(Photo Courtesy Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader) 

In its 2014 survey of a cross section of 114 companies, Battalia Winston — the nation’s largest executive search firm, headquartered in New York City — found 88 percent of companies will hold an employee party this season.

That is down just 8 percent from 2013. The report noted the decrease could be related to an increase of employees working remotely, making an organized holiday party unfeasible.

Enjoying some holiday cheer, Benco Dental employees, Marcy Petrucci of West Wyoming, Mario and Debbie Giovanelli of Plains Township and Bill Petrucci of West Wyoming socialize during the company’s annual Holiday Party held in the Westmoreland Club. (Photo courtesy Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader)

A story in TimesLeader.com, reported that while some companies have scaled back, year-end gatherings are still popular. Benco Dental, the fastest growing dental distribution company in the U.S. was among those still hosting a holiday event for its associates.

During Benco Dental’s Holiday Party, held last weekend in the Westmoreland Club, Wilkes-Barre, Michelle Waschek, coordinator of culture and events with Benco Dental, told the Times Leader that Benco Dental has always held a holiday party for employees and this year’s was highly attended by employees, spouses and guests.

“We had 30 more people in attendance this year,” Waschek said. “Making a total of 245 people.”

New this year, members of the KISS Theater group performed at the introduction of the party.

One of the reasons for seeing the company holiday party hold strong is because employers are trying to convey to their staff they care about them, despite layoffs and cutbacks, John Mellon, assistant business professor at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania.

Read the full story at: https://www.timesleader.com/news/business/50814467/Holiday-parties-hang-on