SHUTTERSTOCK ILLUSTRATION ing , and everyone stayed overnight and then had breakfast the next morning . “ For 10 years , everybody looked forward to it . It was exciting ,” says Kuar . Then , for three years in a row , there were sexual harassment allegations , injuries and fighting . “ They had four or five cases — within three years — of something they had to hire an attorney for ,” says Kuar . “ After that , they were done .”
Less naughty , more nice
Despite all these complications , in the pre-COVID-19 world , most companies still planned some kind of holiday gathering . A 2019 survey from the outplacement firm Challenger , Gray & Christmas found that 76 percent of companies planned some kind of celebration , even if the events were more subdued . “ It doesn ’ t appear that companies are holding the lavish parties of the 1980s and 1990s , and post-Great Recession , and even post- # MeToo ( awareness ), those days may be long gone ,” founder James Challenger said at the time of the survey , finding only 53 percent of companies planned to serve alcohol .
Heathfield has seen the same shift in an advice column at “ The Balance Career ,” where she gives readers tips on workplace etiquette . “ I would get notes from readers that went on and on about ... a senior executive who stripped naked and climbed the telephone pole ,” says Heathfield . “ I don ’ t get notes like that anymore . Employers are doing things to limit the drinking .” Even if alcohol is served , many companies have shifted to cash bars , providing only beer and wine , or curbing consumption by giving out drink tickets , often just one or two . “ I don ’ t think we ’ ll go back to ( the ) era where it was an open bar ,” says Worley , “ because people tend to get a little out of control .” Every expert cited this specific trend : Companies are nudging holiday parties away from alcohol and putting the focus on something else — anything else . “ Some make absolutely certain that food is the centerpiece of the holiday events ,” says Heathfield , adding that many are also now family-friendly affairs .
More holiday parties now look like the annual events at Tesco Controls , a Sacramento-based manufacturing firm that makes wastewater and electrical control systems . You won ’ t find a bar , but your kids can play on inflatable bounce houses , or maybe you can try your luck at some pingpong or bingo . “ We try to create a family culture here ,” says Tesco ’ s Allison Hunter , who helps plan the events .
Randy Peters Catering & Events , based in Roseville , has produced office holiday parties since 2005 , and president Lisa Peters says she has “ absolutely ” seen the shift from cocktails to kiddies . Her company used to create massive themed holiday parties like an O . K . Coral for Waste Connections in Folsom ( the company moved to Texas in 2011 ) with saloons and line dancing and magicians . “ All the ( women ) dressed in saloon outfits , and the guys dressed in Western
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