Single For The Holidays: A Pop Quiz

By Jenny Ferguson
[Happy Holidays]
How can you avoid getting grilled about your single status?  Jenny Ferguson tells you how to handle different holiday events without a plus-one.
Everyone knows that being single when the snow starts to fall and the holiday parties begin is just not fair.  It’s tough and it reminds the single man or woman that they are alone this year for the holidays.  Baby, when it’s cold outside and the joy of the holiday season is slowly taking over your life (and you’ve been invited to at least six different holiday parties with your friends, family and co-workers), what’s a single supposed to do?

Pop Quiz:  Single At The Office Party

It’s the annual office holiday gathering where everyone gets to leave work an hour or two early to go home and get all dressed up.  Co-workers with their wives and husbands, fiancés, girlfriends and boyfriends hanging on their arms parade around the office space enjoying eggnog and other festive holiday drinks.  Everyone is mingling and the question of the night isn’t, “Aren’t you having a good time?”  It’s some refrain of, “Where’s your plus-one”?  What should a single man or woman do at the office party?

Single Smarts

It’s probably not good for your career to tell off your boss’ husband or wife when he or she inquires if your significant other is enjoying the party.  Who says your plus-one has to be a romantic partner?  Ask one of your other single friends to accompany you and have some fun.  After all, singles should be happy to enjoy the holidays too.  You never know whom you might meet.  It’s doubtful everyone at the office is currently coupled up.  This might be your chance to socialize with someone outside of your department.

If your office isn’t the kind of place where you can show up and have fun with other singles, consider bringing a casual date to the event.  But be sure that he or she is office appropriate.  Nobody wants to be known for the antics of their one-time holiday party date.  Bringing the wrong person to office parties could be a career killer.  If you don’t have a good friend to bring along and you don’t have any office appropriate dates in mind, it’s best to go solo to the office party.
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