Bad company holiday party stories? Oh, I have plenty! Actually, I think my last good company holiday party might have been the one with Fran Gallagher back when I was in college and we both worked at CWO&O in Chicago.

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I spent a lot of years at a very cash-strapped company. Most employees were so used to getting nothing that the company promoted the party as a chance to get free food.

At one holiday party, a co-worker who had had too much to drink attempted to punch the GM. Louie and I caught him mid-punch and carried him away before too much of a scene occurred.

Another time, I was scolded by a fellow manager for choosing to sit at my department table instead of the management table. Management and department tables? Nothing like a little elitism to put everyone in the holiday mood.

One GM lacked most basic interpersonal skills (and I am being nice here). He used the holiday party to get too close to some of the women. His reasoning was that it was Christmas, as if this holiday gave him the right to mistreat women.

I have more, too. I once went with a date who wouldn’t dance with me because we didn’t know each other well enough. Another time, the company held the party in February to save money. Another time, our GM decided to have the party in our office and make us bring food (although he didn’t shut down the office, so some of us had to work intermittently throughout the party).

I have not attended a GT holiday party, but I am very sure it would be a great time. Maybe next year I will be able to make it, and then I promise I will write all about it.

For now, I just want to wish everyone a great holiday. Be well and enjoy your family and friends. If you get a chance, feel free to tell us about your bad (or good) holiday company parties.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist