Firm faces PR nightmare after scandalous end of the year bash

By MARK MUTAHI

KENYA: A public relations firm in the Nairobi metropolitan area is regretting holding an end of year Christmas party. They regret because everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong.

 While the party was meant to end the year on a high note, it ended up achieving totally different things. This included the management learning who among their employees has a drinking problem, besides discovering who among the employees have been having an office affair.

As a result, it is now clear that the invited guests, mostly select clients, left the party either thoroughly entertained, scandalised or with the business.

“This was a conspiracy by the management,” one employee who only wished to be identified as Tei reckons.

“They wanted us all to get drunk and careless to see our true colours! How else do you explain the fact that there was more alcohol than breathing space!” he wondered.

Awkward

Consequently, in the history of the organisation the most awkward morning turned out to be the one following the Christmas party.

With virtually all employees not sure of what stunts they might have pulled the previous night, no one could look the other straight in the eye.

“This was a major mistake in planning since it is best held on the last working day of the year so that by the time business is resuming next year, no one remembers anything,” added Tei.

Also lacking on the most awkward morning were the usual chit chats in the corridors.

This could have seen it turn out to be the most productive day of the year were it not for the fact that everyone was either nursing a hangover or regrets.

Insults

If the firm had any difficulty in deciding who to trim from the workforce, the opportunities the party presented were plenty. One employee got so drunk that he suddenly got the courage to face his boss and threw a few insults at him.

Unfortunately, he will now not spend the holiday season engaging in festive debauchery, but polishing his CV and sending out job application letters.

Also possibly on the chopping board is another male employee who claims the expensive alcohol was actually from Kariobangi because it ‘blinded’ him and made him not recognise people.

He, for instance, couldn’t tell that the woman he whispered dirty ‘things’ to, which even a girl of the night wouldn’t appreciate, was actually their boss’ wife.

 So is the female employee who discovered her lap dancing talents rather late, and kept the men who hadn’t blacked out entertained, as she danced on tables in various states of undress.

The morning after also witnessed heavy Internet usage. Not with the employees checking for negative publicity floating around for their client’s brands, but to check whether anyone had taken and uploaded incriminating photos of the previous night’s escapades.

This was, especially important since some of them would now be job-hunting again.

After the party, it is believed the firm’s senior management is considering reviewing it’s policy, including, perhaps, just giving out gift vouchers instead of holding parties to avoid a repeat of this year.

 “Well, if we are to get back some of our clients, what this company needs to give itself as a gift is to hire a rival PR firm to help rebuild our image!” a visibly worried Tei observed.