Office Christmas Parties

THE FOLLOWING IS AN UPDATED ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG:

There should be a book written about office Christmas parties. Nowhere else are co-workers so defined forever in the minds of their colleagues than at the annual festive gathering. More careers are lost here than even at the summer company picnic.

Eggnog is one culprit.

So, too, are all of its alcoholic cousins, turning what we all thought were well-behaved employees into rear-end pinching, dirty joke telling, lampshade wearing fools.

What better time to tell the boss what a jerk he or she is than at the company Christmas party? Of course, it isn’t done OVERTLY. It comes in the form of alcohol-induced sarcasm and “humor” aimed at the group in general. Only problem is that the only person laughing is the boss’s spouse (and that REALLY isn’t good)-and you-until you see the blank stares returned following your “killer” punchline.

God help you if there is a “Yankee Swap” or other lame excuse for gift giving. It doesn’t matter that you purchased a nice desk set for someone else’s delight. The lingering memory will be the one of YOU unwrapping the gigantic vibrator-or other adult sex toy (“hey, it’s just a JOKE!”)

Although I’ve been to some doozies, I must say that my company’s gathering is always a good time. This year, we took the Ferry to Peaks Island and proceeded to eat, drink and be merry. It helps when you actually like the people you work with….everyone here at 94.9 WHOM and our sister stations are terrific and having a couple of pops with the staff is not limited to once during the holiday season, either. I’d do it every week—and some weeks, I have.

That’s why much of my horror-story Christmas party material is gleaned from contact with other people who have lived through holiday hell. Usually it’s the obligatory appearance with a spouse to their office “party”, one that has all the appeal of water-boarding.

Here’s a quick video on the do’s and don’t’s of Office Christmas parties:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkk-WUxEK70

Some parties are compulsory. If a bonus is given at your holiday party, it might as well be. People show up to grab the goodies and then scram. Of course, if your company has a reputation for giving you, say, a HAM for Christmas…you might decide to insure your career by NOT attending and just get your own ham.

The only advice usually given is….DON’T DRINK…and if you must drink, have ONE….and nurse it all night. Staying employed is tough enough in this economy without you contributing to your own demise by acting like an imbecile!

Can’t say that I’ve adhered to THAT one! Good luck!

If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com



Merry Christmas!