Marketplace - Business News & Economic Stories for Everyone

The office holiday party can tell you a lot about a business' health

by David Brancaccio

Who shows up and how employees interact at an office holiday party can be a good indicator of how business is faring.

Is your boss out and about mingling or off in a corner? Is booze flowing and food fresh, or is more of a thrifty spread being dished up?

'Tis the season

A spendy time of year: Shopping through a K-shaped holiday season
A gloomy temp job market: It's going to be a tough holiday season for many who are seeking temp jobs
Tips and tricks from "Make Me Smart": Cheers to hosting better parties this holiday season
Plus, test your knowledge: Did Marketplace make you smarter this week? Take our news quiz to find out.

Latest Episodes

2 hours ago
6:43
7 hours ago
11:19
18 hours ago
25:24
a day ago
16:01
10 days ago
56:05
16 days ago
52:02

Companies

All Shows

For public good, not for profit.

Subscribe to the Marketplace Newsletter

Apprentices in class at Arizona Pipe Trades, a five-year program to train pipefitters, plumbers, and welders outside Phoenix, AZ.

Despite lower demand, a pipefitters training program stays full

Skills Gapby Kai Ryssdal, Maria Hollenhorst and Livi Burdette

Arizona Pipe Trades is a union-run program to train the workers helping build up one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

Listen to Our Latest Episodes

Subscribe
- Why the Fed is thinking about immigration
  Dec 11, 2025
  25:24
- Fed rate cut diverges from global central bank strategy
  Dec 10, 2025
  25:36
- The great decoupling
  Dec 9, 2025
  25:38
Subscribe
- Getting into the deregulation business
  Dec 12, 2025
  6:43
- What the vibe of your office holiday party says your workplace
  Dec 12, 2025
  6:41
- Reddit fights Australia's social media ban
  Dec 12, 2025
  6:35
Subscribe
- Bytes: Apple's leadership shakeup, the proposed Netflix-WB merger, and McDonald’s pulls AI-generated ad
  Dec 12, 2025
  11:19
- The little-known regulatory bodies that can make or break AI data centers
  Dec 11, 2025
  7:02
- The latest TV innovations have their critics
  Dec 10, 2025
  5:00

Help Not Wanted

Economy