do something small if they wished, and we were assured that our department would do something to celebrate yet.

Well, this past Thursday was our departmental Christmas party. Most people weren't there because we only found out about it the prior Monday. With so many people who work remotely, there wasn't much time -- nor incentive -- to move around work schedules to be in the office. It was from 11:30 to 1pm in one of the conference rooms. We should stop by as we were able. Oh, and it was potluck. But we were to only bring in store-bought food.

Apparently they were a little worried that we might want to poison our bosses. Oh the difference a year makes. It's actually really sad. Needless to say, I didn't go to the office specifically for this party. It just didn't seem like there was all that much to celebrate.

I can only hope that next year life returns somewhat to normal. The lack of a Christmas party isn't big in the grand scheme of things, but it's definitely symptomatic of what else is going on in the rest of the country. Too many people have lost jobs. Too many people are in fear of losing their livelihoods and their homes. Too many people are taking part-time work they don't want just to try to make it.

A Merry Christmas to everyone. And let's pray that it feels more like a merry one next year.

8 comments:

AutoSysGene December 24, 2008 at 2:28 PM  

Funny, that has been my lament all season long...I wish Joe's company had a Christmas party...I just needed a dress up fancy and eat good food with strangers kind of show...

Joe doesn't get a bonus or a party at his company but at least we know that every year. I would have hated to go from a huge party like your company had to practically nothing...what a huge letdown.

I hope next year is better for everyone!!

Merry Christmas!

morninglight mama December 24, 2008 at 2:48 PM  

Sorry that was such a bummer-- to a much more prosperous new year!

Have a great Christmas!!

Cookie December 24, 2008 at 8:24 PM  

wow! that sucks :(

Karen December 25, 2008 at 12:48 AM  

That's too bad - even with downsizing and cutting costs you can throw a nice party.

Hopefully your family will have a merry Christmas at home.

Anonymous December 25, 2008 at 12:48 AM  

Merry Christmas from Okinawa. And Happy holidays too

xxxx December 25, 2008 at 2:16 AM  

They canceled ours too ... boo. Hopefully next year.

Merry Christmas!

J Cosmo Newbery December 25, 2008 at 4:45 AM  

Merry Christmas, Michelle.

Michelle December 25, 2008 at 11:27 AM  

Melissa - It's kind of a bummer to have nothing, but you're right -- at least you know! And yes, I think we all need next year to be better!

Morninglight Mama - I'm actually ok with it... it was always fun to see friends who are now at different offices in the area who I don't see often, but it was always a little bit of something we made fun of (especially the inappropriate tattoos that would become visible on people from certain sites...). And yes -- a prosperous new year for all!

Cookie - Well now that I'm comparing it to your sushi Christmas party it does ;)

Karen - Well, even if you can't do it, to sweep it under the rug and not come out to say what you're doing is kind of a bummer... and then to have a potluck where everyone has to buy their own stuff -- that part sort of stuck in my craw a bit. But that's just me....

ElfTea - And a Merry Christmas to you, too! Here's hoping Santa was good to you.

Swishy - Yeah, I don't think ours was the only one that got canceled. But in our company, once something is gone, it NEVER comes back. Fingers crossed it will for you!

J Cosmo Newbery - Thanks! And a very Merry Christmas to you, too!

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