'I'd rather have a bonus': 30+ Employees share how the really feel about office holiday parties

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Dec 2, 2023 6:00 PM EST

Movies always portray holiday office parties to be like some sort of frat party—wild, chaotic, and anything-goes-vibe with no consequences! But the reality of it is that it not only can be an HR nightmare, the employees might also not even be enjoying the "festivities." A reddit thread has come together where employees are sharing their real views on holiday office parties and their dos and don'ts. When it comes down to it, everyone agrees it depends on your workplace environment. You're not going to want to party with a bunch of toxic coworkers you don't even enjoying silently sharing a space with. But it's also more than just that. Some employees have young children and need to be home early, so they'd rather not be forced to stay out later. Some employees really do not know how to handle their alcohol or are trying to go sober and these parties with open-bars don't really aid those situations. Plus, if you're a company dropping hundreds to thousands of dollars on a holiday party but not giving anyone bonuses or raises, then that's a huge issue. See what employees really think of holiday parties below! 

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  • 01
    L "Does anyone actually like work holiday parties?"
    via Design Bridge via Flickr
  • 02
    Posted by u/Richard Cleveland 20 days ago ^ Does anyone actually like work Christmas parties? I always have felt like most people don't, and only attend due to feeling obligated. My
    via u/RichardCleveland
  • 03
    work has been having this discussion the past few years, and being in upper management I have to give my insight. From what it seems no one does (I don't) but the owner insists that they do. I think it's a kind gesture, but each year the room segregates into the typical workplace "cliques",
    via u/RichardCleveland
  • 04
    and there is rarely any cross socialization. Also there tends to some "intoxicated" situations... which includes employees becoming very obnoxious and loud. But the problem is who the wants a "dry" XMAS party?
    via u/RichardCleveland
  • 05
    Anyways I wanted to get some opinions on the topic to see if maybe I am just delusional. I have talked off the hand to a few people, and they commented that they would rather simply have a bonus.
    via u/RichardCleveland
  • 06
    GeminiAccountantLLC 20 days ago ● The last place I worked would close the office at noon, we would go to a decent restaurant, then get the rest of the day off and they would give us cards with a couple hundred bucks in cash. We could drink if we wanted, but it was only a 1 hour lunch, so nobody got out of hand. It was perfect!!!!!
    via u/GeminiAccountantLLC
  • 07
    JennyAnyDot 19 days ago ● One place I worked for a few years ago often had beer at our "mandatory" after work BBQs on company grounds. Was impromptu but mandatory with like 2 hours notice. That boss seemed to really enjoy drinking and
    via u/JennyAnyDot
  • 08
    eating. Could dip out after about 45 mins because by then the owner was wasted and wobbling. Xmas party was on a Friday evening with prearranged shuttle bus to take those too drunk to a prearranged hotel with many many rooms booked. Owner paid for rooms and bus and party. Owner was
    via u/JennyAnyDot
  • 09
    trashed before the food was served and my told they did a wonderful job that year. Yep had his head in my cleavage and said great job! My manager pulled him off. Walked out with an extra 500 cash plus my cash Xmas bonus envelope. I had were
    via u/JennyAnyDot
  • 10
    arranged to be the designated driver for a few of my younger co workers with buckets in each seat. This was like 10 years ago. Had a job in 90s (Banking) that had a Xmas party with lots of way too drunk people with no plans of taking care of the drivers after. We also had
    via u/JennyAnyDot
  • 11
    weekly happy hours at the local club monthly that the company paid for. Went once and made plans for being picked up but some got way out of hand. Stripping and dancing on the speakers.
    via u/JennyAnyDot
  • 12
    It's a old school style of parties. Most now have a "winter" party mid Dec at work around lunch time with some catering and some stuff brought in my workers. For about 2 hours and then free to go home paid. No drinking.
    via u/JennyAnyDot
  • 13
    It's just too risky and honestly I thought poorly later about the ones that lost control at these parties. Lost respect
    via u/JennyAnyDot
  • 14
    clumsysav. 19 days ago One of my old bosses got a DUI the night she got her promotion Imaoooo
    via u/clumsysav
  • 15
    Silver-Reserve-1482 · 20 days ago Dude, 7 on a Friday? Your boss is delusional if he thinks anyone but a sycophant would feel anything other than to be there. Every holiday "party" I've ever been to was just an extended lunch that was catered. Who does after hours office parties anymore? It's not 1985.
    via u/Silver-Reserve-1482
  • 16
    LibrarianAcrobatic21 20 days ago I despise work Christmas parties. I was in charge of the organization, fortunately one employee loved Christmas and I could delegate most of it. Though I did change it from Friday evening to Thursday evening. I was home by 9pm.
    via u/LibrarianAcrobatic21
  • 17
    Quinalla 20 days ago Yeah, during work hours and some free food and time off that day? Pretty sweet! Whenever I organized holiday or other parties at my office it was a nice lunch and maybe something local and fun after (art show, axe throwing, etc) always fine for people to opt out!
    via u/Quinalla
  • 18
    I will go to evening events at my current job if I am able cause I genuinely like hanging out with my coworkers, but that is somewhat unusual! I also have older kids now, when my kids were little, no way.
    via u/Quinalla
  • 19
    BeekeeperZero - 20 days ago This is the way. Lunches are the best. Usually high end and fun with the rest of the day off. I worked for one guy that always had it at his gaudy mansion on his ranch. He would always show you his prized possessions. Everything was awkward. Someone always and would pass out got on their couches.
    via u/BeekeeperZero
  • 20
    dream_bean_94.20 days ago It depends on what kind of party it is and what the company vibes are. If it's a nice party and people generally like each other/get along, it's fun. If it's a crappy party with people you don't like, it's lame.
    via u/dream_bean_94
  • 21
    LemurCat04 20 days ago This. ● I worked for a super tight group and we had phenomenal parties and even better after parties. It was wild and we all had the best time even if it was just in-house on our meeting floor or our cafeteria.
    via u/LemurCat04
  • 22
    I've also worked in places where literally everyone hated each other and even though it was at the Waldorf, had an open bar and car service home and all the boujie 2008-never-happened vibe, I hated those parties because I always get like I was under a microscope. I hated that job and I was so glad when I left.
    via u/LemurCat04
  • 23
    FunkyPete 20 days ago My company holds a Christmas party, but it is after hours AND spouses/SO are not invited. So I'm going to go hang out with my coworkers, outside of work, without even getting to bring my wife? I'm hanging out with coworkers on my own time instead of hanging out with my family?
    via u/FunkyPete
  • 24
    It might be fun for my wife to meet my coworkers, and for me to meet their families and get to hang out with them. Or, it would be more fun to have a party than to work for the day, so if we do it in work hours I'd be in. You have to give us something to make it worth it.
    via u/FunkyPete
  • 25
    Hottakesincoming 20 days ago edited 16 days ago Ours is similar. Pre COVID turnout was pretty good but with hybrid work and changed priorities I wish they would put the money into something else. Have special free snacks for everyone to pick up, offer everybody a branded fleece,
    via u/Hottakesincoming
  • 26
    or just give managers a little money to each put together something small for their team. Boomer execs desperately trying to bring back the 90s instead.
    via u/Hottakesincoming
  • 27
    0. Callec254 20 days ago ● My experience over the years has been, generally speaking, the smaller the company, the better the Christmas party will potentially be.
    via u/Callec254
  • 28
    pacifistpotatoes 20 days ago ● My company is very small-6 total employees including the owner. I have the best boss though, and every year for christmas, we head to a pub, he orders everything off the menu, and we eat drink & be merry. Spouses/ SO's are very welcome. I think one year the bill was close to $800. He
    via u/Pacifistpotatoes
  • 29
    doesn't care what you drink, eat, everything goes. We also get Christmas bonuses. And I basically have unlimited vacation/sick days, as long as my work is getting done. I am also supposed to work 8-5 M & W but he always tells me to leave around 330 lol. Great place to work.
    via u/Pacifistpotatoes
  • 30
    Hksju 20 days ago ● I dislike them, especially when they are outside of work hours. It's not fun for me to give up my personal time to trek 60 minutes into the city, pay for parking gas, to attend
    via u/Hksju
  • 31
    forced socialization events and if you decline to attend, it's held against you. If you must, make it during work hours, close to the office and send me home early. I'd far prefer a gift card and extra time off.
    via u/Hksju
  • 32
    Ene zialucina 20 days ago When I worked at a small architecture firm with like 6 total employees they'd take us out for a really fancy dinner and got everyone drunk and sent us home in cabs. Those were actually a great time cause I liked everyone who worked there and their spouses.
    via u/Zialucina
  • 33
    I worked for another company shortly after that that had a philosophy of "adding 15% more whimsy" to everything and actually valued their employees. Every party had fun contests, great door prizes, great food. Also loved those. Everywhere else was a giant cringe and/or snooze fest to just get over with and leave ASAP.
    via u/Zialucina
  • 34
    kateinoly 20 days ago ● I always hated these. It's expected, and people will feel silghted if there's no party, but nobody really likes them. Much like nobody really wants the boss at the Christmas party, but if the boss doesn't show up, they'll complain.
    via u/kateinoly

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