90% of Japanese firms plan to skip year-end, New Year parties due to virus

My company canceled all Year end and New Years Parties.

This year, make a different party. Try to visit forest or big jungle (of any country) and let's see who comes back next year.

I saw on some wide show that 70+% of employees are glad their company CXL'd.

It's not just because of the risk of virus-passing. Many companies are in financial straits after a horrible year, and these expensive parties are an expense they can skip.

So still a few percents allowed in large cities and 30% in smaller suburbs. Still largely enough for efficient spreading.

Funny to read absence of measures from politicians and no Japanese demonstating.

It makes perfect sense. However, it will result in more restaurant closures.

My company did an online teams party. They sent pizzas to all of our addresses with our choice of drinks and we held our celebration online. It's not rocket science, just a tiny bit of initiative.

90% is a lot . It is going to hurt. I think people should pay for the 2022 parties now and help the industry.

Who's the other 10%? I'd like to know so that I never to do business with them for their irresponsible behavior.

Pff..You make it sound like there are people doing business with you.

Probably a god idea up there at the moment with the amount of daily cases.

Save the celebrations till next year

No brainer really, my company hasnt had any parties or gatherings since January this year. Had a couple scheduled for late March, but they were cancelled as well.

I literally have not been in an izakaya here for nearly one year......

It sucks, but most people understand it's the right thing to do. This thing will be behind us soon enough and life will start to get back to normal. I'm sure there are many people that are probably happy they don't have to go through these "important customs" this year. Others of course will be disappointed they can't get hammered on the company dime.

Wise mive by Japanese companies. There is absolutely zero need to have group drinking parties in the peak of this awful virus. Recipe for disaster.

Good riddance! I hope they realize how they absolutely do not need and should never have these parties. Parties should not be obligatory, where you have to listen to speeches when you want to eat and/or drink, often play stupid games because people aren't quite sure how to speak to each other, and worse. It is such a shame, and statement on society, when people lament not having these parties because they "were looking to get to know each other better" -- because for whatever reason they need to be drunk for that to happen. I for one will be glad to see less irate and drunken oyajis on the train, read about less assaults, hear less accounts of sexual assault by female staff at such parties or thereafter, etc. Have a party online, if you must, or better yet, just talk to a staff and ask them if they want to chat some time.

Let’s not forget that this year is a depressive one for Japanese companies in term of economics.

Cool, it's going to be easier to book a table at our favourite yakiniku joint for this year's 忘年会.

Lots of comments to read regarding corona virus. But all I have to do is look at which comments gather a -10 rating and which gather a plus 10 rating, and I already know what their sentiments will be.

Who's the other 10%? I'd like to know so that I never to do business with them for their irresponsible behavior.

Excellent point. Same here.

“90% of Japanese firms plan to skip year-end, New Year parties due to virus”

What a pity. They could at least reduce numbers present if people are that worried.

Panic wins yet again

“I literally have not been in an izakaya here for nearly one year......”

Your loss

It's kind of ironic that the one year that practically everyone wants to forget is the one year when a party set aside to do so shouldn't be held. I want to forget this year, but I'll be doing it at home. No gatherings for me.

“No gatherings for me.”

Suit yourself

I'm willing to bet that a rogue middle-level corporate official would still organize a localized drinking party even if the survey said nearly 90% said they wouldn't hold such events. In my company, the top brass passed down a memo that banned office parties, to learn that only a few weeks after that a separate department a friend of mine is at, had their own party and told their personnel not to post anything about it.

Your loss

No actually it isnt, but not for the reasons you seem to think. It's their loss big time, as my company literally spends millions of yen each year for various functions, and because of the virus, it cut down on entertainment expenses, and thanks to that, and other reasons as well, it managed to pay full bonuses this December.

Glad they managed that, so in the long run, it's my gain!

 In my company, the top brass passed down a memo that banned office parties, to learn that only a few weeks after that a separate department a friend of mine is at, had their own party and told their personnel not to post anything about it.

Believe me, if your friend in another department told you, other people know as well, and "not posting" about it, is not going to stop the "higher ups" from finding out about it.

Never tell anyone here not to, do this or that, as it will be the fastest way for others to find out!