Apparently a growing number of offices are foregoing the ritual of an annual holiday party, which can raise December Dilemma hackles on everything from what to call it (“Christmas Party?” “Winter Celebration?”) to how to decorate the room. According to The Boston Globe, more and more companies are choosing instead to give employees a day off or postpone the party until after the busy – and expensive – holiday season.

Cost is a major factor, a larger one, in fact, than any multi-faith debate. As many as three out of every five U.S. companies, according to one national study, are spending less this year on holiday celebrations than they have in the past. Eighty percent are holding the fetes in the office, 60 percent having them during the workday, and 35 percent are ditching alcohol at the parties.
The Globe reported that companies are also sensitive to employees’ work-life balance, and the fact that they might not want to give up a weeknight or weekend evening to celebrate with the boss. At the same time, “Companies are more sensitive to not sending the wrong message, so people won’t say, ‘I wish I had the money the company spent on this,’ ” said Joseph Weintraub, a management professor at Babson College in Wellesley.