Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> I think I'd stay home sick that day!

That's a viable option.

> We have two Christmas deals at work. One is a potluck where _everyone_
> brings something, even if it's just ice or pop, etc. The company supplies
> all the meats (usually hot roast beef and ham), and plates, flatware, etc.
> The other is a dinner dance. The employee only pays for spouse, partner,
> etc. It's a big event at one of our hotel ballrooms.

That's a better deal than we had. I used to work for the government. We used
to organize a luncheon on Christmas Eve. When I ran the Coffee Club we had
enough money in the fund to pay for at a nearby Chinese buffet, which everyone
seemed to like. We would go for lunch at noon and then after lunch we were
free to go home. When I transferred to another branch we did something
similar. I made reservations at a local restaurant but everyone paid for
their own lunch and drinks, and then we headed home after the party.

That worked well for a few years until someone filed a grievance. He was
****ed off that he was not scheduled for work the day of the party and
insisted that he should also be given a half day off like everyone else had
had. That ended the half day off, the closest thing we ever got to a
Christmas bonus. The next two years it was an after hours party at a
restaurant bar organized by one of the other staff. I didn't bother going. I
figured that if my "company" wouldn't even give me a few hours once a year for
a celebration it wasn't worth celebrating with co workers. I went out and
partied with my friends instead. I worked in a sub office and only saw one of
my workers once or twice a week. The rest of the the people I saw once ever
month or two.