why do companies bother throwing parties?

[nageov3t]

just something I've always wondered. it made sense at my last job, since the company I worked for also owned several restaurants and it seemed kinda like stealing from peter to give to paul, but outside of that... wouldn't most employees prefer that the money the company would have spent on the party just be used to give everyone bonuses in their paychecks instead?

my work parties are fun and all (open bar, what more do you need?) but I'd still rather have the cash in my pocket instead.

 

[IAteYourMother]

option C: extra profit for company

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Well I would much rather have the money, but the parties are pretty fun and can be a good break from the monotony of work. I feel that they *can* help team building, relieve stress, and boost morale slightly also.

 

[blackdogdeek]

i'd prefer cash to just about anything but i still enjoy the company parties.

 

[nakedfrog]

I don't go to company parties, so...

 

[Viper GTS]

The amount of cash they spend on the party would do absolutely nothing for anyone if they gave it out in bonuses.

They probably spend $50-100 per person (or less), the people who are bitching about not having the cash would bitch just as much when they got $30 after taxes for their "bonus."

Viper GTS

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

So that they can officially state that they attempted to improve morale.

 

[JS80]

tax-free benefit to employees + economies of scale helps create more value

 

[shortylickens]

If they use the money on you, they can write it off their taxes.
If they give the money to you, you PAY OUT taxes.

Much better deal for the money overall.

 

[bigrash]

because if the company doesn't have a party, everyone else bitches about how cheap the company is.

 

[HN]

Next time you go out for a drink with your buddies just order water because, hey, more money in your pocket, right?

 

[James Bond]

I would probably rather take the cash, but I really do enjoy getting shitfaced and getting a chance to act like myself outside of the office.

 

[dainthomas]

Last time, I did not receive a piece of cake. :|

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Last time, I did not receive a piece of cake. :|

You still have your stapler?

 

[torpid]

I used to work for a company that would pay for plane flights to the client site every weekend for its employees, as well as a dinner with ridiculous amounts of alcohol each week. When I say ridiculous I mean, people were hung over or still drunk at 8am the next day. In comparison, having a party once in a while seems fine to me.

Also, the client was the state, so it was in fact taxpayers paying for the flights and binge drinking.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Its cheaper for a party. Say a small company has 100 employees. A party may cost 500 bucks and everyone has fun and perhaps gets a little work off. Think any of them would even notice a 5 dollar difference in their bonus? Not as much as the good will created by some food and music.

 

[funkymatt]

now that i work for a real company, there's a budget for the parties AND for bonuses/raises etc.

 

[mrrman]

I can party whenever I want....show me the $$$$$

 

[lokiju]

Seeing as they don't pay out bonuses, at least the parties are there.

 

[Mrvile]

There aren't a lot of people where I work and the company just uses its own facilities for the parties so I don't think the company is saving enough money by not throwing parties to give to its employees instead. For the most part, I can't see companies being able to use money spent on parties on its employees' bonuses and raises instead.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
The amount of cash they spend on the party would do absolutely nothing for anyone if they gave it out in bonuses.

They probably spend $50-100 per person (or less), the people who are bitching about not having the cash would bitch just as much when they got $30 after taxes for their "bonus."

Viper GTS

Exactly. And, if the company were giving out $500 bonuses, I wouldn't mind at all if I only received a $450 bonus and the company threw a party. Comraderie with your fellow employees is often important and makes life a lot more bearable in the office.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
The amount of cash they spend on the party would do absolutely nothing for anyone if they gave it out in bonuses.

They probably spend $50-100 per person (or less), the people who are bitching about not having the cash would bitch just as much when they got $30 after taxes for their "bonus."

Viper GTS

Exactly. And, if the company were giving out $500 bonuses, I wouldn't mind at all if I only received a $450 bonus and the company threw a party. Comraderie with your fellow employees is often important and makes life a lot more bearable in the office.

Wise words.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: HN
Next time you go out for a drink with your buddies just order water because, hey, more money in your pocket, right?

But this is true.

Anyway, your company now has parties because some of those annoying self absorbed airheads who inflicted "student government" and "dorm government" on everybody else in college who was just trying to study/get laid/get drunk now work for your company and organize parties in the mistaken belief that this will obscure the fact that they are totally non-productive.

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
So that they can officially state that they attempted to improve morale.

please see sig.