Aftermarket Insider - December 2008/January 2009 - (Page T1) holiday survival Corporate finances have proven to be tight this year, so what does that mean for the annual holiday event? When it comes to scaling back, there are many options a company can take from holding the event in January instead of December, to having a potluck lunch during the workday instead of a sit-down dinner. While holiday parties tend to enhance employee morale and motivation, planning a low-cost, creative alternative can save your company money and still reward staff for a job well done. toolbox INSIDER volume 56 Surviving the Holiday Season in the Workplace During Tough Economic Times Don’t Worry, You’re Not Alone… • A survey by the workplace consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas shows one in five companies is scuttling or scaling down its year-end bash. • The National Association of Catering Executives and the trade magazine Special Events have found a majority of event planners are losing at least 10 percent of their corporate holiday business. • Event planners say some companies are substituting hors d’oeuvres for sit-down dinners, shortening party hours and limiting bar service to beer and wine. • Twice as many companies as in 2006 are not allowing employees to bring guests to holiday parties; 80 percent more are holding parties at the office; 60 percent more are scheduling them during the workday; and 35 percent more are axing alcohol. • Instead of a holiday party, some companies have opted to have a potluck lunch, while some executives are inviting employees to their own homes, creating intimacy while cutting costs. • Some companies are delaying their annual holiday event until January, a less stressful time of year than the more common month of December. Companies can save significantly on the budget, as well as increase employee turnout. AFTERMARKET INSIDER | DECEMBER ‘08 • JANUARY ‘09
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