Iftar parties are much more than just a meal for corporate employees; they are a means for strengthening the “family” bond. While most imagine a big iftar buffet or grand iftar items on their plates, there is one group who keeps suffering in silence; guess who?
Our one and only HR department!
Today, we bring to you a glimpse of the HR team at the Iftar party, who may be smiling on the outside but are screaming on the inside.
Budget that could feed a pigeon
The drama starts with an email from the higher-ups: “Let’s arrange an iftar party for our beloved employees; make it nice but keep it cheap.” But how cheap?
The budget makes the HR question, “Will we be serving potato chips or boiled water?”
Finally, the mission begins: negotiating with caterers as if it were a UN peace conference. Choosing between chicken biryani or kacchi (people will complain whichever you choose, so what’s the point?) is a never-ending war.
The ‘leave before iftar’ escape artists
Finally, the moment arrives; around 3pm, HR turns into security guards.
Employee: Can I leave early today, please?
HR: Of course, after iftar!
HR internally: If you open your mouth one more time, I swear I will serve an attendance warning with the dates!
Till the iftar finally arrives, HRs are bombarded with excuses like,
– I have a family dinner today
– I forgot to feed my cat
– I forgot my glasses at home, can’t see anything, and all other wild excuses
The food wars: Great expectations, greater disappointments
Curating the menu becomes harder than approving the leave requests as HR tries to please everyone.
– The biryani lover
– The boro baper polay khay enthusiast
– The halim lover
– Lastly, the lovey-dovey “I only eat healthy” person
However, as iftar time arrives, the “I only eat salad” guy is now eating kebab, samosa and biryani as if there’s no tomorrow.
The great shorbot tragedy
HR attempts to arrange lebur shorbot with love end in disaster. The juice is either-
– Too sweet (Diabetes confirm)
– Too watery (Homoeopathy level)
– Too salty (Cox’s Bazar water)
Employees whisper, “Is it shorbot or punishment for us?”
HR (smiling): It’s refreshing, right? Please take one more glass.
HR (inside): Please, kill me now.
HR’s wish list for next Ramadan
Budget increase? Impossible.
A nice venue for iftar? Keep dreaming.
Peaceful iftar without drama? Unrealistic.
HRs in their head, “Next year, we are serving only dates and mineral water. Want more? Bring tiffin from home. We’re out.”
Lastly, let’s take a moment to appreciate HR warriors who try to manage events with low budgets, high stress and 0% gratitude. Next time, if you attend an office iftar party, smile at your HR and compliment the food (though it tastes preposterous), because behind every undercooked meal, HRs silently cry in a corner clutching a feedback form that no one filled out.