Hosting year-end parties at many companies, including mine, looks far less glamorous from an HR perspective than the sparkling images often shown on social media. My colleagues and I are exhausted because no matter what we do, someone will complain about the topic.
In years when we organize a big party at a nice restaurant, we get flamed for “spending funds that could have been given to workers as cash for Tet” or “throwing a lavish party when the Tet bonus is not even VND10 million (US$380).”
However, when business is tough and we skip the party, we are criticized for being uncaring and unable to afford a basic event to boost workers’ morale.
“What kind of company cannot even afford a year-end party?” they would say.
Regardless of our decision and the company’s business context, there are always negative reactions. Even though the HR department is not the one deciding the budget, we are still the ones who have to explain and smooth things over.
Nonetheless, I do feel for employees at companies where year-end parties are increasingly pushed to become full-blown variety shows and departments are tasked with having their own performances. Some of them are already over 40 but still have to practice choreography after work just to make the event feel lively. What should have been a chance to rest and celebrate the end of a long year turns into a stressful project lasting an entire month.
The problem here is that many companies are treating a party for employees as a chance to polish their image. When Tet bonuses are less than VND10 million, roughly one month of basic salary, and workers remain burdened by daily concerns, a fancy party does not necessarily boost engagement. It can even backfire if employees see it as a way to mask problems such as low pay, high pressure, or unpaid internships.
To be fair, having a chance to sit down with colleagues to share a talk or a laugh after a hard year is not a bad idea. But many people also need more practical benefits, namely transparent salaries and bonuses. When these basics are not met, spending a large sum on parties is easily seen as leadership being out of touch. Colleagues at another company told me that some bosses like to hold a grand year-end party just to post about it on their social media to prove that their company is doing well.
Year-end parties can be a reflection of how a company views its workers. Is it an effort to host a year-end gathering where people genuinely come together and enjoy themselves, or merely a backdrop to show that the company has had a prosperous year?
*This opinion was submitted by a reader. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
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