Home  ·   News  ·   Weather  ·   Sports  ·   Jobs  ·   Community  ·   Pics N Videos  ·   Station  ·   Marketplace  ·   6 on Your Side  ·   Contests  ·   Get Connected  ·   Blogs
Health Check · Lottery · DTV · Seasonal · Mom to Mom · Traffic · The Omaha Buzz · CityCAMS · My Weather · School Closings · HS Cribs · Restaurants · McKnight Investigates
DTV news, with your converter box scan for digital channels. You may need to move the box around the room or get an antenna. Be prepared for the Feb 17 digital transition! Click here for more info.
WOWT.com on Demand
6 On Your Cell
News, Sports & Weather
Information On Your Cell
Text ALERTS
Breaking News Alerts
Direct to Your Cell Phone
Daily e-News
News & Weather Updates
delivered via email
You Cast
Submit Your Pics
and Video
What's on 6
Your Guide to NBC
& WOWT Programming
Six Ways To Trim Back Company Holiday Parties Save Email Print
Current economy compared to aftermath of 9/11 terrorist attacks
Posted: 5:44 PM Nov 23, 2008
Last Updated: 5:44 PM Nov 23, 2008
Reporter: John Knicely
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

A | A | A

With the tight economy many businesses are scaling back the costs for holiday parties. Viacom, CitiGroup and American Express Publishing have canceled their annual festivities.

Bizbash.com has found six ways that companies are trimming costs for employee holiday gatherings: Less flamboyant decor, limiting the party to employees rather than including spouses and significant others, hosting a luncheon instead of a dinner, more comfort food and fewer fancy buffets, focus more on boosting morale and postponing the gathering until the new year to reduce venue costs.

According to Bizbash, many in event planning compare the current climate in the industry to the prevailing concern in the months after 9/11. Frugality seems to be the word.

More Stories
Double-Murder Suspect Arrested At Boys Town

Infant Seriously Hurt, Father Arrested

Welch Out of the Mayor's Race

Bill Would Make Lethal Injection Execution Choice for NE

High Court Refuses to Hear Custody Case

Crews Respond to Apartment Fire in Bellevue

Burglaries & Break-Ins

Shooting Details Scarce

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: con on Nov 24, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Let's face it-the only reason that companies even plan and have such Holiday Parties is because there is a small group of employees (every company has them) that feel a Holiday event is owed them. In fact, most would rather not. These same employees would rather spend time moaning about what their company is or isn't doing for them vs. spending a touch more time improving their productivity or coming up with real cost saving ideas. Just an observation.

Posted by: Lisa on Nov 24, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I agree with Omaha Jay and Alotofus...or how about the bigwigs pay for the party out of THEIR bonus?? Or they can just donate a portion of their bonuses to employees to "show their appreciation" Yea right, that'll happen! Corporate America is such a joke!!

Posted by: Alotofus on Nov 23, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Here's a thought. Let's be honest. Most people don't want to go to the party anyway. We already spend enough of our lives with the people we work with/for. Most Holiday/Christmas Parties are a way for the owners, who blow enough money all year on themselves anyway, to "show" the employees they "really" care. Hell, I just as soon get "good job" at work during the year than have to put up with owners and "management teams" blowing hot air for a few hours over chicken wings, little hot dogs, 2 free drinks, some billiards and a lot of BS. LOL...let's be honest folks, I'd rather be treated decently and told the truth all year than be forced to go to some party on my/my wifes personal time so they can try and make up for a year of their spending on vacations every month, huge homes, cars and infinite toys. AND, I'm not jealous, I actually laugh when the idiots try to paint a pig and make it look like a golden goose. There, do us a favour, make our party "no party". Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Posted by: Omaha Jay on Nov 23, 2008 at 06:22 PM
I would be curious to find out if these same companies are also cutting back on executive bonuses? Funny how a company finds it 'necessary' to cut back 10-20 grand on a party to show appreciation to hardworking employees, yet still thinks it is okay to drop 60 grand or more on a single person. I guess I will never understand that mentality.

Posted by: LLR on Nov 23, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Personally, I hate office Christmas parties. You spend 40 hours a week with these people; you are sometimes lucky to make a good friend or two out of a co-worker, but for the most part, you can't feel comfortable enough to have a good time. And, the same cliques that exist 365 days a year at the office exist at the party. To say nothing of the liability of the company if they provide alcohol. The company I have worked for the last 4 years does not have a Christmas party; I can honestly say I do not miss this annual ritual AT ALL. It frees up that weekend for me and the spouse to do something special for the holidays, such as look at Christmas lights, go to Union Station, or attend a Christmas concert. I think compaies should take what they would spend on a holiday party and donate it to the needy.

Posted by: The Unemployed on Nov 23, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Way #7: Layoffs. I think it's the most popular Holiday Party cutback strategy this year. Saves money in more ways than one.

AP Online Network
YOU CAST - YOUR PICS N VIDEOS
Media Partners