Workplace

Holiday parties should be an opportunity to mingle with your bosses and co-workers, said Tara Weiss in Forbes.com, not a chance to get drunk on the boss’ dime. This year, many companies are looking for ways to keep employees relatively sober, according to an annual survey by executive search firm Battalia Winston. In 2007, “70 percent of companies will serve alcohol, a 15 percent drop from 2006.” Many companies that do foot the bill will try to curb alcohol consumption by closing the bar early, limiting drinks, or making the event a meal. Some say this sudden turn toward teetotaling is simply a product of a downturn in the economy. “Whatever the reason, it might be a blessing in disguise.”

Of course, some employers have done away with the party altogether, said Nicole C. Wong in The Boston Globe. “For years, employers facing tighter budgets have cut back on elaborate holiday parties.” A few innovative companies, however, are replacing the traditional fete with a different sort of reward. As an alternative, they give employees an extra day off, host weekday gatherings, or throw parties after the holiday season frazzle. Microsoft’s Boston-area offices, for instance, have their holiday gala in January, when employees’ schedules are less busy and vendors are willing to slash their prices.

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