Company gatherings and office parties are often the subject of criticism and skepticism. On the one hand, there is a potential risk, and many employers express reservations over the potential for unprofessional behavior and potential legal or reputational impacts, especially when alcohol is involved.
On the other hand, the value of these events is often questioned. Office social events are often made fun of or satirized as boring displays of forced socialization. If these events provide limited value at the same time they introduce potential risk to organizations, should companies host or promote them at all?
