This year—2024—marks the hundredth anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Originally, the parade was an assembly of employees of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street and a menagerie of animals from the Central Park Zoo, like bears, elephants, monkeys, and camels. At the end of the first parade, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square and enthroned on Macy’s balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then crowned “King of the Kiddies.” In the intervening decades, the parade has morphed into a multimillion-dollar annual extravaganza that draws spectators from all over the globe. Santa Claus still closes the parade and the progression of his float ushers in the beginning of the holiday season.
Although the holiday season was previously equated with Christmas and New Year’s, in contemporary American society, it has expanded to include more than 20 different religious, cultural, and seasonal holidays that occur in September. Out of respect for these diverse and divergent traditions, the inclusive “Happy Holidays” has replaced “Merry Christmas.”
The holiday season and the end of the calendar year are times of celebration, which means that the office holiday party season is upon us. Some people love corporate holiday parties. Others loathe them. Some people attend out of a sense of obligation. By far, the number one question I get about office holiday parties is, “Do I really have to go?” No. Of course, you do not have to go. Attendance is not required. However, you should at least put in an appearance if you can do it without real hardship. Even managers who say the party is optional often care on some level if you skip it (especially if you skip it multiple years in a row), and you risk being perceived as less engaged with your job or team. With that in mind, here are some tips about office party etiquette to get you through the evening and ensure your reputation remains intact the following day.
Talk to people outside of your circle. It is easy to socialize only with people you know, but there are benefits to using the party to get to know more people in your company. Expanding your network is always a good thing.
Don’t make it all about work. This is supposed to be a social occasion, not a company meeting, so resist any urge to pull your co-workers into detailed conversations about the status of projects.
Remember that it’s a business event. Despite having the word “party” in the name, this is still a work event. It’s a more relaxed work event, yes, and there’s often alcohol, but you’re still expected to adhere to reasonably professional standards of behavior.
Dress appropriately. Not sure what to wear to a company holiday party? Check-in with your co-workers to determine the appropriate dress code.
Avoid sensitive topics. Subjects that are okay within your department or between those with whom you work closely may not be appropriate outside of that circle. Everyone from the company will be invited, so please adjust your conversation accordingly.
Be serious about office parties, but have fun. While these office party etiquette rules might take some of the fun out of the party, they shouldn’t stop you from allowing yourself to have a good time.
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