Should you attend corporate parties on holidays?

If an employee personally experiences the Christmas or holiday spirit, the choice is very easy: I recommend that he or she attend the firm’s annual holiday party, which can sometimes be a very elaborate celebration. However, if an employee does not believe in attending corporate parties or may not wish to celebrate any of the December holidays, he or she should not be forced to attend any party. 

Through the years I have attended several holiday corporate parties while working as an editor for two major Washington, DC, law firms and, to say the least, the benefits of attending such celebrations are many. Most of the holiday corporate parties I attended were held in the Grand Ballrooms of the District of Columbia’s Marriott hotels, which are so beautiful! Hundreds of firm employees attend these holiday gatherings where there is an opportunity to socialize with fellow employees and to meet other employees who work in different departments. This is a great opportunity to discuss our jobs, our backgrounds, and any other newsworthy topic, which we would not be able to do during the day while at work. 

When entering the Grand Ballroom, one can order a glass of fine wine or a mixed drink, to be accompanied by an assortment of delicious appetizers. This is a good time to find a table to share with co-workers and then proceed to several other tables filled with a variety of excellent food–there is a seafood table, whose specialty is boiled shrimp, followed by Italian, Mexican, Asian, Greek, and American tables, the latter featuring steak and roast beef. All to be followed by a variety of desserts, chocolates, and coffee, with the sounds of a live jazz band and a dance orchestra playing in the background. Who would want to miss such a lovely celebration of the holiday season? 

The beautifully decorated ballrooms reflecting the colors of the Christmas season, plus the food and fine beverages, not to leave out the camaraderie among the firm’s employees, are an unforgettable experience, and I strongly recommend attending a firm’s holiday party whenever possible. Just to add a word of caution, if you decide to attend any party and drink too much, take a cab or bus home, or, at least, designate another driver to take you home. Happy holidays to everyone during this very festive and memorable season!