With the Chinese New Year of 2012 approaching, many companies or institutions are preparing nianzhong wanhui, or parties to celebrate the end of the lunar year.
But as well as being busy with writing reports and work summaries for the last year, office workers are racking their brains to prepare party pieces, which are thought to be another platform for displaying team spirit and personal abilities in front of bosses and colleagues.
Western New Year parties are more associated with getting drunk and getting off with colleagues. But Chinese ones come with a grim type of organized "fun."
Most people would prefer just to attend the party, relax with their colleagues, and enjoy the usual lottery draw at the end. But there are some who have to prepare revue skits, often humiliating.
These parties should be warm affairs, but the specter of the compulsory revue turns some cold. One middle-aged man complained to me that he is not good at sports or dancing, and is too old to learn new steps and remember detailed movements more suited to young people. At some enterprises, simple performances such as singing a song have been ruled out. People are driven online to find new ways to perform like monkeys in front of their bosses. It's easy to find posts with titles like "Please help me come up with a skit!" and "Preparing for the revue is tougher than work."
No less than 66.4 percent of people say they have a party phobia as a result, according to a survey published last week by the China Youth Daily. The survey polled 2,184 people. The biggest concern for 51 percent was that the party requires a lot of effort. At least 40 percent only want to attend the party not to do a skit, and 30 percent say they're forced to perform.
But these parties can also offer a platform for people's creativity and talents. Successful performances can contribute to people's confidence and courage in their jobs and even help further boost unity and coordination among employees and the work efficiency of the company when preparing for the revues.
The parties also act to create a corporate culture and sense of cohesion within the organization. Or, at least, that's what the management would like to think.
Bosses fondly believe they can buy off their staff with dinner, lotteries, and bonuses, however badly they treat them or however pettily insane their human resources policies during the rest of the year. Workers, meanwhile, think that doing crosstalk in drag will advertize their talents to their superiors. Perhaps we shouldn't disturb these mutual delusions.
If bosses really want their employees to have a good time, the sensible thing to do would be to eliminate the coercive nature of the revue, where people often feel bullied into performing, and instead make it a party for all. This would make staff feel more respected and eliminate the pressure that revue rehearsals place on their time at a busy period.
Meanwhile, those who genuinely want to perform for their colleagues can strut their stuff on stage. That way the audience can really enjoy the exhibition, rather than watching the public humiliation of unfortunate staff who have no desire to sing, dance, or perform comic skits. That way the party can really be a party, rather than another unfortunate work obligation.
The author is a Beijing-based freelance writer. larryhuangshuo@yahoo.com