Save our Office Parties!

Yesterday, the BBC featured a news item, stating that 1 in 5 businesses are cancelling their Christmas parties this year due to the down turn. I have heard of employees of large multi-nationals who have been told their party is cancelled: although they wryly say that senior management is still having THEIR jolly.
Here is the article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8326009.stm

What a blow; what a demotivator for employees that have worked extra hard during the downturn, to be told their annual party is cancelled. What does this do for morale? Given that there are tax benefits for entertaining staff, is a total ban on parties a necessity?

My friend at the multi-national was mortified that her party had been cancelled. Normally, she and 200 colleagues have a day's jolly costing £40K+. She admits this could easily be scaled down: even to using the in-house caterers and having a small party. It is the principle that she and her colleagues are so angry about. There is a difference between 'Tightening up your belts' and demotivating staff through cancelling everything.

There is an alternative, and employees: managers, and business owners need to embrace this. Evidently there are not the budgets to have lavish parties (more the pity), but there are ways of still having a party by downscaling the event. You won't lose the employees confidence.

I have no wish to talk other suppliers out of work in this economic time, but reassessing a menu, venue and theme could reduce costs significantly. If you were to go to senior management with your case for the party and come up with some cost saving ideas, you could give them ideas. For example: reducing the time at the venue; altering the menu; restricting the number of free drinks; looking round for more cost effective entertainment. These are all cost cutting opportunities. Also, if you were to explain that it is the party you want, and you understand that it will be less grand than last year - but "Please Sir, could we have a party?".

If there worst comes to the worst, organise your own departmental party: either in-house (drinks): everyone bringing a dish and drinks; down the local pub, or at someone's house. But let's NOT lose the office party!

We have plenty of ideas for Christmas party entertainment; many ideas do not cost huge amounts of money http://www.nsn-productions.com/xmas.html

I will also post an article I wrote about entertainment for Christmas parties.