THE ONLY BLACK GUY IN THE OFFICE
Free Booze Isn’t the Only Reason We’ll Miss Holiday Parties in 2020
’Tis the season for office shenanigans and spilled tea
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
My body may be in 2020, nursing a hot toddy in PJs from the comfort of my couch, but my mind is already in December 2021, where I’m faded with my co-workers in a perfectly tailored suit. This year will go down in history as one that strained work-life balance like never before with few outlets for relief. Of all the social delights Covid-19 kicked to the sidelines, company holiday party season is one of the hardest things we had to say goodbye to. I didn’t care too much about missing out on Carol’s green bean casserole (with cranberries?!) when the company potluck got canceled, but the holiday party is a no-skip situation. Where else am I supposed to let my hair down while re-upping on all the hush-hush company tea?
Try as HR might with prom-like Zoom sessions and extra home-office reimbursements, nothing boosts morale like the hype of the annual holiday soirée. And no matter what Silicon Valley dreams up, you simply can’t digitize a good fête. (Why do the French have so many words for “party” anyway…
