Stats Of The Week: The Decline Of The Firm Holiday Party

There are indications that the holiday party is apparently in decline.

onDecember 11, 2015 at 4:10 PMDecember 11, 2015 at 4:11 PM

While Biglaw bonuses are flat, there are indications that another year-end staple, the holiday party, is apparently in decline.

As reported by Bloomberg, a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that this year 65 percent of employers reported that they plan to hold a holiday party for their employees, down from 72 percent in 2012. In 1998, 83 percent of those surveyed threw parties.

Today’s New York Post cites a 2014 survey of more than 1,500 companies conducted by Seamless finding that holiday parties are increasingly casual, if not cut-rate. According to the Seamless survey, 22 percent of offices actually opt for a potluck party — up 120% over 2012. More tragically, 44 percent of companies did not offer any booze. Two years prior, only 21 percent of companies threw dry “parties.”

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From Pilot and Above The Law

The money quote in the Post piece comes from “Kate, 32, a Midtown employment-law attorney”:

“My firm is incredibly profitable … Still, our office party — which, by the way, is mandatory — is a conference-room table covered with platters of Costco veggies and dip and a few screw-top bottles of wine. It’s embarrassing for everyone. No one wants to be there, it’s not festive, and it doesn’t scream appreciation.”

Perhaps some ATL readers can relate?