Conference 7.286::digital

    We're not having a Christmas party; we're having a holiday gettogether
    at a local restaurant.  Each person may bring a guest, and the costs
    are borne by the individual.
    
    In view of Digital's Valuing Differences policy, I think it's important
    that we consider non-Christians during the holidays, don't you?
    
    regards,
    Marge

    I agree with .1 as to valuing differences - let's consider this
    time of year as celebrating the "Holiday Season".  
    
    Looking forward to more replies.

    At our plant, our 'Social committee' is planning a 'holiday
    get-together'.  Funds are being raised through lotteries, etc.,
    with a donation from our (Canadian) VP of Manufacturing.
    
    The get-together consists of dinner and dancing at a local
    country club on Dec 21st.  There is a $25/couple fee.
    Jim

    Re: .1 & .2
    
    Valuing differences also means my holiday is valued.  If not for
    its significance to you, at least for its importance to me.  My
    being in the majority should not be cause for the denigration of
    my beliefs through watered-down names.
    
    I hope you have a Merry Christmas, and some of the benefits I believe
    derive from the basis for that holiday accrue to you regardless
    of your personal faith or lack of it.
    
    By the same token and in the same spirit I would rather be wished 
    Happy Chanukah by those who observe it rather than ask them to adjust
    their customs in public because they differ from mine.
    
    Most of the world's major religions have wonderful heritages of
    which adherents can be justly proud.  There is no shame or slander
    in a wish of good will.
    
    Don
    

Unfortunately for those who wish to celebrate the "holiday season" with
their Jewish collegues, Chanukkah is pretty minor as holidays go.  The
most important Jewish holidays seem always to conflict with a major
Dec function, such as DecWorld.  (And accompanied by an apology that
this will never happen again until next year.)

Martin.

    	Ok to .4 you got to love it.
    
    
    
    
    buz

I just ignore the whole thing.  I hate big parties.  I'd much rather get 
together with 2 or 4 of my friends on my own.

Bob

Here at DDD (Nashua) we adopt a local nursing home.  Names of patients/guests
along with a few of their 'wishes' are distributed to those of us who want
to adopt.  We then buy and wrap the presents which are taken to the rest
home amidst party surroundings.

We are, this year, also having a toys for tots drive.

Collecting food for those who are in need is also one of my favorites.

These activities go far towards instilling (in me) the REAL spirit of the
holidays.  I love them and am grateful to our EAC for all the work they've
done in lining up recipients, etc.

Like one of the previous replies, I'm not a heavy 'party' person, so prefer
the excuse to go shopping.  (My favorite sport!)

Betty

    Like .8, our District is also sponsoring a Toy Drive.
    
    I received the notice of our "holiday party" one day before the RSVP
    date (and I tend to be one of the _better_ informed people in our
    delivery units).  It is going to be some type of cross-functional party
    in downtown Washington DC at a restaurant.  I have seen absolutely
    nothing about cost, but rumor has it that it will run $16 per person
    ($32 per couple).  Personally, I don't need to shell out that sort of
    money (plus several dollars parking, plus childcare...) just before the
    holidays to go into downtown DC (where I don't like to go anyway) to
    be with a group of people who will probably drink too much and act like
    fools (and I'm not talking about the people I work with, either).
    
    Thanks, but no thanks.  Give me a turkey/food voucher/whatever any day.
    
    -- Russ

    Re "holidays":
    
    This comes on as a bugaboo.  "New Years" is RomanoPagan/Christian, with
    January the first month of the Romans (with its sponsoring god,
    Janus, with his two faces looking both fore and aft, seeing the
    year that's just been as well as the year to come).  Other religions'
    years start at different times: Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year,
    is celebrated in late September or early October (based on a lunar
    calendar, the date varies); the Druidic Samhain is on the 31st of
    October; and the ancient Egyptians started their New Years in mid
    July.  However, the religious component has been squeezed out of
    New Years, and it has become purely secular.
    
    Christmas, as it's practiced now, is nearly as secular, and is
    secularly celebrated by many who are not Christian.  [I could go
    on for some time about the outside-Christian traditions in Christmas,
    including the Yule Log, the Christmas Tree, and mistletoe, but that's
    the province of another conference or two.]  So, it's not devaluing
    differences if we choose to have a "Christmas party," in my opinion.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    re: .0
    What is an "E A C " ?
    

Employee Activity Committe

    We take 2-3 hours on a day (TBD) the week before Christmas and all
    bring in a special dish of our own for the group to eat.  Kind of
    like a Smorgeshboard (99% probability that it's spelled wrong).
    This is a group and not a site activity.  The site has nothing
    specific planned (at least to my knowlege).
                                                       
    Does this kind of thing detract from work?  Sure, I suppose it does
    but responding to Notes does too and getting a cup of coffee and
    going to the bathroom and....   just think of it as planned for
    on-site vacation time.  I'm sure the upper management is aware of
    this sort of thing and plan for decreased productivity at this time.
    
    As to some of the other responses, I tink it might help to think
    of Christmas as an American holiday as well as a Religious one.
    I mean if you carry the ACLU approach to the limit, we wouldn't celebrate
    anything at all.  As they say... "When in Rome...".  If the notion
    of Christmas and Christianity feels uncomfortable, call it the American
    Winter Holiday of Good Cheer or something but don't spoil it for
    the rest, that won't serve anyone.  If you can't find any reason
    to feel good, then too bad, you're outnumbered and the majority
    gets it's way in the good ole USA   :-)
    
    
    Merry Christmas
    

    I agree comrades,lets get rid of this "Christmas" stuff and get
    with the XMAS thing or even the "Holidays".

    I'm sure upper management does realize that the individual contributors
    are distracted during "The Holidays" and the benefits of group get-
    togethers (promoting teamwork, breaking down barriers, etc.) outweigh
    the time it takes away from the work day.  These gatherings could
    actually increase productivity in the long run.  One thing to consider:
     Is anyone even in the building during this time of year?  Most
    people take vacation and those that don't must be leaving before
    5pm because it sure is deserted in here in the afternoons.  Our
    site luncheon is the 19th - I sure hope we have more than just a
    handful of people here to participate.
    
    HAPPY THANKSGIVING & MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
    

Just a note from one employee who understands and very much sympathesizes
with those who are bothered in one way or another by the common use of
the term "Christ's Mass" or Christmas.

Since I've a Christian upbringing it is, perhaps, a little easier for
me to object without acquiring some negative image of whining, or spoilsport,
or scrooge, or mean-spirited.

The general argument runs in two usual flavors:

	Everyone does it ... it's *really* a secular holiday, c'mon,
	stop sending negative vibes

		[or]

	It's a time of good spirit and good wishes; we mean only
	good things ... why can't *you* accept that?

Well, if we really mean good wishes then perhaps we can go the extra
mile and walk in another's shoes.  If someone finds the "common practice"
to be, in some way offensive, and if there is a moderately large number
of such people (we aren't talking one odd wheel here), then perhaps
that should give us pause --- after all you really have to see it from
another side to understand.

I can think of no time of the year when it is better to take the time
to understand that a particular custom, culture, or religion is not
shared in exactly the same way by all people.  (In this case it is
not shared by the majority of humans).

For me the "Christmas spirit" *explicitly* suggests understanding
that for others it is the "Holiday Spirit" and respecting that; and
that for others it is a time of sadness, and understanding that as
well, without burdening them with an expectation to set aside any
trouble or belief and "join up with the majority party [pun intended]".

I can hardly cast stones here; I certainly used to do it myself.
I no longer do.

- greg

    Since when was Christmas an `American' holiday??  We have Christmas
    here in England too you know.  And I bet the other European countries
    wouldn't like to be missed out!
    
    Let's try to think further than our own small borders!
    
    Its a little early yet but - Happy Christmas EVERYBODY!

RE: .13

    I don't  see  why  thinking  os  Christmas  as American as well as
    Christian  should  make  it  any more palatable. First off, that's
    wrong,  as  Christmas  is celebrated in many other countries. (The
    only  purely  American  holiday I can think of is the 4th of July,
    and  even  then,  the British might be glad of getting rid of some
    revolting  colonies.) Secondly, Christmas is primarily a religious
    holiday.  Thus  those  of  us who do not see Christ as part of our
    religion will feel left out.

    I am   not  made  uncomfortable  by  the  idea  of  Christmas  and
    Christianity,  in fact, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, but
    I  don't  want  to  be  involved.  Your comment about the majority
    getting  it's way in the U.S. ignores the history and constitution
    of  the  U.S. Many of the early colonists came to escape religious
    prosecution,  and the constitution explicitly protects against the
    establishment of a state religion.

--David

       
       
       	What has this got to do with working at DIGITAL? I think I lost
       the point a few replies back...
       
       						mike

re: .19

Respect for fellow employees?

- greg

    Is Thanksgiving American?  (Someone said only 4th of July)
    
    If Christmas is objectionable to some, then some can ignore it.
     Go to work.  My kids love it, me to.  Should we all think about
    it more?

    re: several.
    
    My point in objecting to the default name "Christmas party" is that it
    is not inclusive of many DECies who celebrate other holidays this time
    of year.  A simple change from Christmas party to "holday party" or
    "holiday get-together" is more inclusive and rather painless.  Any
    company party should support Valuing Differences, a Digital policy.
    
    
    IMHO,
    Marge

    In the past 5 years I've worked for 2 different cost centers. The
    first one (Washington DC) had terrific activities and Christmas
    was the best with dinner and dancing at a local resturant. I
    transferred up the road 40 miles to Baltimore and I was amazed at
    the difference! I was invited to DC's Christmas party which I turned
    down because I felt that I should be involved with my new unit etc.
    What a mistake! This cost center's manager of a Christmas party
    was a pot luck dinner with the branch suppling the table. I guess
    I had been spoiled. 
    
    Last year we got a new District Manager and he had an after Christmas
    party...on like Jan.20, it was great! No crowds and it happened
    during a boring time of the year.
    
    Fred Mudgett

>    Is Thanksgiving American?  (Someone said only 4th of July)

I was in Tokyo this Thursday, where "Labor Thanksgiving Day" was being
celebrated.

Canada has a "Thanksgiving" holiday, celebrated in early October.

/john

    In the UK we tend to give thanks that the US is no longer a colony.
    
    :-)

    Re .25 (Andy):
    
    >In the UK we tend to give thanks that the US is no longer a colony.
    >
    >:-)
     
    Interesting; so do lots of us Yanks. :-D
    
    Seriously, this has strayed from a point being asked.  And the answer's
    not easy.  Christmas, in many countries, is a legal as well as a
    religious holiday.  Let's take a purely U.S. legal/nonreligious
    holiday to make a point: Labor Day.  Suppose someone wanted to throw
    a party that day.  Logic would dictate that it'd be called a Labor
    Day party.  From a legalistic standpoint, Christmas is a holiday
    for all, therefore, by the same logic, a Christmas Party is not
    a religious event ....
    
    Does that tread on toes?  I don't know.
    
    One alternative would be to call it a "Yuletide" party.  The Yule
    celebration is Pagan in origin, yet it's also a synonym to "Christmas"
    to many; this would cause minimum impact.  Of course, we could always
    call it a "Winter Solstice" party, for the purists ....
    
    Are things _this_ bad?
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    Interestingly enough, it was actually _illegal_ to celebrate Christmas
    in a number of the existing states as late as the end of the 18th
    century.   Even after it was legal to do so, most New England states
    (Massachusetts included) did not celebrate Christmas until the middle
    of the 19th century.  Christmas was considered by the Puritans and
    New England Protestants to be a repressive holy day, and in fact
    was a regular work day as late as the 1830s (except when it fell
    on a Sunday, of course).

re: .26

I don't think it is a matter of logic nor legalities nor are things
_this_ bad.  It's rather simple really.

      -	The word "Christmas" is so secularized and so pervasive
	in some countries that we simply forget it is fundamentally
	a deeply relgious word.

      -	The "holiday spirit" is one of good will, but sometimes
	we feel that others confuse the contents of the package
	with the wrapping --- while others might remind us that the
	wrapping is the first and most visible aspect seen.

It doesn't seem much different to me than the sensitization that
has occurred with other words that carry connotations that are
offensive, or at least annoying to some; gender specific pronouns
and titles, various euphanisms for skin color.  Protesting the use
of these is often dismissed as trivial nitpicking when they indeed
carry subconscious reinforcement of cultural specifics.

Is it so difficult within the spirit of the season to remember that
some find a particular labelling of that spirit to be exclusionary
or proprietary?

- greg

ps: if it's not obvious I tend to take the "separation of church
    and state" quite literally, and believe that in most cases it
    should carry over into the world of business.  But I also
    enthusiastically support "good tidings for all".

    re: 972.27
    
    Sounds like Christmas as something for merchants to lick their chops
    over came about around the same time as the industrial revolution.
    In America, the buying frenzy is unbelievable.  The idea of referring
    to it as a religious holiday is silly -- it's simply a retailers'
    holiday.  

    I rather like the idea of replacing 'Christmas' with 'Yuletide'
    Scandinavians refer to the celebration as 'Jul' and this
    company is run by a man named 'Olson' :-)
    
    Question is, can we get Employee Activities (or someone else in
    authority) to change company usage?  This is undoubtedly the wrong
    notesfile to do so.

Re:< Note 972.30 by MLTVAX::SAVAGE "Neil @ Spit Brook" >

>    Question is, can we get Employee Activities (or someone else in
>    authority) to change company usage?  This is undoubtedly the wrong
>    notesfile to do so.

As far as I'm concerned, any notesfile is the wrong notesfile to do so-
Let's leave the name of the holiday alone!

Shakespeare wrote a play whose title springs to mind...

"Much ado about nothing".

Lee

    The issue is not renaming the holiday, Lee.  The issue is in having
    company-authorized parties around the holiday, which everyone
    acknowledges has religious overtones for many who celebrate it.  I
    still prefer Holiday Party or Holiday Gettogether to Yuletide or
    Christmas.  It's more inclusive.  Greg said it best.
    
    Marge
    

    I said it  elsewhere, and I'll say it here - the word "Christmas" in
    *general* usage, has almost as little to do with its religious roots,
    these days, as the word "holiday" does. 
    
    If you insist that a corporate
    change is in order, I insist that you can't say "holiday". Say
    "Yuletide vacation" or (in case "vacation" has religious roots, and
    since "Yuletide" has pagan roots) "December Free Time".
    
    Leave the holidays alone. Corporately.
    
    If Christmas, then is Easter next ?
    
    In the U.S. you have time off for the Fourth of July celebrations.
    Should we in foreign countries insist that you NOT use Independence Day
    to designate that holiday, corporately ? (ie. No Independence Day
    parties, if they were to exist.) 
    
    Scooter

         I have to agree there.  We had several groups who had Halloween
    parties here in Colorado Springs.  The holiday has some truly pagan
    roots.  There were churches in town who were campaigning against
    celebration of the pseudo-holiday.  However, most people don't
    celebrate Halloween the way its ancient roots determined.  So, why
    irritate a large group of people for a reason which has such an
    infinitesimal offense capability?
    
                                      

    Using the nonclemature "holiday" - originating as a Holy day - is
    offensive to all devil worshippers. In the name of valuing differences
    the phrase "free time" must be used instead.
    
    Ooops. "free time" is offensive to all tyrants. 
    
    __________
    Good grief.

>If Christmas, then is Easter next?

No problem.  The U.S. has no Easter holidays.

/john

I can't believe this discussion, what a giant waste of time!

How many christians would be really upset if a DECie who was of the
Jewish faith wished them a happy hunakkah? or invited them to a Hunnakkah
party (if there is such a thing)?
Are there any non-christians out there who are upset with the term
"Christmas party"?

I also agree that except for the word Christ, there is very little that is
christian about christmas.

- George

I know Christians who don't like office "Christmas parties."

These people believe that Christmas parties should be celebrated during
Christmas, rather than during Advent.

According to the Christian calendar, Christmas begins with the First Day of
Christmas, the 25th of December, and continues until the Twelfth day of
Christmas, the 5th of January.  (Remember the song?).

For these people, Advent, the four week period leading up to Christmas, is a
season for preparing oneself for Christmas, not a time for Christmas parties.

/john

    How would you feel, as a Christian, if the majority of the company's
    employees and management were Orthodox Jews and the Company-sponsored
    party were a Chanukah Party?
    
    I worked for such a company once.  The non-Jewish employees came to
    the party, but generally seemed to feel very left out.  
    
    Try those feelings on for size and you may understand why some folks
    object to a party for all employees being called a Christmas Party.

    Is there anything new to add? This topic is starting to go in
    circles. Topic 66 in PEAR::SOAPBOX is covering this argument at
    great length. Perhaps we can put aside the naming convention
    arguments and get back to what the base note is about which is
    how different groups celebrate this season and not what they call
    it? Thanks.

    			Alfred

    Wow!  I've never seen a note topic get so far sidetracked.  I thought
    we would be discussing what each site EAC was doing to celebrate
    the holidays, rather than having a religious vs. secular discussion.
    
    Previous replies indicate that some people are not interested in
    attending company get-togethers.  Are any site EAC's doing something
    different such as giving turkeys or food vouchers in lieu of having
    a holiday party?
    

What difference does it make whether it is being discussed in SOAPBOX?
The only question would be whether the way in which the holiday season
is treated at DEC is relevant to "The Digital Way of Working".  If we
are having "EAC Christmas Parties" then comment upon that would seem
directly relevant to this conference.  IF I am incorrect, please explain.

The only circle here is that some people would like to explain how
they have a problem with the term "Christmas" and some others would
like to deny them their feelings.  There is absolutely no reason why
they should take any heat for explaining this.

The topic note title contains the word Christmas and expliticly discusses
Christmas parites, and asks what we are doing about/for/with them; it
is quite direct and relevant for employees to explain that the term
"Christmas Party" is troublesome for them.

I can think of no good reason to insist on the use of the religion
derived term when perfectly good, well established alternatives exist.
This isn't even a new idea --- the concept of replacing "Christmas"
terms with "Holiday" is quite old.

re: whichever --- "Holiday" <-- "holy day"

Aha!  I didn't know that.  But I'm willing to argue that that term
is completely seculuarized (when people mean Holy Day they say that,
not holiday), while the term Christmas remains religious for a significant
subset of employees (both Christian and non-Christian including atheist).
I think you raised it humoursly though and I enjoyed the edification.

- greg

	Title changed to avoid offending those offended by religious
	holidays.
	
			Alfred

    Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!!

Greg;

I contend that if we referred to these parties as "Holiday parties" or
"yuletide parties" or anyother name that didnt use "Christmas", there
would be those who would be offended by the lack of the name "Christ".
They would be advocating the return of "Christ" to "Christmas".

My point is, whats in a name? are we not "Christian", "Adult", "Caring",
"Liberal", "Loving", etc, etc, enough to accept the term "Christmas party"
as meaning "holiday party" and not get upset at the timing of it.
I believe that ALL religions teach tolerance of others and that this issue
is for those religous people amoung us to show their love for human kind.
If we are going to be offended so easily then we are going to be one 
miserable bunch of people our whole life.

- George

    "What's in a name?"....Quite a bit, apparently.
    
    Also, you have to remember that there's ALWAYS someone lurking
    around with a chip on the shoulder, just waiting for the opportunity
    to "defend my belief".........whether it needs defending or not!
    
    So have a wonderful December!
    
    Bill

    In all seriousness, there seems to be a need for some personal growth
    here. 
    
    My tolerating the views of others is fine.
    
    Insisting that the the nonclemature of holidays persued by others doesn't
    offend me merely demonstrates that I have a problem, not them.
    
    - Andy ��� Leslie

> Insisting that the the nonclemature of holidays persued by others doesn't
> offend me merely demonstrates that I have a problem, not them.

    I don't  care  what  holidays you persue personally, and have been
    known to accept invitations to (private) Christmas parties. What I
    (and I think others) object to is a company that stresses "Valuing
    Differences"  to  sponsor an event with strong significance to one
    religion without doing the same for all religions. Since there are
    many  religions,  it  seems  simpler  to have no religion-specific
    events.

    Winter holiday  or  New Years parties seem to me to be sufficently
    secular as to not be a problem.

--David

3 cheers for my local office EAC.

This year they did it right... Employees choose either a turkey/ham
coupon or a party.  Those that select party get the funds that are left
after purchasing the turkey/ham for those that choose turkey/ham. Thus,
if you fail to choose your $$ goes towards the party.

In the past, if the EAC decided to do a party then *all* $$$ went to the
party.  If you were unable to attend or chose not to then those that
attended the party got great deal.

The new method is the most fair to all. In the past a number of employees
wished to donate any gifts from digital to local food pantries but were
unable because the EAC had decided a party was best for all.

Lee

    Re: .49
    
    Hey Lee, will you GRANT PERMISSION to REPRINT your note??  I've been
    waiting 15 years for my Holiday Turkey!!  Each year it's the same
    story...they say its "IMPOSSIBLE".  Supposedly the money ($x/employee)
    is to be used only for a PARTY (which a small percentage of the
    employees ever attend).  I'd sure like to say..."see someone else is
    getting turkeys".  So can I show them your note??  Can I?  Can I?
    
    Bill...(maybe this year I'll get a Holiday gift from my employer of
            15 years)

    In the Greater Maynard/Southern NH area we just get the turkeys; the
    choice is whether to take it home, or donate it to the needy by writing
    "CHARITY" on the voucher (known locally as a "turkey card") and putting
    it in an appropriately marked box.
    
    We also traditionally have a drive called, "Toys for Tots" that may
    also be administered through the EAC (don't now for sure).
    
    Somewhere around the beginning of December. a box is placed in the
    lobby of the facility so that employees can donate new or used toys (in
    good condition) for needy children. I don't know how the toys are
    distributed, it just comes and goes before that traditional, "C"-word,
    winter holiday.

.51>    distributed, it just comes and goes before that traditional, "C"-word,
.51>    winter holiday.

    For Crissakes can't you say "Christmas"? You're making it sound
    like a dirty word.

>    For Crissakes can't you say "Christmas"? You're making it sound
         ^^^^^^^^^
>    like a dirty word.
    
    What the "H"-word "Crissakes" mean?  My DEC supplied AHD does not have
    listing for it.
    
    - Vikas

Re: .50

Permission for mailing and cross-posting within Digital my note (972.49)
is granted.

Lee Roth

    Back to the original question.....
    
    The UCF (Cupertino, CA) site party is this evening at the same place
    that it has been every year of our existence (3 years now), the
    Fairmont Hotel in San Jose.  Employees may bring their spouse or
    significant other. Cost is $20 or $40/couple.  Includes dinner and
    dancing.
    
    Unfortunately, we run a 6-day work week so those people scheduled
    to work during the Holiday Affair must either take vacation time
    or time without pay to attend.
        
    Seasons's Greetings and Happy Vast Capital Gains Day to all !!
    
                                     
    -paul

            <<< HUMANE::HUMANE$DUA1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DIGITAL.NOTE;2 >>>
                          -< The DEC way of working >-
================================================================================
Note 1290.7                Turkey Tickets-TFSO People                     7 of 7
GRANPA::DLEADER "Dave Leader @EJO"                   16 lines  10-DEC-1990 11:42
                     -< Turkeys ARE being distributed??? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Field offices were budgeted ($15.00 per employee, at one time) for a
    holiday 'something' in lieu of the turkeys which New England employees
    received.  The local facility team determined how to use this money. 
    Usually a "Holiday Party" was organized, which was usually a weekend
    dinner and dance party.  Employees usually had to pay a ticket,
    Significant Others had to pay as well.  This is the first year (I've
    been with DEC for 19 years) that there will be no Holiday party.  I
    received a mail message that it was canceled due to the current
    financial position of the company.  I know of several other facilities 
    that also canceled their parties.  Deposit fees had to be lost due to
    these last minute (early December) cancellations.
    
    I was surprised that turkeys are still planned for New England this
    year!  Doesn't seem equitable to me.  
    
    

    Our holiday celebration was cancelled the same way.  The volunteers
    organizing the event put it together only to have it rejected.  It was
    apparently told to them that a less-pricey affair might make it, so
    they redesigned a smaller event for about half the original price.
    This too was rejected.
    
    We're having an informal carry-in event this Friday.  I don't know if
    anything is going to be provided by Digital or not.  If Digital will
    play a part financially, it certainly won't be very big (apart from the
    lost revenue of our billable bodies being idle for a couple of hours).
    
    -- Russ

According to Live Wire:

  As the holiday season approaches, the following schedules and company
  policies should be kept in mind for planning purposes:

  1)  This year, normal work operations will be suspended on:
      Monday, December 24, 1990
      Tuesday, December 25, 1990
      Monday, December 31, 1990
      Tuesday, January 1, 1991

  2)  Both Friday, December 21, and Friday, December 28, will be full
      working days.

  3)  Without proper approval as an exception, the company does not sponsor
      holiday parties inside or outside its facilities.  Parties at Digital
      facilities, outside restaurants, or private homes cannot be sponsored
      wholly or in part by the company.

  4)  Potluck lunches are traditionally held by many departments.  These
      festivities should be encouraged.  Obviously, alcoholic beverages
      are not to be served at these events.

  "These expectations have been established to insure consistent practices
  throughout all organizations," said Dick Farrahar, vice president,
  Personnel.

    Just curious. When I read about the "potluck" policy in -1,I had to
    wonder: When such a potluck is held in a DEC facility in Europe,is it
    OK to serve alcoholic beverages? (ie. beer)
    
    Just wondering,
    
    Ken

    Sure.

In most of our European subsidiaries (and here is a case where the UK is
different from the rest of Europe) it's OK to have alcoholic beverages
(at least beer and wine) anywhere in the facility at any time.

Most cafeterias sell beer and wine, and in Germany it's available from
vending machines.

Of course, in the U.S., vending machines with alcoholic beverages would not
only be against DEC policy, they would be against the law, since there would
be no way to verify that the purchaser is over 21.

Cigarette vending machines (already banned at DEC facilities) are likely to
become illegal in the U.S. within the next two-to-five years because they,
too, cannot determine the age of the purchaser.

/john

    Cigarette vending machines are NOT banned in DEC facilities. Theres
    machines in Newbury and Reading, for two.
    
    	- andy

         There are also cigarette machines at CXO.
    
                                       Greg

re .62

The last two paragraphs of .61 were clearly talking about the U.S.

re .63

All cigarette machines were supposed to have been removed from all U.S. DEC
facilities.  There are none in New England any more; removed about a year
before the no smoking policy went into effect.

/john

    RE:      <<< Note 972.64 by COVERT::COVERT "John R. Covert" >>>

>All cigarette machines were supposed to have been removed from all U.S. DEC
>facilities.  There are none in New England any more; removed about a year
>before the no smoking policy went into effect.
    
         Well John, I don't know what was supposed to happen, but I do know
    that there is at least one cigarette machine in CXO1.
    
                                         Greg