Back at the bar
SmartPulse — our weekly reader poll in Smartbrief on Workforce — tracks feedback from leading managers and HR practitioners. We run the poll question each Wednesday in our e-newsletter and feature analysis from Lance Haun, vice president of outreach for MeritBuilder, the main guy over at Rehaul.com and a member of the SmartBrief on Workforce Advisory Board, on this blog.
Last week’s poll question: Do you serve alcohol at your holiday party?
- Yes, we provide an open bar with no set limits, 32%
- No, but we do provide punch, 28%
- Yes, we provide a bar with a few drink tickets covered by the company, 25%
- Yes, but it is just a cash bar so employees have to purchase drinks, 15%
“It is actually pretty surprising to me that 56% of companies are providing drinks to their employees at their holiday party (with almost a third of companies putting no set limit on the free booze). This seems to be in direct contrast of what some legal experts call for when it comes to company-supplied alcohol at parties. I would recommend a policy of limiting drinks at your event and encouraging those who want to indulge to find a venue afterward.”–Lance Haun
Posted by TLColson on December 17th, 2009 at 5:22 am
I haven't had a open bar party in several years due to state liability laws. We have had parties where employees could purchase their own alcohol, and then we provided "free ride" service to anyone who needed it.
Seemed to be more trouble than it was worth.
I'll stick to alcohol free parties.
It frees me up to enjoy the conversation, and not play hall monitor.