Holiday parties scaled back this year

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A new national poll from the Challenger, Gray & Christmas company reveals a national tradition in trouble.

According to the poll, 77 percent of American companies will have company holiday parties this year, but that is down from 90 percent last year. And of those planning parties, 65 percent are limiting attendance to employees only. 57 percent will stage their celebrations during the work day.

In Austin, a relatively strong economy compared with the rest of the nation, will likely result in higher party rate. At the Austin Chamber of Commerce though, Senior Vice-President for Economic Development Dave Porter points out that holiday parties were already on the decline here.

"Holiday parties in business," Porter said, "starting really in the late 80s, have started to fade away because of lawsuits and things like that, liability issues." Walk around downtown Austin's famed Congress Avenue and it does not take long to see the impact of a struggling economy, even if it is stronger than in other parts of the country. A woman sits on a bench, wrapped in blankets, next to a number of plastic bags containing everything she owns. A block or two North toward the State Capitol, a homeless musician with a saxophone infuses his Christmas music with a jazz riff. Hilton Joseph, who came to Austin from Houston to take advantage of the city's thriving music scene, was not expecting a holiday company party in his own future, not until a passing oil company executive stopped to chat.

"He and his colleagues stopped by," Joseph said. "He says, 'Man, look, we're going to have a Christmas party. Man, please give us a card and let us know how to get in touch with you.' So, so far, so good. Times are tough, but this is Christmas and special things happen at Christmas time."

Miles to the north of downtown sits the Austin campus of National Instruments. There has not been a company-wide holiday party there in seven years. Yet this year, of all years, some 1,800 employees raised a company record $500,000 in the annual fall giving campaign.

Campaign chair Scott Studer said, "We have caring employees who see a need and then connect that need and gave." Back downtown, a man who had stopped to listen to Joseph finally takes his leave. He approaches the saxophonist and offers his hand. They shake warmly amid mutual well-wishes. The man then walks away. Joseph returns to the work of jazzing up Christmas. A holiday party, Austin-style.