What really got me most of all about all the works functions I attended, was the incredible cost involved in staging one. The company I worked for at the time employed nearly two hundred and fifty people. All were invited twice a year to a corporate award presentation and dinner.
Each event would start at about 18.00 about two miles away from the company place of work. A hotel that was well used for corporate functions and weddings. It was huge and must have cost a fortune to hire. Our company would take up the entire function wing of the hotel. Rooms would be booked for sales reps and managers that lived too far away to drive back home after the event was finished, usually about 01.00. Each room was £100 a night.
We would eat dinner, a three course affair, at about 19.30. I was told that it cost £18.00 per head on average, and the food was always of a good quality and plentiful. Another observation was that your wine glass never stayed empty for very long. The bar was free, so if you wanted something different to drink, then you were always able to ask for something else. The bar bill alone, over the evening, must have been staggering.
After a hearty meal, with plenty of wine, the awards ceremony would begin. A vast array of glistening crystal awards, presented to the top sales person, best customer service, best team performance etc. I won best sales person twice, and can tell you no expense was spared on the cut crystal decanter. Receiving the award in from of over two hundred work colleagues applauding was an amazing rush. All the awards cost a fortune, but were incredibly impressive. A hired photographer would make sure all recipients were recorded in picture. These pictures would hang on the wall, till the next awards presentation, at random places throughout the company building.
The entertainment would begging at about 21.30. A disco that would play every cheesy track you could imagine. By now many of my work colleagues would be the worse for wear, many senior members of staff also. Things were always in good spirits, and the dancing was something to behold. Various courtships would begin, perhaps they had been brewing throughout the working year, and this kind of environment allowed the “energy” to be released. The bar was always serving, and the drinks would become more adventurous as the night went on. Shots, odd cocktails.
At about 01.00, the DJ would stop, the lights would come on, and everyone would begin to file out the function hall. Some would be going home, in taxis that had been arranged and paid for by the company. Others would make their way to their hotel room, sometimes with company that was not with them on arrival. I would always ask myself, was it all worth the massive expense? I think it was. People had something to talk about and laugh about during the times between functions. Moral for the prize winners was certainly high, and made you want to stay at the top of your game. Another important factor was people being able to let their hair down and enjoy themselves. A good working atmosphere can itself offer higher working results.