“Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret.” – Mary Kay Ash
Year-end parties can be the best opportunity for employees and employers alike. A year end celebration or to some it could actually be a Christmas Party, is a good way to make your team feel valued.
Parties used to be organized solely by the HR team, though as of late, have evolved to be the responsibility of a cross functional committee or SOCO or the Special Occasions Committee (SOCO). SOCO’s job, unlike its namesake of crime investigators, lead in the planning, organizing & implementing the party program. This CFT collaboration looks simple & easy but it takes hard work & meticulous planning & great execution. So while everybody is enjoying the party, a select group of employees are sweating it out & jittery all throughout.
All the companies that I’ve worked for, truly endeavored to make such parties significantly remembered & cherished in everybody’s memories. Given the intangible benefits these bring to the table, most companies, even those whose financial position would barely allow it or can barely afford it, because having year end parties is of Philippine workplace culture, they still somehow pushed through with it.
Year-end parties were always much anticipated by most employees. Excitement would be on what would be the theme, where the venue would be, the intense group competition, recipients of awards & commendations, department presentations, the raffle prizes & games which could mean bringing home something extra, the food & drinks to be served and announcements (e.g bonus if any).
My first two employers (a GOCC & Japanese manufacturing company) always had lavish year end parties. For the GOCC, almost everybody went home full and most brought home something either from raffle prizes or from excess food. Back then, today’s “Sharon” was called “Aga”….short for “agap” or prompt to bring home excess food.
Back in the early 2000s, when traffic in Angeles City was not yet a daily occurrence, delimiting due to today’s sheer volume of cars, jitneys, tricycles, motorcycles, e-bike and bikes, the only time I experienced horrible Balibago traffic gone haywire was during December, when employees from big companies inside the Clark Freeport Zone were all lining up to have their hair fixed, make up done, buy gifts or fit their attire for the party. One time I asked a traffic aide what happened?… I was surprised to hear who were the culprits…”Christmas Party po ng isang Japanese company sa Clark….”
When I joined one of the biggest American manufacturing companies in the early 2010s, I’ve had high expectations on how Christmas Parties were done. I imagined an “All American Party”, complete with sumptuous bbqs, loads of drinks & a theme that was as glittery as Hollywood.
Our first three year-end parties were quite modest, in fact too simple for my expectations. Top Management, Managers & Supervisors chipped in to shoulder part of the cost. Though we could’ve had other sources of funds but the company’s strict adherence to “No Solicitation” & “No Gift Policy” was strictly & truly enforced then.
Though disappointed, I knew we were doing the right thing. The company was still struggling to break into the market and yet to get out of the red. When we started making significant progress, our parties became better, bigger and grander…The company had rewarded us generously for our improvement.
It was only in the lifestyle & fashion industry I’ve worked for that the more than 8,000 employees had a say on how the year end party should be. To the credit of the then local head Ms. Ann, she had asked a survey be conducted to ask what employees really wanted. The results of the survey were truly valued & even if odd for some, was respected, This became the cornerstone of the Year End Party Committee’s preparations. As a result, I consider myself so blessed to witness probably one of the last time that the great Philippine female rock band Aegis would singing together.
Why should one should endeavor to attend your company’s year-end party or at times called Christmas Party. Consider the following benefits of doing so.
These gatherings offer a relaxed setting for employees to get the chance to really know each other better. The aim is to build stronger relationships between co-workers, outside of the usual work context. Relationships help improve teamwork for easy collaboration.
It is a privilege to be in a situation where one can interact with co-workers and leaders from different departments because new opportunities for collaboration might open which in the final analysis that will be good for career growth.
It is also an easy way to reconnect with colleagues with whom you might have worked with on projects, fought with over resources, and as a consequence, might have won them over or sometimes lost in your circle due to conflicting ideas, interests or targets.
This parties are also a way for Supervisors & Managers to relax, loosen up and give employees a fun way to spend time. Management should leverage the atmosphere of the occasion to boost morale and show your appreciation for employees.
While such are really enjoyable for most, some might actually be dreadful of them. In hindsight, here are some few reasons I realized why some employees consider not attending. It is important to understand & realize the reasons.
I remember, many times, I was asked to issue show cause memo or ask an employee to explain why they deliberately did not attend this much anticipated event. Hard to fathom why an employee prefer to be in another place than being in the year end party. I was certainly almost tempted to do so but putting oneself in the shoes of the absentee/s helped me think clearly & reflect better.
As a policy maker, I realized that I might have been an unwitting accomplice or may have encouraged such situations that made some employees dread the attending these Christmas parties or year end events. I humbly apologize for not realizing it at the onset.
Being a lifetime student of psychology, I now realize that there are some personality types who find large gatherings can be overwhelming. I always took it against people who shunned such rare gatherings and unfairly labeled them as “KJ” or kill joy. It is just simply because there could be employees who are introverts or those that experience social anxiety or feel awkward in huge crowds. To socialize and begin networking can be too much pressure for somebody who prefers solitude & peace that instead of having fun, it becomes intrusive & a dreadful experience.
Because the need to maximize profit during the last quarter of the month, the date of the party set by management might coincide with the target date of employees to conveniently travel back to their home provinces. Some employees might prefer to spend more time with family specially those from far flung provinces instead of attending parties then travel at snail pace because it is already Holiday rush. That is why it is important to choose a very strategic date, maybe a week into December when there is still no rush for all to go back to their home provinces.
This goes the same when parties are held outside of regular outside of regular working hours some just to make sure finished goods are shipped out to customers. This makes employees too exhausted to have fun and would prefer to be just rest their weary bodies & tired minds than spending another 5-6 hours partying.
Making the event mandatory in terms of attendance can be felt as forced & unnatural d which will it surely take the joy out of the event. Not everyone is good at dancing or singing. When there is an apparent lack of talent, it becomes uncomfortable & being made fun is always a possibility. In the same manner, not all feel entertained or enjoy parties unless they feel like it.
This is the same as forcing probationary employees to perform a number. This makes it look like it is something that one should undergo, as if regularization depended on it more than actual work performance.
In the early days, asking male employees to perform in drag was something everybody found to say the least entertaining. Those days, making a mockery of the LGBTQ members was tolerated if not encouraged. Witnessed straight guys wear make-up, skits or even two piece bikinis or lesbians forced to be lady-like, wear a skimpy skirt, complete with make up and all vane things that they would rather shun.
The casual atmosphere can sometimes lead to situations where people might say or do things they wouldn’t normally, leading to regret or embarrassment later. That is why, I remember a former colleague Romeo would always tell me mockingly, “isang gabing kasiyahan, habang buhay na kahihiyan” (one night of fun is a lifetime’s embarrassment).
The dynamics of office politics are sometimes unnecessarily amplified. The way employees are assigned seats can create further animosity among employees, between peers & labor & management draw each farther from each other. Some employees may feel uncomfortable navigating through such situations specially if bosses & in some cases, their family members still act no different and should get extra attention & care.
In one such party, a very uncomfortable moment happened when I saw that food for managers was catered food, served in separate dining area & distinctly better as compared to the fast food meals of employees packed in styro boxes which they just eat in their seats. Surprised, I had cautioned about it but it seemed it has been a practice that nobody seemed to feel bothered about.
It is always best specially those from top management, to be seen as somebody who eats with gusto, the same food as workers, arrives on time, stays all throughout the party or to at least attentively watch & appreciate the presentations. Great to see management enjoy a good laugh and cheer for even nobody in particular. Just like anybody else, it is a good time to show appreciation because employees really took time to practice, prepare, decorate & plan for events like this. Coming in late or leaving early is a sign that one feels agitated, bored or even show unappreciation which can have dire relational consequences.
Themes though for some this could be fun but also stressful and an added expense just to comply. It also burdensome when employees are required contribute financially for food.
While most would enjoy the free drinks & beverages, parties that involve alcohol can be a concern for employees who don’t drink or have had negative experiences with alcohol can choose to forego attending. I remember my Mexican Plant Director told me stories of scores being settled, fistfights erupted and blood literally dripped when there was tequila or beer was served in parties in some of our overseas affiliates.
Honestly, I was more worried on how employees who drank a bottle or two, how they will arrive home safely without any untoward incident along the way.
Aside from long speeches, gloomy projections for the coming year, announcing controversial decisions, giving out undeserved awards and flawed contests judgements & results are also be factors why employees would rather not attend.
Generally, the year-end parties are the most opportune time to celebrate company milestones and the achievements employees because it is when almost everybody is around. This allow employees to reflect on and celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, emulate awardees & set personal goals.
Though we have always said, there should never be a debate if as an employee, one should attend or not, in reality, in my more than three decades attending such be it as an organizer, an attendee or at times as honored guest, there will always be varied reasons to attend or not.
Many companies use these events to present awards and recognize outstanding contributions. This is one way of motivating and rewarding employees, making them feel appreciated and valued. It’s a chance to recognize hard work and success of workers, both individually and as a team.
Among employees, year end parties lift spirits and foster a sense of pride & belonging among employees. Entailing activities that line the program are mostly fun & social interactions surely reduce stress.
It encourages employees to learn from the ending year, the victories, no matter how small or big, the challenges & setbacks then welcome the next year excited, energized & all ready to accomplish even bigger goals.
Ultimately, the year end party is about having fun and being able to unwind. The break from the daily grind and a chance to enjoy good food, entertainment, and the company of colleagues is priceless.
GOOD MORNING HARDWORKING PEOPLE!For comments & suggestions, you may email author [email protected] & follow in Facebook Herrie Raymond Rivera.