Just a quick question about xmas party ettiquette?

Question

I didn't go to this particular function, but many of my co-workers did. Apparently the space in time which the food was served was too long, and the space in which the food occupied the plate was minimal. My co-workers also said the choice of background music was not to their liking. So a good chunk of the group basically took off and went to the pub. Is this proper ettiquette?

Answer 1

If this was a company sponsored function, then this is not good etiquette. The company paid for everyone that said they would be there, so they shouldn't leave before it is over because the bosses may feel like it was unappreciated.

It is smarter to stick it out. Obviously, the bosses did not plan for the food to be served late.

Answer 2

Here is a BIG HINT!

The function was a MEETING where you were ALL being OBSERVED for future consideration.

Suppose that you are selected to attend a conference and represent the company. Conventions generally SUCK, but you have to make the BEST of it and maximize the company's INVESTMENT in YOU to get the most out of it that you can.

If you blow off a "function" because it is not fun or to your liking, we figure that you will do the SAME at a conference. Trust me, the people that bailed to the pub have BIG UGLY CHECK MARKS next to their names!

The bosses look at table manners, drinking habits and how you interact with your co-workers.

I can almost guarantee that the bosses were drinking ice water on the rocks with a twist or something along those lines.

As soon as these people realize that they are NOT being catered too and that it is an EVALUATION, the answer will be simple.

If you want a PARTY then set something up in PRIVATE and KEEP it QUIET from upper management.

This can backfire TOO!

In the late 70's one on the guys was getting married and moving to Europe for the company. They had the cake and coffee deal at the office and we planned a pool PARTY.

Let's say that it was a PARTY with the whole group passing on the proper swimming attire. One guy was relaxing in the hottub with a HUGE "DOOBIE" and we were having a GREAT TIME. It EXCLUSIVELY Sales, Marketing and Accounting.

All of a sudden it got REAL QUIET and everyone turned around to see the CEO on the pool deck in a suit. That would have been bad enough but he had a teenaged daughter on each arm! Both in party dresses.

He turned and left without a word. We just partied on and figured that we would deal with it on Monday.

The five ring leaders ALL got calls on Sunday late, me included, about a meeting in the conference room at 7 AM.

We showed up and he started, " J@#($ H. C%$*%^ that looked LIKE FUN, but you Bas#$%d's should have told me. I spent the whole weekend explaining it to my daughters and NOW they both want to work for the company rather than college".

We had expected to be fired or something and had a HARD time keeping back the laughter until the CEO started and we all followed.

Then he said, "I always wondered how you guys got all the hours out of them and you are on schedule to double sales and NP. Now I know. The next time you do one of these things invite me and I will leave the girls at home".

KNOW your company CULTURE and live within IT.

The next thing that I knew the CEO was having a party at his home and he asked me to bar-tend. Perhaps demeaning but I accepted. Keep in mind that I was NOT a GUEST but I got the opportunity to meet MANY of the people the flooded the business pages in that era; I was around 26 at the time.

About a year later the CEO got separated and I became his "Friday Night Buddy". He drank, got stupid and did ALL the tings that people did in the 70's. I would take him home and dump him in bed without drinking myself. I also NEVER mentioned it at work, NEVER even though I was asked.

In return for this I was sent to Europe for THREE weeks every year on FULL EXPENSE to train. When I traveled in the US I could also spend my weekend ANYWHERE I wanted in between Friday and Monday morning; my expense accounts were NEVER questioned.

So my whole point is that a company function is just another INTERVIEW for bigger and better things to come if you have the patience to perform properly it will come. I only told the story so that you could have a visualization of things to come.

Happy Holidays,
J

Answer 3

No, your coworkers are rude and just plain tacky. I'm not saying that they should've stayed and tolerated being bored, but instead they should've took charge and steered the entertainment to their liking. Meaning, start conversations in which everyone is invited to join in, by someone taking over being in charge of the music and getting involved thereby taking some of the stress and pressure off of you. Apparently they were afraid to take charge and to interact more with one another.
But you're not completely off the hook either. Maybe next time, have party foods and allow guests to serve themselves whenever they're ready. Shuffle your iPod when thinking about what music to play or if you're using the music channels on cable then switch the music genre from time to time. And mingle the whole time. It's your party, the guests came to see you and it's you that pulls it all together.
Just chalk it up as a lesson in how to better plan your parties, but don't stop having them. Your guests were rude, just conclude that you've learned how not to host a party.
New Year's Eve is coming up, time to start planning your next party.

Answer 4

I feel badly for the person/people that organized the party and all the work that went into it. But, boredom leads to some interesting solutions. I think heading out to the pub was probably where that group was going to end up anyways.

Answer 5

No, if the guests wish to leave because the music was not good, then they had every right to leave...the organizers should be re thinking the caterer, and DJ for the next party....and possibly ask for a refund for poor service.

Answer 6

Nope. I would have left too. If I'm going to get all dressed up and spend my time going to some company function then they need to give me a reason to stick around. Otherwise, I'll go "be seen" elsewhere and happily spend money doing it.

Sounds like the company bought the el cheapo catering/event package.

Answer 7

If the food was free, then it was rude to eat and run. If there was an admission fee or something like that, the host may have been offended when they left, but it wasn't necesarrily rude.

Answer 8

I'm still trying to figure out the food-space-occupation thing but I wouldn't stay if it was a crappy party.

Answer 9

Straighten it or curl it with an iron. in case you straighten it, you could pull it back in a 0.5 ponytail or a cut back clip. in case you curl it you ought to leave it down. or you could attempt only washing your hair and letting it dry back so as that it with somewhat of success seems more desirable ideal!

Answer 10

i dont see any harm in leaving early if you arent having fun.was it a company party for work? if it was then ,yes leave. if they cant do any better than that for thier employees then i would just leave and go have a good time, just like they did. lol. merry christmas.