Corporate China's Annual Company Parties: Tradition or Burden?

Annual company parties, known as Nyeonhui in China, have become a staple in corporate culture, but opinions about their significance and impact differ. These parties are typically held around the time leading up to the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year and are held in the form of evening banquets. While they are intended for celebration and bonding, some employees view them as burdensome, especially when it comes to preparing performances and enduring lengthy speeches. Young professionals, in particular, express reluctance to participate, citing pressure, lack of interest, and feeling treated differently. As millennial and Gen Z employees make up a larger portion of the workforce, their changing attitudes reveal a shift towards valuing authenticity, work-life balance, and more egalitarian workplaces.