Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

VIDEO clips of Tencent chairman Pony Ma singing a Cantopop song at the company’s year-end party last week went viral on Chinese social media, as employees of less prominent companies marveled at the extravaganza held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, which showered Tencent workers with gifts and live entertainment performed not only by insiders, but also by celebrity guests such as Charlie Zhou.

In the neighboring city of Zhuhai, home appliance giant Gree’s year-end party also kindled a lot of buzz, with its chairwoman Dong Mingzhu announcing generous bonuses for employees at the occasion and one employee saying “Dong is my mom” in a standup comedy routine.

Corporate year-end parties are opportunities for companies to celebrate their achievements and show appreciation to their hardworking employees. It not only provides a chance to unwind and have fun, but also helps to foster team spirit and strengthen employee engagement.

Known as nianhui in China, the year-end party usually takes the form of a gala and cocktail party/banquet, with big companies renting out arenas and performance venues.

However, it is important to note that not all employees may share the same enthusiasm for these year-end parties. The recently released film “Johnny Keep Walking!” also draws attention to the fact that corporate parties can be a burden, particularly for introverted individuals.

According to a November 2023 survey by the Chinese online recruitment platform Lagou, 54% of the 793 interviewees expressed a reluctance to participate in corporate parties. Nearly half of the interviewees said they felt under pressure attending social functions, more than a third said they were often disappointed coming home empty-handed in lucky draws, and nearly a third mentioned the burden of being forced to participate in performances.

Others who were reluctant to participate in such parties likened them to quasi-meetings, as such parties often also include work summaries and reports from company officials. Some reasoned out having to sacrifice personal time for the occasion, as the parties are often arranged on weekends or last into evenings.

For extroverted individuals with performance skills, these parties provide an opportunity to showcase their talents and entertain co-workers; but for those less willing to be in the limelight or lacking expertise, it can be burdensome to be assigned a performance role.

Joining in a group performance may not impress anyone during a company party, but will cost an employee extra time to prepare after work in the lead-up to the show.

Even though those extroverts who attend may indeed enjoy the occasion, for HR or administrative staff who are tasked with planning the event, the year-end party can mean great pressure and a lot of overtime work, particularly given that such parties are often held in January, ahead of the Spring Festival when everyone in the Chinese workplace is extremely busy.

Perhaps a company being able to afford a year-end party in itself speaks volumes of its success in the past year, and those who don’t have it may actually envy those who have to attend it.

Still, there can be better arrangements for year-end parties so that they become a true reward for employees. For instance, performing on such occasions should be completely voluntary instead of an assigned task; the part of work summary and report should be made as scarce as possible; such a party can be better arranged on workday afternoons instead of on weekends; and convenient transportation means had better be arranged if employees need to attend it at a venue beyond walking distance.

In the end, whether employees enjoy their year-end parties depends on how they are treated by management during the rest of the year. Those who feel respected and properly compensated in their company will certainly embrace such an occasion to mix with officials and co-workers. Then, year-end parties that focus on having fun, rather than have employees compete or perform demanding routines, will be better for morale. Even though not mandatory, a fun party with nice things to eat and drink certainly appeals to employees.

(The author is a Features editor of Shenzhen Daily.)