Conference 7.286::digital

Ahh Gi'day...

    They sure  will, in fact we had ours (Sydney) last night, and there was
    BULK  grog (That means lots of alcohol), and I am sitting in the office
    on  a  fairly  scungy  Sat arvo nursing an attrocious hangover. The red
    wine nearly killed me.

		       {dennis{{{ -- Merry (hic) Xmas.

	I think the US corporate lawyers will advise against the unlimited
consumption/availablity of spirits at ANY gathering this year, as the courts
are getting real nasty in awarding multi-million claims against hosts,
bartenders, etc. if someone from their establishment causes injury or death
while drunk. As many DEC field employees will drive company cars to and from
such things, DEC could feel the lash along with the employee.

	The Southern Area has flat refused to sponsor any office party with
booze, nor allow expensing of off-premise ones this year.

Ahh Gi'day...


    Not really  a problem here, most people are too frightened to drink and
    drive, because of the Random Breath Testing ("Booze Buses"). Well, I am
    anyway...


		{dennis{{{ -- Breathe into my bag, driver...

The Christmas party for the New York Area Districts (about 1500 employees) is
cookies and milk, Sunday (Dec. 15), at 12 noon in a hotel ballroom five blocks
North of Times Square. 

(I'm not kidding)

Pat Sweeney

Do they also supply you with the diapers ?

(I am kidding)
Fred

re: .2

Hey Jack!  Brings up the real question I've wondered about for quite awhile.
	Does DIGITAL have a policy against alcohol on company premises? 
	I've heard this off and on for years, but I've spoken with several
	folks from across the pond (in particular, one person in Germany
	comes to mind) and in places there are vending machines with beer
	in the offices.

	So what is the policy anyway?

	BTW, thanks for explaining the Southern Area policy.  I noticed the
	difference this Christmas.  Nice to know where THAT decision came
	from.

					Steve

May I suggest to the moderator of this file to delete 64.6?
And may I suggest to its author to go on about this subject via mail?

It is Corporate Policy and a *formal order* from K.O. that there must be
NO alcool vending machines at DEC worldwide. If this is discovered, the
people concerned could be in real trouble.
                             
"� bon entendeur salut"

Didier

re: .7

  Didier, why do you want that response deleted?  Perhaps the 
  author is wrong (I don't know), but that's never been 
  grounds before for the deletion of a note.

  Or did I miss the point and fail to realize that it's YOU 
  who have said vending machine, and simply don't want the 
  world to know, thus the suggested deletion :-) ?

                                   Atlant

I hope no one has the crass cultural insensitivity to remove the
beer vending machines that are common in DEC's Munich facilities.
To ban them would show an ignorance of German culture that would make
many suspect what business Digital has doing business there. 

MATT

Didier, 

If what the European software specialist told me was not true,
then I'm simply guilty of believing it. 

If it is true, and there is a corporate policy against this, well
the chips should fall where they may. 

If it is true and there is no corporate policy against this, then
there's no problem. 

*SO* what's the problem.  I was simply responding to the topic
under discussion.  I mentioned no names nor even a timeframe as
to when during my years at DIGITAL I was told about the machines.
So I don't think what I posted was inappropriate. 

*HOWEVER*, I'll leave it to the consensus of the other noters
*OR* the moderator.  If further replies indicate that everyone
considers 64.6 such an indiscretion, I'll bow to peer pressure
and remove both it and this reply.  Fair enough? 

					Steve

BTW, concerning that "Corporate Policy and a *formal order* from
K.O. that there must be NO alcohol vending machines at DEC
worldwide", how about telling us where we all can confirm it.  As I 
pointed out in my earlier reply, I have always HEARD it, but 
never SEEN it.  I'd be as interested as anyone else in moving 
this "rumor" into the "fact" category.  

The no-alcohol policy is for the USA only.  The Geneva HQ cafeteria
offers wine with meals, and has for years.  I seem to recall beer
there too, but am not sure.  I have never been to the Munich offices,
but the presence of beer there would not surprise me.

Perhaps the French subsidiary also has a no-alcohol policy.

The Madrid office cafeteria also offers wine.

The first (only) time I've ever seen wine in a Dec facility in
the US was when Gordon Bell started the Computer History lecture
series at the museum (then in Marlboro).  They also offered
apple cider, of course.

Martin.

  Let us not forget the famous Peter, Paul, and Mary concert, 
  after (the first?) DECworld.

  The wine certainly flowed freely that night!

  Of course, that was a 'customer' event, not just for Digits.

                                   Atlant

RE: .12

Although the Computer Museum was housed in a DEC building at the time, it was
and always has been a separate entity from Digital Equipment Corporation, and
therefore it did not fall under the corporate rules for alcohol at company
events.  A lecture sponsored by the Computer Museum is not a DEC company event.

--PSW

    In April, 1980, Digital hosted a formal dinner for the founders
    of VAX and their spouses (or guests). This was held in the MR2 lobby.
    At that meal, wine was served. (specifically, Cordonieu Champagne.)
    
    So, Digital has formally served alcohol on US premises without
    customers or outsiders.