Group Christmas party was the norm at IBM when I worked there. People would bring in food and management covered the main course. Does this still occur?
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Working at IBM feels like a Christmas party every day!
In the late 60's/early 70's, I worked at the ASDD Mohansic Lab in Yorktown. On Christmas Eve they'd play music on the PA system and the lab manager, Hal Martin, would come around to wish us a Merry Christmas and send us home. Later, when I worked in Kingston, it was too big for Bo Evans to walk around, but we knew enough to leave when the music started.
Nothing in the past 15 years within my organization. There is the mention of “Happy Holidays” in an email. No year end or December meetings for the most part. As a manager I have provided Bluepoints, taxable points once spent, which can be accumulated to spend within the company catalogue of gifts.
Personally speaking, I think office parties in general are remnants of an age that no longer exists for many workers in most companies. Some of my "more experienced" IBM managers told me of earlier times in the company...Christmas parties, company-funded amusement park visits for the children of employees, catalog gifts for various occasions like wedding anniversaries...stuff like that. Lots of swag.
Nowadays, many employees work at home. The employees who are still in the office can't want to get out of there. The rise of multiculturalism and political correctness ensures that many employees either wouldn't understand a "Christmas party" or would be utterly offended at the concept. The company is broke, and the management can't even spring for Friday afternoon pizza unless they cover the cost themselves.
It's a (sad) sign of the times.
Back in the 80s yes in a big way. Entire branch offices of 150+ people had an offsite party. Santa, great food and gifts for kids. Amazing.
We had a couple and our sector manager provided the main course. Probably out of his own pocket
IBM Security in Austin has one every year usually a potluck
How about a Layoff party where AK hands out pink slips to all attendees ? Surely AK knows he's the life and soul of the party but in reality for most IBM employees, there is no party.
it does not feel like Christmas anymore
the festivity feels like it is slowly getting su-ked away
those times were fun and neat before, sigh
No parties in my 18 years. I got a 5$ starbucks card once.
No party - People too busy packing up their belongings to leave by 12/31 end of work date.
Nope, only got blue points.
Yes, before COVID when most people were in the office.
I never saw a Christmas party during my years with IBM...not once. In my department at least, there was simply no reason to have one. On-site employees often took vacations around the holiday period, and many employees were remote.
I suppose some departments and/or organizations had them, but in my area Christmas or any other holiday parties were not a thing...not at all.
Last party for me was 2018