The Dreaded Office Holiday Party: The Grinch Disguised in Santa's Clothing?

By Gwen Parkes

Workplace Parties Equal Holiday Stress

With the holidays in full swing, you have probably already received an invitation to your office's annual holiday party and begun to wrestle with the yearly workplace dilemma: "Do I attend?"

Annual holiday parties are stressors for many people because it feels as if it is being forced upon us. Without specifically stating so, the invitation is a giant red flag waving in your face, reminding you to submit to workplace socializing, making it feel awkward, forced and downright annoying, like taking out the trash or paying bills each month.