With thanks to all who participated, here are your responses to my questions about December office and network/association holiday parties, if you have them. Here are the results.

What do you call these gatherings?

For 57% of respondents, your organisations use the term “Christmas” parties; 48% use the term “holiday” or “seasonal” parties.

When it comes to venue, budget was the top consideration for the second time in four years. Sixty-four percent of respondents’ office events have a budget of $5K or less. At the other end of the spectrum, 14% have budgets greater than $20K.  The majority of respondents, 61%, reported that the budgets for these events are unchanged from 2017.

What about the tone?

Once again, almost eight out of every 10 such events are informal in nature. Buffet dinners are the norm for half this year’s respondents, while 43% of your events have plated meals. Canapes are on the menu for 7% of respondents.

Only 11% of respondents reported that you bring in live musicians for your holiday events. Nineteen percent rely on their venues’ pre-recorded mixes, while 30% turn to deejays. Another 41% said music isn’t a factor at your events.

Once again, the majority of respondents (70%) will rely on their selected venues for decor. The other 30% reported that their organisations bring in their own florals/other decor.

A safe return home

Most organisations are expecting people to be responsible in their drinking choices; while 26% of organisations offer taxi or Uber rides home, and another 7% provide overnight accommodation, it’s generally a case of organisations encouraging responsible choices.

Network and professional association events

Less than half the respondents reported that you’ll attend a holiday party hosted by a professional network or association. One reader perceived an assumption associated with the question. Those who reported that they do attend such events reflected on the value of networking, team spirit, spending time with friends who enjoy shared passions … and not needing to monitor or watch out for colleagues’ wellbeing!

You’ll find all the data below, including indications of just how much people do or don’t look forward to such events.

THE DATA

Note: Information below reflects the percentage of respondents who selected specific responses from multiple choice options.

1. How much do you look forward to office parties?

Thirty-eight percent of respondents a “1”, the lowest possible rating. Another 46% gave a “2” rating, and 15% of respondents gave a “3”.

2. Do you coordinate Christmas/holiday parties for your organisation?

• Yes: 71% of respondents
• No: 25% of respondents
• I don’t, but a colleague does and I’ve turned to that person in providing my responses to this poll: 4% of respondents

3. Which of the following most closely reflects the term your organisation uses to refer to such events?

• Christmas party/event: 57% of respondents
• Holiday party/event: 37% of respondents
• Seasonal party/event: 11% of respondents

4. How far in advance do you plan the office holiday party?

• I plan the event ASAP after the prior year’s event: 18% of respondents, compared to 17% of you in 2017, 9% in 2016 and 7% in 2015.
• I plan the event less than a month in advance: 18% of respondents, compared to 17% of you in 2017, 9% in 2016 and 13% in 2015
• I plan the event 2-3 months in advance: 32% of respondents, compared to 31% in 2017, 18% in 2016 and 20% in 2015
• I plan the event 3-6 months in advance: 32% of respondents, compared to 34% in 2017, 46% in 2016 and 40% in 2015

5. Which of the following is the dominant consideration in venue selection for your office holiday party?

• Budget: 43% of respondents, compared to 44% in 2017, 8.5% in 2016 and 19% in 2015
•  Capacity: 18% of respondents, compared to 12% in 2017, 8% in 2016 and 6% in 2015
•  Location: 14% of respondents, compared to 17% in 2017 and 2016, and 13% in 2015
• Venue reputation: 11% of respondents, compared to 8% in 2017, 33% in 2016 and 38% in 2015
• Strategic considerations: 7% of respondents, compared to 2% in 2017, 8% in 2016 and 6% in 2015
• Ambience: 7% of respondents, compared to 15% in 2017, 8.5% in 2016 and 13% in 2015

6. What is the budget for your 2018 office holiday party?

• Less than $1,000: 43% of respondents, compared to 22% in 2017, 0% in 2016 and 7% in 2015
• $1,000 – $5,000:  21% of respondents, compared to 26% in 2017, 37% in 2016 and 40% in 2015
• $5,001 – $10,000: 7% of respondents, compared to 26% in 2017, 18% in 2016 and 33% in 2015
• $10,001 – $15,000: 7% of respondents, compared to 10% in 2017, 9% in 2016 and 0% in 2015
• $15,001 – $20,000: 7% of respondents, compared to 0% in 2017, 9% in 2016 and 7% in 2015
• more than $20,000: 14% of respondents, compared to 16% in 2017, 0% in 2016 and 14% in 2015

7. How does the budget for your 2018 office event compare with the 2017 budget?

• Unchanged: 61% of respondents
• Greater than the 2017 budget: 7% of respondents
• Less than the 2017 budget: 32% of respondents

8. Does your guest list include out-of-towners?

•  No: 54% of respondents, compared to 56% in 2017, 12.5% in 2016 and 43% in 2015
•  Yes: 46% of respondents, compared to 44% in 2017, 87.5% in 2016 and 57% in 2015

9. Would you describe the tone of your office holiday event as formal or informal?

• Informal: 79% of respondents, compared to 78% in 2017, 87.5% in 2016 and 80% in 2015
•  Formal: 21% of respondents, compared to 22% in 2017, 12.5% in 2016 and 13% in 2015

10. Which best describes the food service for your holiday event? 

•  Buffet dinners: 50% of respondents, compared to 37% in 2017, 22% in 2016 and 36% in 2015
•  Plated meal: 43% of respondents, compared to 29% in 2017, 67% in 2016 and 29% in 2015
• Canapes: 7% of respondents, compared to 31% in 2017, 11% in 2016 and 36% in 2015 

11. What kind of music arrangements are typical for your office holiday event?

• Music isn’t a factor: 41% of respondents, compared to 33.5% in 2017, 34% in 2016 and 13% in 2015
•  We have a DJ: 30% of respondents, compared to 19.5% in 2017, 22% in 2016 and 13% in 2015
•  We have live musicians: 11% of respondents, unchanged from 2017, and down from 22% in 2016 and 40% in 2015
•  We rely on the venue’s muzak/pre-recorded mix: 19% of respondents, compared to 36% in 2017, 11% in 2016 and 27% in 2015

12. Please describe decor planning for your office holiday event.

• We rely on the venue for decor: 70% of respondents, compared to 75% in 2017, 50% in 2016 and 67% in 2015
•  We bring in our own florals/other decor: 30% of respondents, compared to 25% in 2017, 50% in 2016 and 33% in 2015 

13. Do you plan on offering door prizes at your office holiday event? 

• No: 75% of respondents, compared to 50% in 2017, 75% in 2016 and 71% in 2015
• Yes, we have a budget for this: 14% of respondents, compared to 29% in 2017, 12.5% in 2016 and 7% in 2015
• Yes; we have a budget for this and also resource complimentary prizes through contacts: 7% of respondents, compared to 8% in 2017, 12.5% in 2016 and 21% in 2015
• Yes; we turn to suppliers, partners or other contacts for this: 4% of respondents, compared to 8% in 2017 (the first year I asked this question)

14. How does your organisation support safe returns home from office holiday events?

• It doesn’t; this is seen as each individual’s responsibility: 33% of respondents, compared to 31% in 2017
• We encourage individual responsibility: 30% of respondents, compared to 40% in 2017, 42% in 2016 and 50% in 2015
• We provide taxi/cab rides home: 19% of respondents, compared to 16% in 2017, 17% in 2016 and 13% in 2015
• We reimburse for Uber rides home: 7% of respondents
• We provide overnight accommodation: 7% of respondents, compared to 3% in 2017, 17% in 2016 and 0% in 2015
• We encourage use of public transit: 4% of respondents, compared to 10% in 2017, 8% in 2016 2016 and 0% in 2015

15. Do you attend any holiday parties hosted by a professional network/association?

• No: 54% of respondents  (2018 is the first year I’ve asked this question)
• Yes; I attend one each year: 32% of respondents
• Yes; I attend more than one each year: 14% of respondents

16. How much do you look forward to professional network/association holiday parties?

Fifty-two percent of respondents a “1”, the lowest possible rating. Another 16% gave a “2” rating, and 32% of respondents gave a “3”.

17. Please name the professional network(s)/association(s) whose holiday parties you attend. Note: While organisations received repeat mentions, I listed each organisation only once.

• AIOP – Australian Institute of Office Professionals
• Executive Assistant network (national) (local) assistant networks
• IAAP
• IMA
• IMA Netherlands Christmas Dinner
• Institute of Public Administration Australia (EA Series)
• PAFSA
• PA Hub
• US/PS
• There is no question in this poll about WHETHER or not we have a party. The whole premise is that everyone DOES. It’s like Christmas itself. Assumed, expected, you’re considered ‘weird’ if you don’t want to get involved. It should not be taken as an assumption that every individual, or every organisation, participates. You should have had a question near the top that says WILL your organisation be having a party this year? What about all those who say no? I would be interested to see how many there are.

18. Do you volunteer/help with the organisation of your professional network/association holiday parties?

• No: 63% of respondents
• I have in the past; not this year: 22% of respondents
• Yes: 11% of respondents
• I hadn’t thought of that; I’ll let organisers know I’m available to help with next year’s event: 4% of respondents

19. What do you most value about the holiday parties/events hosted by a professional network(s)/association(s)?

• Connecting with my peers
• Networking (this received repeat mentions)
• Interaction with fellow EAs
• Casual networking, corporate gratitude
• I do not have to play monitor and order people to go home when they drink too much!
• Great way to wrap up the year and connect in a relaxed way
• Meeting my peers in an informal setting
• The shared passion and regard for the administrative profession and a chance to celebrate and thank the volunteer committee members of my organisation (AIOP)
• My local network doesn’t host one but they have recently expanded and this could be a good inclusive option for 2019. I may offer voluntary support!
• Celebrating the season with cohorts; collaborating on community projects
• I don’t. Our regional PA Network is focused on CPD & learning-led events. We do have a social element to them, of course, but we don’t tend to organise a social-only event. We struggle enough with budget for the learning events. In my workplace, we don’t have a singular Christmas event, teams & departments organise their own (we are open 7 days a week, 363 days a year, so someone is always working, and teams are widespread with very different make-ups and dynamics, so ‘one size fits all’ really doesn’t work.
• It’s a fabulous opportunity to say hello to old friends as well as good to meet you to new ones. It’s not so much the seasonal celebrations but rather the networking and team spirit that exists within the association.