Cande---what time of day is this being held? And where?
A friend of mine's husband is in the Army Reserves and the Reserve Center does that with the Christmas party. It really hurts alot of people's feelings. I could understand it if it was only five or six guys getting together for a sandwich, but they have a blown out party with alcohol food, etc.. and it's co-ed so why not invite the spouses?
If it was me and my spouse wasn't invited I don't know if I would even go.
My Dh is not military, he works at a huge international company. The party is on a weekend evening at a fancy place they rented out just for their event with dinner, dancing, the whole 9 yards. They aren't saving any money, lol.
Tuggy, thanks for the info. I guess you're right, it is just different here. In the US, I think it is pretty standard that most companies, but especially Fortune 500 companies, invite spouses to their huge shindigs. I guess I just don't understand the logic behind this, but, when in Rome...
Oh well, I guess I'll just have to have my own Christmas party, lol
Well, I currently work for a public school district here in the US - lunch time, pay for yourself, spouses optional.
I worked for a large American company in London for years in another lifetime - it was always a big evening bash, no spouses.
A lot of British parties are in the evening and don't usually include spouses.
..awh, I think that is pretty sad 
When we throw a company Christmas party, we include definitely include the spouses. Some years we have the party late afternoon/early evening and make sure it is kid friendly, so everyone is welcome to bring their children too!
Has it been "No Spouses" in the past??
It sounds odd to me that they would have dancing and not invite the employees "Dance partners" to accompany them. 
Who are they expecting these people to dance with? Co-Workers????
What's he planning to do?
Could he opt out? If he thinks it would damage his career, then have him 'plan' to attend and come up with a last minute reason NOT to go!!
What have you done in the past? Do you know any other spouses? How do they feel?
Maybe if the employees feel the need to be there, have a special 'spouses night out' for those of you left behind. Go out to a fancy dinner and dancing.
What do you think?? 
Or you could just get a bottle (or two) of your favorite stuff...lol...rent some chick flicks...order take-out or delivery...have some chocolate and take a bubble bath!! Or give yourself a spa-at-home kind of night!! That's probably what I would do...but I'd have to find some place to stash the kids meanwhile.....HA! 
mudpie- I don't know what they usually do, it's our, er, his, first Christmas party there. I don't know any of the other spouses, so I have no idea what they think, but if it is normal here, then I guess they don't care? But, for me it is really weird, something I would never expect. If it were a lunch or a small gathering or something, sure, but not a huge gala without spouses. That's just strange to me. I sure feel better after seeing Tuggy's reply though!
JennT- that sounds great, but I only see my DH on the weekends...his company has him the whole rest of the week, so its just that much more uncomfortable (irritating? not sure what the right word is to describe how I feel about it) that they have a big party, on the weekend no less, and don't bother to invite spouses.
I wonder why it is that way here though. Don't you all? I guess for us it is strange because it is the opposite of what we are usually used to *shrug*
From what I have noticed though, workers don't really socialize with their coworkers families like we do in the US...maybe that could be part of the reason? Just guessing...
Cande...I'm sorry, I did not realze that you are in Germany. Sounds like that IS the norm in Europe according to the other posts, so...maybe it's not so unusual afterall. Tuggy would know better than most of us.
Well, I hope you can enjoy the night he has to be at the party...maybe the two of you could go out and have your own Christmas celebration dinner-dance!!!
My DH works for UPS....they don't have a christmas party at all....they are working 6 days a week about 16 hour days so they are all too tired for it. They do have a big party in the springtime to celebrate the safety or whatever competition they are striving for in that current year. Spouses are invited but children aren't. I work in a small dentist office and my boss pays for a dineer with our spouses, but unfortunately my DH can never go. So I take my BIL and we have a good time.
I am so sorry that you guys don't get to take your spouses to the party...that is not fun.
Maybe we should boycott christmas parties and go back to what happened in the fifties. We should block off our streets and have whoppin block parties with all of our neighbors.....wouldn't that celebrate the season more appropiately(sp?) anyway....hehehehe
edited for spelling...hehehehe 
This is what we men tell our wives when we are planning the party...and plan to visit a bar of ill repute afterwards..so christmas elves can dance for a buck a pop.
If he comes home smelling like elf perfume...dont say I didnt warn ya.
HO HO HO...so to speak...
A lot of work places are doing it. One thing is the cost consideration. Another is the liability. If it is an employee party and someone falls or otherwise gets injured they would be covered under the insurance....spouses would not. Liability is a growing issue with corporate America as well as Europe. I believe we will see more and more of this practice in the US as well.
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