The document summarizes the results of a SHRM poll about holiday schedules and parties in 2010. It finds that: - The vast majority of organizations plan to observe Christmas and New Year's Day in 2010, with over 90% closing between those holidays. - Most companies plan to hold an end-of-year holiday party in 2009, though larger organizations are less likely to do so than smaller ones. - Organizations have policies on alcohol at work events, and most say alcohol acceptance at such events has remained the same over the past two years.

1. SHRM Poll: Holiday Party and 2010 Holidays Organizations Plan to Observe November 2009

2. 2010 Holiday Schedules 2

3. 3 2010 Holidays Organizations Plan to Observe Note: * indicates less than 1%. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

4. 4 2010 Holidays Organizations Plan to Observe (continued ) Note: * indicates less than 1%. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

5. 5 2010 Holidays Organizations Plan to Observe (by U.S. Federal Holidays) Note: * indicates less than 1%. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. ** July 4, 2010 (the legal public holiday for Independence Day), falls on a Sunday. For most employees, Monday, July 5, will be treated as a holiday. *** December 25, 2010 (the legal public holiday for Christmas Day), falls on a Saturday. For most Federal employees, Friday, December 24, will be treated as a holiday.

6. 6 2010 Holidays Organizations Plan to Observe (by Religious Holidays) Note: * indicates less than 1%. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

7. Is the decision to close your office the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day a result of the recession in the U.S. and global economy? 7 Note:“Not sure” responses were excluded from this analysis.. Only respondents whose organization will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day were included in this analysis. n = 42

8. 2009 Holiday Parties 8

9. Most companies plan to hold an end-of-year/holiday party for employees this year. 9

11. Privately owned for-profit companies (69%) were more likely than publicly owned for-profit companies (46%) to report planning to hold 2009 end-of-year/holiday party for employees.Note:“Not sure” responses were excluded from this analysis.. Only significant differences are presented. n = 386

12. Is your organization planning to hold its 2009 end-of-year/holiday party on-site or off-site? 11 Note:“Not sure” responses were excluded from this analysis.. n = 386

13. Alcohol Use at Work-Related Events 12

14. Does your organization have a formal (written) or informal policy on drinking alcohol at work-related events (e.g., lunch with co-worker, company events like holiday parties, job interview over lunch or dinner, happy hour, dinner with client, etc.)? 13 Note:“Not sure” responses were excluded from this analysis.. n = 378

16. During which of the following work-related events is drinking alcohol considered acceptable at your organization? Note:Percentage does not total 100% as multiple responses were allowed. * means option was not available in 2006. 2006 results were re-calculated to exclude respondents who answered “none”. 15

17. In the past 24 months, has any employee in your organization been disciplined because of drinking alcohol at a work-related event? Note: Excludes respondent who answered “don’t know.” 16

18. Demographics: Organization Industry 17 Note: (n=407) Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

19. Demographics: Organization Industry (continued) 18 Note: (n=407) Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

20. Demographics: Organization Sector 19 n=406

21. Demographics: Organization Staff Size 20 n=396

22. Demographics: Organization Region 21 n=372

23. Demographics: Organization Operations Location 22 n = 404

24. SHRM Poll: Holiday Party and 2010 Holidays Organizations Plan to Observe Methodology Response rate = 18% Sample comprised of 428 randomly selected HR professionals from SHRM’s membership Margin of error is +/- 4 Survey fielded November 12 – November 19, 2009 23