Associated Press & Tove Tupper
 
November 14, 2008
 
ASHLAND, Ore. -- In this season of corporate cutbacks, the office holiday party is getting downsized, too.
 
From American Express to MTV to local city governments, employers are canceling holiday celebrations because of the gloomy economy. At some other workplaces, last year's catered affair is this season's potluck.
 
The president of the National Association of Catering Executives calls the situation "grim." He says he's seeing the worst drop-off in business since the months right after the Sept. 11 attacks.
 
A workplace consulting firm, Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., finds one in five companies is scuttling or scaling down its year-end bash.
 
For some companies, this is about appearances as much as money. No firm wants to be seen as blowing cash, or taxpayer dollars, on raw bars and ice sculptures during tough economic times.
 
The nationwide trend can also be found in Southern Oregon.
 
"People are coming to us more for their appetizers. People are making their roasts and their turkeys and everything, but they need a little side dishes, things for people to just snack on while dinners are being made," says Jody Hupp with Allyson's Kitchen in Ashland. .
 
Experts say canceling work place parties could bring down workplace moral. Others argue scaling backisn't all that bad during poor economic times.