So Is Anyone *Really* Missing Going to Your Firm’s Holiday Party This Year?
Some of the best content we’ve put on this site in mid-December of years past has been about office holiday parties, especially Adrienne’s posts about behaving around others and not getting sloppy drunk. Of course, things are different this year. Thanks, Rona. But do you actually, really, truly miss hanging out face to face at […]
One Guy at Moss Adams Didn’t Get the Christmas Sweater Memo
Not the Moss Adams guy in the Santa suit. He gets a pass. The guy on the bottom left showing off the red puffer vest he just bought on sale at Old Navy for $12. Dude, what happened? What made him think, “Look at everyone in their Christmas sweaters. I need to get in this […]
Holiday Party Socializing With No Regrets Afterwards
You will likely attend parties over the holidays. Your own workplace party is like living in a fishbowl. You feel required to show up but having much fun is often out of the question. The only career advancement opportunities are getting senior management put a name to a face (yours) or showing good judgment by […]
Be Social, Don’t Skip the Party, and Other Redundant Holiday Party Advice
Yes, it’s that time of year. And apparently some of you need to hear this stuff because people who are paid to write about it (not me) continue to write about it.
Peter Olinto Crashed PwC’s Holiday Party in NYC
As I said on Facebook, pics or it didn't happen, bro. While we're waiting for photo evidence that Olinto was, in fact, in attendance at PwC's holiday party, let's take this opportunity to remind everyone that we'd love to hear how your holiday events are going. Did your firm go all out or did they […]
Grant Thornton Employees Break Out Dynamic Christmas Sweaters for Holiday Party
You'd all do well to follow this example for your respective office parties this season: Successful @GrantThorntonUS #atlanta holiday party last night. Tacky sweaters and all. @mmangrum1126 @griffinehunt pic.twitter.com/ZoE3BqEbKF — Christian Hyatt (@christianhyatt) December 13, 2013 Okay, guy on the left — we see that you phoned it in by just opting for a Christmas […]
Blind Item: Which NYC Accounting Firm’s Holiday Party Was a Little Too Light on the Liquor?
Here's an unconfirmed account of a holiday party from last month: [Well-known firm] NYC party on [date] at the [fancy place] was not up to snuff. While the venue was sleek, and the band was good, – the food, and most importantly the booze was not. The bar only served one choice of white wine and one choice […]
KPMG’s New York Office Is Getting a Little Festive Today
While things in Chicago are still being sorted out, a source at the HoKNYC has been filling us in about tonight's soirée and the news that Klyveldians would be allowed to bring non-Klynveldians was welcomed enthusiastically: New York Office town hall and Holiday party today. We finally get to bring dates this year! About that townhall […]
Report: PwC Boston Holiday Party Is Wicked Awesome
This time of year, many a capital market servants look forward to blowing off a little steam at the annual holiday (aka Christmaskuh, Festivus, et al.) party. Last year, the festivities made a comeback after a couple of years of more restrained celebrations. Ernst & Young’s New York office even threw a party at Cipriani’s the week Andrew Cuomo handed down his civil fraud lawsuit. And in case you’re skeptical that the get-drunk-dance-like-an-idiot-go-home-with-a-co-worker party have made a comeback, this post from Socialite may be the latest proof:
Want to talk about “work hard, play harder“? The auditors, tax specialists and consultants at PwC have got that down to a science!
2000 people + Marriott Coply+ open bar + gambling + dancing = Ballin’ time
We’ve been to some corporate Holiday parties in our day, but this one definitely takes the cake. And why wouldn’t it… we’re guessing they threw down well over $500K to host that.
Since we’re not hip to the costs of corporate holiday ragers these days, it wouldn’t be fair to dismiss this guesstimate outright. And it’s not exactly clear how Socialite got all these details but it sounds pretty similar to the KPMG Christmaskuh party I attended in 2008 (sans gambling) which was the waning days of the big holiday blowout party.
ANYWAY, Socialite then outlines a number of reasons that you, local Bostonian, should be at this shindig next year, including some “Secret Grand Prize Giveaway” which they speculate is “a small yacht” but in reality, it’s more likely to be a pair of cool shoes.
For any mini BoMos in Boston, does this sound like the party you went to? Is $500k in the ballpark or would you put it in the seven figure range? Feel free to speculate at this time. And if your party tops this one, email us the details (or an invite).
Is This a Picture From Last Night’s Ernst & Young Holiday Party?
Supposedly the picture at right was from last night’s E&Y festivus/”suck it, Andy Cuomo” party and we thought we’d share it with you to see if you recognize the scene.
Our tipster simply confirmed “EY Christmas Party: awkward sexual advances,” the former being in question, the latter, well, obv We employed some detection skills to help us determine if the pic is, in fact, from last night’s festivities. Here are a few clues that lead us to believe that this is a legit picture:
1. The lady is still wearing her ID badge – Lots of Big 4 types are hardly fashion conscious, so this oversight was probably fairly common last night.
2. Three dudes, three whites shirts – No tie on twinkle toes and the guy in the background is wearing khakis. Obviously not front office.
3. Talk to the Hand – Or alternatively, “Do not take my picture with this accountant who, sure as hell, isn’t Patrick Swayze.”
If you’ve got additional evidence to prove this picture as an authentic E&Y holiday rager action shot, (e.g. post-dance photo-op with Jim Turley) we’d love to see more pics. Or if you can provide more details to give it more context: a) What song were they dancing to? b) Was this serious dancing or twisting at Jack Rabbit Slims? c) Did everyone circle around or did a conga line ensue?
Any or all of these details would be helpful.
Ernst & Young Wasn’t About to Let Some Civil Fraud Charges Put a Damper on Their Holiday Season
A trusted source emailed us that things were getting festive last night:
EY had their FSO party last night at Cipriani’s downtown. Used to be at Tavern on the Green.
This is good news. And not just because this is an upgrade from last year’s party. Despite all the bad press the firm is getting, the celebration will go on! It must go on! Now whether the Governor-elect was aware of this and purposefully decided to make a few people’s hangovers a little worse by filing the charges today, we can’t possibly know (but he does seem to have an innate sense of timing).
What we would like to find out is the mood at this fiesta. Were there a lot of long faces, grumbling about Hank Paulson, weeping in their single malts? OR did people manage to convince themselves that this whole thing is NBD and people had a good time – enjoying the open bar, power smoking Cohibas, making awkward sexual advances, partners dancing?
We need, and the people demand details, so if you were at the party email us the details.
Good Times at PwC: Supporting the iPhone and The Return of Christmaskuh
As you know, it’s been rebrand-orama in land of P. Dubs recently. With all that going on, you may have been distracted from the fact that there are more important, less controversial decisions being made. For example, employees will be celebrating the birth of Christ/The Festival of Lights/whatever it is you do by enjoying an open bar and finally making awkward sexual advances on co-workers.
From the mail bag, some communicado from Bob Moritz:
Holiday celebrations were clearly a casualty of the challenging economy. Many of you told us that while it was the right decision given the economic environment—especially when we repurposed our holiday spending to give back to our communities—you missed getting together with colleagues to celebrate during the December holiday season. While we will continue to focus on charitable giving, we’re pleased to see a return to office holiday celebrations this year. Look for more from your market leaders on events happening locally.
Additionally, PwC has finally caved to moxie of Steve Jobs:
Many of you are already using iPhones or have been holding off purchasing one because the firm doesn’t support them. I’m pleased to announce that, later this fall, we’ll be offering iPhones from AT&T, and at least one Android model from each of our approved cellular carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile), as part of PwC’s smartphone and cellular program.
How’s that for good news? Express your glee (that means break out in song) below.
At Least One Grant Thornton Office Doesn’t Think It’s Too Early To Discuss Holiday Parties
From the mailbag, straight out of H-town:
Today, sept 1st, I got a save the date for the 2010 Christmas party. So yes GT Houston is having a Christmas party this year and apparently they are so excited about it, they wanted to let everyone know way in advance! Woot!
Is this some sort of retention tactic? Probably too little too late…..
Grant Thornton’s timing of this announcement is interesting on several counts. First, Christmaskuh was canceled by KPMG last year in early August. Since this is the first Holiday Ho down news we’ve received for any firm, this may be a good sign.
Second, our source’s suspicion is noted – is GT Houston employing a free booze morale booster here? Will the promise of catering, free hard liquor (at the very least beer and wine) and the opportunity for awkward sexual advances help rally that office back to indifference as opposed to downright morbidity? Oh and watch out for a certain PwC partner who might try to crash the party since he’ll likely be kept away from the booze at his own.
Discuss the early holiday cheer. And keep us informed about your firm’s/office’s holiday rager status.
More Deloitte Holiday Cheer This Week (Unofficially)
Big day everyone. Oh, sure there’s that but there are far more important things on the agenda. Namely, Christmaskuh festivities/cafeteria chats at the Stamford, Long Island and two NYC offices. Perfect opportunity to discuss the nominees for most likely to catch an STD on the path to partner.
Elsewhere in the Deloitte stable, the Chicago office is amping up for its rager that is going on this Saturday in Wrigleyville:
So by “unofficial” and “informal” we’re sure that’s the “All Clear” for someone to lose their pants and/or shirt by the end of the evening. Plus, we interpret the last line as an open invitation to P. Dubs and KPMG professionals for temporary adoption into the Deloitte family.
That might be the best chance they’ll have at taking in a butchering of “O Come All Ye Faithful” and shameless ass grabbing under the mistletoe, so we suggest they consider it.
Rumor Mill: The Latest E&Y Columbus Details Include $1 Beers
We continue to receive details about the layoffs at E&Y’s Columbus office. The first bit of information is that one of the unlucky few — a recently promoted SA — was given one day to consider taking a transfer to another office. According to our source, the client the SA was serving caught wind of the dismissal and the client’s reaction convinced TPTB to let the SA stay on an additional week to finish his/her work.
Our source also indicated that new manager training was going on at the time and “those [managers] with potentially the best chance to speak on the behalf of those to be axed were all in sunny Florida oblivious to the proceedings.”
Oh and the dollar beers thing. As you may remember, the layoffs occurred the day before the office’s holiday get-down. The rumor is that the festivities had a tab in the nabe of $1,200, which included $1 beers.
This causes us to wonder a few things: A) No open bar? B) Beast or Natty Light? and C) we realize Columbus is a college town but $1 beers? Were there penny pitchers and $3 Jager shots too?
For reasons that escape us, we’re completely enamored with details that continue to emerge from this. Continue to keep us updated.
Earlier:
E&Y Columbus Layoffs Update
Layoff Watch ’09: Update on Ernst & Young’s November Round
At the Deloitte Holiday Party You’ll Have to Mill Around While Trying to Avoid the Guy Mopping the Floor
We have confirmed the comment that mentions the Deloitte Holiday parties going down in the lunchroom. According to our source, this makes two years running that D has thrown it down in the caf which was a step down from the epic ’07 rager at the Waldorf. It’s not that nice of a hotel anyway.
Personally, we were hoping that Barry Salzberg was going to encourage everyone chip in and build the location of this year’s festivities with their bare hands but it might be too late to get that project started. Maybe next year.
Obviously this is less than ideal because 1) it’s definitely not a full bar and 2) instead of catering you’ll have to choose between what you think is salisbury steak and chicken a la king.
As far as atmosphere, we will admit that this is less touristy than TOTG but still. And what about the poor saps in Parsippany? Training rooms A – C? Jesus. Nothing better than crushing beers in the room where you were introduced to the FASB Codification.