Expensive Office Party

Submitted by admin on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 16:30.

Originally submitted by: Notch

Office picnics and holiday parties cost more than my whole department makes in a year. I'd rather get a raise than go and hang out with people I already spend 40 hours a week with. How can I, as a lowly employee, voice my concern over this travesty? Should I complain and make a stink about it? I don't want to see it cancelled, but maybe there are others at the company who feel the same way? I can't boycott it either, so what do I do? Notch

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Re:Expensive Office Party

Submitted by admin on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 07:30.

Originally submitted by: Administrator

Well, it certainly has taken long enough to respond to your question about office picnics. And given that it is Independence Day picnic time, your question is timely. I do wonder about your company. And think that perhaps you should be job hunting. In this economy, what company would put on a Prom? Is it unethical? If the company is letting off workers, then yes. But that is not your question. Should you make a stink about it? No, offer an alternative. There are probably some in the ranks who do not want to spend company money on a party. Two suggestions: 1. Suggest to the powers that be that there be a discretionary fund the company contributes to. What would have been spent on the party is now put in to a fund, and at the end of the year, the employee gets to use his or her share as he or she wishes. 2. Have a virtual party. This online equivalent would allow people to do a party, but it would be much cheaper. This approach may cause problems, especially if people get too imaginative, and use the virtual party to settle work scores. A real party offers such possibilities too, but personal contact also affords some restraints on party behavior. What strikes me about this question is that so many people seem to enjoy the kind of paternalistic, taking care attitudes of some corporations today. You seem, however, to be asking for some space for personal pursuits... and personal partying.