Office Party Fouls

The bacchanal is related more to low alcohol thresholds resulting from lack of college party experience than it is to "adventure-loving". If EF employees loved adventure, they wouldn't work there to begin with.

This article actually gets EF off easy. I have dozens of other ridiculous, raunchy stories about that place, starting at the very, very top.

Company policies condoning staff-only raucous parties have little to do with team building and everything to do with getting 23 year olds to slave 70 hour weeks for a mere 27K a year. EF shamelessly exploits the fact that Sex and Alcohol are inexpensive motivators that can be more effective than salary. Is this really an educational tours company you want to entrust your children's safety to?

Tip of the iceberg this article is. I once saw a guy take of his belt at the company bar (yes there is a bar on the 1st floor) and start spanking girls with it.

Let me tell you, the parties and the drinking were what got you through the awful hours, horrible pay, and idiocracies involving office politics. I have pictures no one will ever believe!

Guess what EF, I'm never sending my child on an EF "Educational" tour and I'll make sure all my friends in our school and neighboring schools see this article as well. The most immoral unprofessional policies I've ever heard of. To actively exclude employees spouses or significant others from company parties to promote promiscuity??? No way, I'm entrusting you with my child.

I am employed by EF since 2K and I love it. We work hard and play hard, that is our motto. I never full around or expected too at any EF party and I have been at all parties. Who ever wrote this article only talk about the few teens that got wasted. What about the remaining majority that just had fun. Our parties has 1K or more people, is 0.1% (10) get drank and wasted that is what everyone remembers.

As amusing as this article is, I don't understand why some former employees are so embittered that they need to post this kind of stuff here. As someone who has worked at EF for many years, I have been to MANY company parties. There are those who can't hold their liquor, and you know what?...you would find those people anywhere. I feel that such behavior is a reflection more on the individual than the company. Have some self-respect and a little ownership of your actions! I have friends and family that work for large and small (public and private) companies where there are even worse shenanigans, so I refuse to believe that this is EF-specific. Yes, there is a large post-collegiate population here, and for that reason, the atmosphere is made to be attractive for these young'uns. However, that does not give people the right to act like fools and blame a company for it. Grow up. As far as not sending your kids with EF, as someone who went with EF as a highschooler myself and has s

(cont)...spent many years at this company, there is no other Educational Travel company that I would feel comfortable entrusting my own children with than EF. Don't let the words of an embittered few overshadow the great things that EF is and does. And, as far as the 'Global Bedroom' is concerned, infidelity is not promoted here. Maybe some people don't know how to handle a company that does not have a blanket rule against 'fraternization'. The many positives to this lack of rule are the countless EF marriages (and children) that have resulted from love in the workplace, and continue to blossom. EF IS family-oriented, being a family business itself, and it offers parents a great deal of flexibility! To all of the negative posters here, I say, think before you act (or maybe that is why you no longer work here...?).

First, to the EFer that has been there since "2K"- you must be drunk right now - proof read before you submit a comment online please. Also, what "teens" are you referring to? That would be against the law. Secondly, to the EFer that believes ex-EFers are bitter - have YOU ever been to another company's holiday party in your life? Well, I have been to both and let me tell you, there is nothing even close to what goes on at EF to the rest of the real world. EF motivates and exploits their young employee population via keg parties and drunken escapades. There is not an organization out there that operates on a reward system based on alcohol. When you live on 27K in Boston, you want $$$$ not a 6 pack.

YES- the office sex, lies, and videotape are the real EF. HR's policy of not hiring "older professionals" (26+) is easy to decode- who the heck is going to accept a starting salary of $27K...oh wait- $28K if you have a Masters Degree! Joking aside- the company offers excellent benefits and perks, but the brutal truth is that the shenanigans only go so far. Booze cruise after booze cruise gets old- even for the biggest of frat/sorority drones. And in the end the shelf-life of most EF'ers is what- 2 years max. Then it's time to enter the real world!

Come on. Lets be real EF! Everyone in that company is unhappy. I mean at first the parties seem fun, but after 5 months you realize that you are treated like a child and make nothing.Ef rewards people with claps and beer. The only reason why tht company is succesfull is bc you have so many people there working their buts off. Also, you know its looked down upon if you dont show up at one of these drink fest.

This is so true...I once saw Batman and Robin at one of the parties. Who knew the dynamic duo worked on the 7th floor?

I had the misfortune of blowing out my MCL at an EF Holiday Party.

I once knew a guy who worked there only because of the plethora of large women, of which he had a fetish for. Wow! Did he clean up!!!

It is unfortunate that nothing has really changed about EF since my time there. I met wonderful people there and did some travel, however, there were few opportunities to advance unless you got totally wasted at these office parties with "the right people". Being super drunk would be rewarded if you came in to work the next day. This article is accurate and anyone currently working there that doesn't want to face the truth is just living in a fantasy world.

Yes, I love wine from Oregon too Erin but back to the issue at hand; look, I understand hiring 21-year-olds and dangling booze and parties in front of them is how EF operates. (And I've seen a lot of crazy things myself - like managers hooking up with employees.)Obviously if you don't like it, you can look elsewhere for work (which is what I did after a year). But high turnover is the price they're paying for cheap labor. I'm curious to see what's in store for EF in the next year or two.

I think we should all just calm down. Yes, the pay is a little low. No one here has mentioned the fantastic health benefits, outrageous vacation time (4 weeks in your second year!?) and amazing opportunities to travel abroad provided by the company. I highly doubt anyone here has joined the company solely because they 'dangle alcohol in front of us.' Let's look at the big picture here.

Has anyone thought that including significant others would almost double the cost of these parties?! I think it's more for financial reasons that they exclude them rather than promoting promescuity... haha

Excluding sig others from holiday parties because it's cheaper... how about the fact that the owner, Bertil Hult, is supposedly richer than the King of Sweden?? Way to get rich, and way to be family oriented!

While EF's owner is the third richest person in Sweden and apparently a billionaire, EF's salaries are absolutely ridiculous. Why do you think EF hardly has any minority employees?! Because most of them have to pay off college debts etc and can't afford to work for a fun company that doesn't provide enough money to survive in Boston... So if EF really wants to make a difference (other than in their owner's pocket), they should raise their employees' salaries!

As an ex-EFer, this story really does not do that place justice. I fully agree with the person who commented that sex & alcohol are cheap motivators and the company exploits it to the fullest! Although, I must point out that not everyone who works there, gets there willingly. For many, it's their 1st post-college job. I'm glad I left as early as I did! Horrible unprofessional environment. I wouldn't send my kids on any of their tours... esp knowing how the treat their employees!

work hard, play hard. Get caught with your pants down- priceless. Rolling a cart stocked to the brim with beer around the sales floor and serving it to employees during work hours is what I call using alcohol to fuel cheap labor. Celebrating is expected, but some of the company's policies and tactics are questionable- even for 23 year olds!

Okay, to the person who stated that EF has great benefits - I suppose, if you were fortunate enough to get hired full-time, then maybe they gave you good benefits, but a significant number of staff are hired on an-hourly basis for a meager $10/hr with no benefits and have to endure horrible treatment by their supervisors and customers on the phone! I had my supervisor in not-so-many words tell me that they couldn't hire me full-time because they didn't want to contribute to my benefits! I left a few months after!...So, that's the big picture... but as I said, if you were one of the full-time staff, then you did get health insurance and periodic travel abroad...

To the inbred who has the audacity to imply that someone did not work hard:- Don't you dare accuse anyone of not working hard enough. If you are so blind that you cannot see how that company exploits staff, then you probably belong with the multitude of morons that work there (exluding the enlightened ones who see the mediocrity that exists and leave as soon as they can). They call themselves EF Education, but place no value on education. They've disqualified applicants because they had excellent credentials and I know this first hand, since that's what I was told!

As an ex-EF'er, I can honestly say that if you didn't agree with all the partying, there was no future advancement! Miss one of these raucous events and you go on the black list. I also was part of the hiring process and saw excellent candidates disqualified for not seeming 'cool' enough or the partying type. Upper management was also very careful to promote only those that would follow as lemmings and ask few questions.

Drama Kings/Queens... this is getting quite out of hand. I worked at EF for two years and found EF to be a great company. They do offer enter level pay but other benefits are fantastic: vacation, travel ( I was sent to London and Parris shortly after I was hired), company parties... It seems to me that some of the people that are making theses negative comments about EF may be projecting their current unhappiness with life… I would bet that they are unhappy in their current jobs as well….

All the proof is in EF's turnover.

I don't understand all the bitterness going on here. So pathetic that people are carrying this anger toward a company where they were obviously not a good fit. These are all college grads and know exactly what pay is being offered when they sign on. I’m sure for many, as it was for me, the idea that you’ll be working alongside peers of a similar age who are passionate about travel is appealing and outweighs the negatives. It's not like it's smoke and mirrors and then you're stuck. Get real. I worked at EF and learned a lot, traveled a lot and met some wonderful people who are still great friends after 5 years since my departure. And, actually, if you hit your goals, your bonus structure isn’t all that bad and livable, even in Boston. Yes, I definitely had many fun/crazy times, often involving drinking while I worked there but it was nothing that was ever forced on me by any means. And the tours are great...I've recommended EF to friends of mine who are teachers and will continue to do

" unhappy in our current jobs"? You have to be kidding! I work for a Fortune 100 company now, get paid triple- to do half the work I did at EF. Leaving EF was the best career move I made! The parties, 'Happy Hours' and other events got old fast and were not motivational. That's where management really misses the boat- thinking they can fit cookie cutter college kids into an unregulated work environment with abnormally low pay.

You must all be drunk right now.

Regardless of what current employees think and what "bitter" and "unhappy" ex-employees think, the existence of this article and these comments perhaps hint at a need for change. Maybe it's time to grow up.

Dont you think it is not a coincidence that the article has gotten so many responses and many of whoch have nothing good to say.Yes you get free travel but once every year and a half and maybe if you got paid more then you can travel on you own instead of having to follow around kids. Bottom line is that Efers work too hard, don't get paid enough,are expected to come in on weekends, aren't recognized and oh lets not mention our emergency beeper service (its part of the job description)

Give me a break... you were a TC not a rocket scientist... when I was hired by EF I wasn't promised a lavish salary. I knew what I was getting into. It was a good FIRST job. It was a job that I felt good about since I had lived abroad and I felt like it would be cool to promote international travel to middle-school high school students. Congrats to the person who landed a job with a fortune 100 company... sounds like you are still an idiot though! What do you expect from a first job out of college? If money was your main motivator perhaps you should have sought a different degree other than a liberal arts major.. or was it marketing… then again you mostly likely weren’t smart enough or didn’t have the fortitude to hack it. People that read this article and the colorful comments that follow should also realize that many of the employees at EF are spoiled-wannabe ivy league east coast brats that feel like the world owes them something.

Both sides of this argument are totally true. I worked at EF while in my 20s, and I had a fantastic time. I went to wild company parties, I had sex with a variety of beautiful, interesting women. On top of all the drinking, I even did some serious drugs with a couple vice-presidents there! But, in the end the lack of money and no possibility of advancement due to being a heterosexual American Male led me to leave. Now I've doubled my salary, have great benefits and can afford my own house, even in the inflated Massachusetts real estate market. It's a great place to work, but you are Native Labor for the European plantation owners, and you better not step out of line.

EF is epic. That's all you can say about it. Great company. They provide quality services at reasonable prices and their employees are nothing short of excellent. EPIC EPIC EPIC. bye now.

This does not surprise me one bit. EF was the worst run company I have ever worked at and the ridiculous childish activities that go on there are testiment to the incompetent Swedish idiots that run this shanty of an establishment. Grow up!

I worked at EF for 2 months, but had to quit due to all the effin' Jager bombs. I was drenched in SOCO & Lime cologne the whole time I worked there.

EF is not a company, it's a cult. It's part of some Swedish conspiracy to undermine our country through low-paying party jobs and IKEA furniture. Gotta be European to even think about management possibilities. Puking in your trash can on Friday mornings, hooking up in the 'nursing room', walk of shame to the garage on Saturday mornings after a big Friday night...how I'll miss it! To add to the mystique, my favorite moment while employed there was the girl on girl sexual harassment claim--gossip for weeks! I busted my butt for my $27k in the wake of 9/11--try selling a tour to Paris after that!--and unfortunately the Swedes only tried to keep me down. The best part is the faux-responsibility perpetrated by middle management. One Monday I got a stern talking to after making an 'unprofessional' comment related to sex, then on Friday I was expected to go on a 'team outing' after work to the drag queen show at Jacques! It's hard to mix business with pleasure, but they sure give it t

The only thing better than the girl on girl harassment suit was the actual girl on girl action at an off site 'Sales Goal' party in NYC.

EF is a ridiculous place to work. The parties are out of control, the management has no idea how to run a company, and the only way to get ahead is to shmooze (drink, sleep with, etc..) upper management. And the money is so low... so low and the "bonuses" they promise you are just flat out lies. So many people quit from my floor they had to go and hire temps. Oh don't forget the time one x-employee tried to sell the CCAP database to our competitors because she was so bitter... too bad she got charged w/ a felony! It's insanity, don't get their au pairs, don't go on their trips..and for God's sake DO NOT WORK THERE!!!

EF should open a midwifery school for men

Wow. Look how we can all act like children. Throwing insults back and forth like it is the true matter that makes up the world. Point blank, none of us can look in the mirror and say we are perfect. Some of us prefer one lifestyle over another. And most importantly, every single situation that ever takes place anywhere in the world can be interpreted in a thousand different ways. What one person may consider "slave-labor" and cheap incentives for employees, someone else may appreciate and accept. For those of you who no longer work at EF, I am sure there were bad experiences - this happens everywhere in life, but is this really the best way to vent anger? Might all of our energies be better placed on the more important issues facing society? International awareness, eradication of war, aid to 3rd world countries? I am not a 100% do-gooder, but I am quite embarassed for many of you and the comments you have listed here. Anger is a very messy friend.

These postings are SO childish!

Mime school

I'm not angry. Like I said earlier, I had a great time at EF. Free thinking women and plenty of liquid courage to go around. It was a great and terrible place to work. But with the availability of hindsight, I can see now that I shortchanged my personal and professional development by staying at EF well past the expiration date. I deluded myself into thinking for a long time that I would be recognized for my hard work and eventually break through to a position of responsibility. So, I left in search of greener pastures and now I have that position and much more money in the bank. I have virtually the same benefits and I still travel the world. Don't fool yourself. You can have the fun social atmosphere of EF, and you can get paid to work there in more than sex and liquor.

Can we talk about the summer at EF? I wish I could leave my job for a month every summer and spend it at EF. The young ladies really push the envelope on acceptable business attire. And I'm all for it. If you are in inside sales, why shouldn't you be able to wear a strapless top, tight capri pants, and strappy heels? Cleavage? Totally acceptable, the more the better, pasties if possible. The icing on the summertime EF cake is when they bring busloads of Northeastern (Univ)students to work their co-ops. This practically doubles the number of incredibly attractive, young, innappropriately dressed women who work there. Come to think of it, those Northeastern kids probably make more than the regular employees! The old Swedish execs love to kick back and hoist a few with the college chicks while their wives back home slave over salmon and capers.

WOW. As an EF employee who started at the bottom of the ranks and has since moved up to upper management without sleeping with anyone or feeling the need to get smashed at our parties I thought I would add my two cents. For the first year and a half of my employment at EF I did not ever step foot into our after work hours bar. I also have never dated or slept with anyone at EF, yet I was still able to grow within this company. EF has given me many opportunities over the past 6 yrs, I have learned many leadership skills, managed different teams, met interesting people, networked with upper level mgrs, and of course I have seen the world. I also look forward to our holiday party every year, where I hold myself accountable for my holiday actions, not EF. Any employee at any job should hold themselves to the same standards, if they are at any work function they should be mindful of how much they are drinking and how they are acting. At the end of the night, you are the adult. No manager h

As a current EF-er, these comments are as ridiculous as they are expected; work sanctioned or not, does behavior like this from this age bracket surprise anyone? I agree completely with the poster above when he/she said that people need to take responsibility for their own actions -- if there's anything worse than behavior like this (which you all seem to agree with) it's the vicious spreading of rumors and stories and being the laughing-stock of your entire work place (let alone entire building)... but *of course* there's not enough foresight in annonymous posting to see your way out of a paperbag! Give me a break, internet. It sounds like you're having more fun with EF talking about us than even we're having -- and we're the ones living it!

Sure, many EF-ers may enjoy celebrating after much of the hard work that is put into each season, but I beg you to find any person in any company who does not. Certainly EF did not coin the term "weekend-warrior" and did not write the song "everybody's working for the weekend"; so then why does the author of this article feel the need to single EF out? Has Bos Mag stooped to the lows and trash jounalism techniques characteristic of Perez Hilton and Star Mag (if one could call that jounalism)? Clearly some people are uninformed. Clearly some people are bitter. Some people may be poorly paid, but for those that are, perhaps pay is not a motivator in happieness. Could it be possible that people find fufillment in providing others with the opportunity to explore world cultures at a fraction of the cost and of better quality than its competitors? The igonorance and borderline racist comments left here are the very individuals that need companies like EF to show them that there are alternati

I make tons of dough at the Cheesecake Factory and I meet tons of boys! I love my job. yet, I am so glad that i got to meet the love of my life (for five minutes) there and that we had some cuddly bus rides up to Somerville. It was all worth it!

My girlfriend worked there and she went to the party two years ago you guys had. She left looking radiant, "all puce and pearls" like my alcoholic grandmother used to say. This was like at 7PM. 45 minutes later as I'm 5 scenes into a Bo Derek flick and BAM!! Gozer the Gozerian comes through the front door. I've never seen a look like that in a human's eyes. I'm like "How were the festi-" and she scissor-kicks me in the face. My girlfriend never played soccer! We still don't know what happened that night. No one does. But it wasn't all bad. I've not had a night of ED since.

If you don't like EF: the company, the culture, the parties, the salaries or the benefits. . . don't work here! We don't want you! So, you think that "management" doesn't have a clue and that you have no outlet for your opinions, well then, don't work here. . .find a better place. To those of you who have moved on to a cubicle somewhere in Dilbert-land, congratulations! I applaud you! Good for you! Where does all your bitterness come from, though? I guess it comes from the fact that at some point you had to face the reality that you failed at EF where many other young American professionals have succeeded and built extremely successful careers. The hard truth is that you weren't one of one's who got promoted and moved up through the ranks on their own accomplishments and professionalism. That must hurt! I get it. So go ahead, lash out. You are clearly a victim of this evil Swedish empire! This must be the forum you have been waiting for. . . the Boston Magazine artilce gives you the o

This doesn't surprise me, considering all the stories my best friend relayed to me, while employed there! She was miserable. And got the HELL out of there while the getting was good. The place seems cult-like, and despite whatever strong work ethic you may have.. you're unceremoniously dismissed if you don't partake in all the drunken, orgiastic-lite shenanigans. Don't get me started on how they expected my friend to donate her OFF days to their social events and BBQs. The place sucks and only people wanting to relive their drunken college days, would deny and defend. Either that or all the managers are posting the Pro-EF comments. It is not conducive to a professional work environment... period. Say what you want, just because someone has decided to tell the TRUTH about what went on and what GOES doesn't mean they're bitter, or have failed at their jobs. I wouldn't want to spend money on their services.

Katie Smells!

Katie Smells

I'm a former EFer-10th floor to be specific-anyway when I forwarded this to my dad tonight he replied with "you are young once, and if you get paid to have fun, all the better". Although everything that has been written is absolutely true, I think my wise father has a point. And, thank you to the higher ups for a solid effort to diffuse the truth that has been so candidly displayed through these postings.

This one time, at an EF function, I was in the bathroom and there were strippers in there doing lines of cocaine off of the urinals and this other time, I saw a Sweede selling secrets to Communists right behind the Berlin Wall. This other time, I heard one of the managers talking about how secret company policy listed Education as Second and not first but listed Christmas parties as First.

Say what you will about EF, personally I'd give 9 of my fingers to french kiss Louise

How about we ask the Nantucket police how they felt about our little get away there? I'm sure they loved showing up at a hotel in the middle of the night only to find a current VP causing a lot of the ruckus. Say what you will, EF definitely crosses the line at times.

I realize I'm being hypocritical by posting here but are we all seriously spending so much time arguing about EF? Check around. "That guy/girl" is at every company and company party and is often in upper management. And you have to pay your dues at any company. Why do people think that your company owes you any more than a paycheck? If you used to work at EF and have moved onto something better, good for you. Why is is that so many ex EFers find it necessary to badmouth the company? Move on! Hopefully you had some good times, learned something, maybe even traveled some, met some amazing people, and are in what you consider to be a better place because of it.

I'm completely straight edge (meaning no drugs, no alcohol, no meat, etc...) and have never once felt dismissed or under-valued for not participating in the antics described in the comments following this article. In fact, I'm pretty sure this was also discussed in one of my interviews when the idea of the EF core value "work hard, play hard" came up (a value I wholeheartedly agree with!) and is part of why I was hired. Thing is, EF isn't defined by how they play hard because no one would ever dare define "play" for you -- just being passionate about the things you care about enough so to be able to balance out your time is enough to be able to hang with the most rowdy of them, because at the end of the day real recognizes real.

I used to run a newspaper kiosk in the lobby of EF. Yes, there were a lot of scratch ticket junkies and I could never stock enough Zima and Mad Magazines, but I can vouch that the people there are great. I remember once that they had the company reenact the Battle of Market Garden in the park they have out there. With all the people from all the different nations in that building, it was quite a show! Most at EF were born in Poland, so they just moved them to the sidelines next to the chain-smoking Swiss, but after that, people got into it. The Charles made for a good Rhine and women were pistol whipping the crap out of the three guys that work there. Made me think, "Life is funny" and "Imagine if the Germans won?" Scary sh*t.

I left EF because my manager looked EXACTLY like Max Headroom.

My orientation at EF consisted of watching "Max Max Beyond Thunderdome" and a learning forest fire jokes. How do those skills help me in life? I did hook up with a girl from Chad while I was there, so it's a wash I guess.

I feathered my hair and had my teeth capped just to interview there. Things went well until I asked about health insurance. The person interviewing me started vicing her temples and swearing to herself. Then she shoved her chair back from her desk and left the room. A full fifteen minutes later she came in and threw a trashbag full of drywall on the desk and said "There's your goddam benefit package." I laughed, she didn't, and I now work at Build-A-Bear.

The EF Pipe Fitters Union had an offsite at the Museum of Science (cheap bastards). They were like, "Yeah, go ahead, walk around with fountain drinks, its all good whatever dude." What happened? That's right: a friggin guy got zapped by those huge testicles they have in that dome there. HIs name was like Don, or Jon or something. Something "-on." WHATEVER! Moral of story is it could have been prevented.

BURN BABY BURN

Woooahhhh, Woaahhhh Woooooahhhhh. How come no one has talked about how the Head Honchos tell pathetic motivational speeches about how they once ran a 2K quickly followed by them eating a Gonormous 12 LB bag of Candy en route to the Girl Bite Girl show in NYC??? I mean can we talk about his????

"at the end of the day real recognizes real" Wow. Real recognizes Real. That is deep. Man, you just totally blew my mind. This must be what it felt like for Neo when he woke up from The Matrix. Dude, thank you for that insite. Word. Real Recognizes Real.

Boston is a party town, filled with kids - whether they are in college or just out of college. I worked at EF, and while it is clear that they are not a company for older workers, it is a good place to start. So you don't make a lot - guess what ? Not everyone out of college gets a $100k/year job. So, suck it up, work your butt off, and have some fun in the process. They reward you with booze. Ok, so we wanted cash instead. At least they gave ya something. What I got out of it is great friends. Fun memories. We all laugh at how everyone was hot for Martha. Mistakes were made, but all was forgiven at the bar after work. Cheap booze, loose morals, HOT girls - what's the problem ?

Directly following the sixth floor kitchen WET T-SHIRT CONTEST at 12:00. There will be girl on girl at 1:30 on floor 10. Please no more volunteers as the list we have should take us into the evening. Managment

Disclosure: I'm an ex-EF employee. EF is fun. They celebrate work hard/play hard, but as the person above mentioned, they let you define "play hard" as you wish. For many 22-25 year olds, that involves boozing and/or sexing. I think it is indicative of our culture as a whole instead of EF's policies. This seems to be construed as negative by these comments, but I disagree. It's not the company's responsibility to police people and EF adopts the exact opposite approach. I enjoyed my few years at EF whole-heartedly. I left because it was time for something different, but look back on the EF days with nothing but good will at the opportunities for professional development, growth, friendship, and fun that I experienced. I went on an EF tour in high school and traveled extensively during my time with EF and it was all done expertly. If you are a teacher that is considering taking kids on an international tour, EF is still a great company to do so with. Don't let the negat

200 words my butt. I counted.Anyway, don't let the negativity of some bitter ex-employees that limited their own careers there sway the decision.

No, don't let the bitterness of ex-employees on this forum inform your decision of EF's policies. Just think about why some of you [Group Leaders] have 4-5 TCs in one year. That's not normal - and it's generally not because we're young and love to travel like we tell you. There is a problem, and EF needs to work on it. Yes, it's ridiculous that some people are extremely bitter, but it's just as absurd that some of you so staunchly support it. I hope EF takes this article seriously and makes some changes... of course, that's something they're kind of awful at re: company culture and employee satisfaction. Fortunately, they're very good about it with the actual product.

I once saw two male EF employees do a tandom aqua massage after an EF Happy Hour... when they emerged they both had fake mustaches on and on top of everything....the poor kid working at Sbarro fainted

If you can make money and still party like you're a frat boy on a mission, I say good for you. That's $27K more than you made in college. And last I checked, our economy sucks, so just the fact that you have a job should be something to appreciate. Worst case scenario, train your body to live on beer. Like me!

I went on an EF tour to Southeast Asia in 1998. One of the night events was attending a Luther Vandross concert in Seoul, South Korea. I was being playful after the concert and got lost on the subway. After five days of wandering alleyways, I had worn the soles off my shoes and become addicted to opium. With no passport or money to get home, I went to the American Embassy and told them I had information on the Jon Benet Ramsey case. I was promptly delivered back to the US via a shipping container filled with Hello Kitty backpacks.

I went on an EF tour to Southeast Asia in 1998. One of the night events was attending a Luther Vandross concert in Seoul, South Korea. I was being playful after the concert and got lost on the subway. After five days of wandering alleyways, I had worn the soles off my shoes and become addicted to opium. With no passport or money to get home, I went to the American Embassy and told them I had information on the Jon Benet Ramsey case. I was promptly delivered back to the US via a shipping container filled with Hello Kitty backpacks.

Couple years back a manager had an offsite at their summer house in Revere. There was a kiddie pool with rum punch in the back yard and clowns and all this other crap everywhere. Everyone was drinking, and apparently I just lost it. The next day people told me I punched a nun and had reenacted Martin Sheen's naked mirror smashing scene from "Apocalypse Now."

I worked there for 5 years, had a good time, earned a basic salary. Most of the things that everyone has posted here from either point-of-view are mostly correct. It was a choice to stay there and not earn much, but I did travel a lot which was tons of fun, drank a lot and hooked up with a bunch of girls. The place was an interesting environment to work in and that's what kept me there. We always said that we liked it mostly because of the people, but much like high school, if you weren't in the "in-crowd" your advancement wasn't going to be a positive one. I met a lot of friends that I still am in contact with which is great! But there are other travel companies who pay a lot better, still get to travel with, BUT, you can invite a significant other to THEIR holiday party along with 500 of your co-workers. By the way, the article forgot to mention that after the party at the Roxy, a guy named Scott was stabbed in the neck, and survived, by a bystander in their car on the street when he

The worst thing possible happened to me at that Roxy party. My dad showed up in sweatpants and an Abercrombie and Fitch t-shirt, eating a cheese danish. He sat on the stage swinging his legs and playing air drums to the songs. Everyone went up to me and goes: "Your Dad is at this holiday party." I was like "What!" People said "Yeah. And he's wigging out on stage." I'm all crying and go to find my dad. He was as drunk as anyone there! I said: "What the hell are you doing here?" He says "Ripping drum solos." We lived in Watertown, so I was like: "take me home now!" and my dad goes "I walked here."

All of the dishware in the cafeteria have swastikas engraved under them in the bottom right corner, a la "American Beauty." Really strange stuff. Those are the Swedish for you, I guess. Explains the operation Market Garden re-enactment...that's the only battle the Germans ever won post-Normandy.

I have absolutely no affiliation with EF, but would like to thank all of you who have exposed the awful, unprofessional behavior of some of your management and employees. I'm also never sending my kids on these tours. I think your management should think about the negative publicity you are giving yourselves and make some changes to your company policies.

I am an EF employee of over 2 years. I have loved my time here and do not plan on leaving. That being said, How can anyone possibly think that the negative comments of a few disgruntled former employees has anything to do with the product that we offer or the good work that EF does in the community. None of them seem to mention the great charity work that EF does within the Boston Area. They don't mention that EF is the #1 corporate provider to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Nor do they mention that we were given the FDR Award by the March of Dimes. (look it up) A Christmas party is a Christmas party. It doesn't determine the good that our company does!

I work at EF and take my job very seriously. I guess you could say that I "work hard". I have been to the holiday parties, have had fun, but I have a wife and child waiting for me at home, so I don't "play hard". I have never been blacklisted for this. But you want to know something? I just had my yearly evaluation. My director told me how much EF values my productivity and commitment to the company. He wanted to compensate me accordingly. I am three years out of college, but I was not compensated with beer, but rather a VERY generous raise. So for all of you sour grapes who feel the need to attack EF policies, did you ever consider that your output during your time here was unsatisfactory? EF is a very professional company, which I am proud to represent...and I did NOT have to sleep with anyone to get where I am today!

I also have no affiliation with EF, but I work for a Mortgage company that always has an open bar at the quarterly updates and Christmas parties and yes people get drunk and yes people say or do things they regret the next day. At the last “family” picnic a supervisor showed up drunk and was arrested and handcuffed in front of everyone for public intoxication and refusing arrest. Is this acceptable? No at least not in my opinion, but people these things happen at companies everywhere, you just don’t hear about it. Unfortunately for EF this author aired their dirty laundry for everyone to see in this article. (Side note is it just me or is this article come across as slanted and almost tabloid like?). I understand some people may choose not to buy “products or services” from a particular company because a company violates a social, religious or a certain human rights conviction. But I really don’t understand the comments from people who say they will never travel with EF… why? Be

don’t understand the comments from people who say they will never travel with EF… why? Because they have wild Christmas parties. Its like saying, I am not going to buy a BMW because the Germans get wasted during October Fest, or in my case I won’t get my home loan through company “x” because they party every quarter and especially hard at Christmas. Unless the people are getting trashed while they are working and endangering the kids or customers on these trips, I don’t think it should have any real bearing on whether or not you use this companies products. But that is just my opinion…

Martha wants you all to meet a lingo for shots....and to tell you what a great cult; I mean company EF is.

I just wrote the comment about getting a raise, not beer, for working hard. I want to add this: the HR dept of EF contributed information to Amy Derjue, the writer of this "article". Amy chose not to include EF's contributions, and instead wrote a sensationalized piece that bashes EF. Most of it is embellished, a hyperbole of the truth. That EF encourages cheating on spouses? are you serious? EF has a liberal policy towards inter-office relationships, they do not encourage promiscuity. Most people seem to be able to handle themselves at these parties. The ones that can't are probably the same ones who are trashing the company now. Get real. If you are professional, you will be treated like one.

Just because we like and defend our place of work, does not mean that we have to be a "manager".

why don't you go apply for a job at FOX news...fair and balanced, just like your trashy piece. I've sent my kids on trips many times, and had Au Pairs as well. Not once have I questioned their professionalism. I don't know what your goal was for this piece, but it certainly won't sway me. I know that EF cares about their public perception, which is very positive. Your glimpse into what they do at holiday parties is irrelevant and unnecessary.

After three months of employment, they take people (man or woman) into a men's bathroom on the 8th floor and have them stare at a Rothko print over a urinal for a half hour. If the person comes away with anything witty to say about art or life, they fire them on the spot.

My grandmother died, and my manager, who always feigned sentiments about everything, showed up at her wake wearing a leather 8-ball jacket

Jeesh! My manager was nearly as bad. I don't think he took anything seriously. He had a plastic banana thing welded to his phone receiver that said "Wrong Orifice" on it and he would wear one of those piano keys cummerbunds to staff meetings. I went in once to talk to him about all the asbestos blowing into my hair from the air vents, and he goes "Oh! We all thought you had head lice!" So as I go on about it, he was just nodding and playing with his mouse (a replica Tony Stewart race car) and looking at something on his monitor that I couldn't see. After a while I was like "Excuse me what are you looking at?" He turned the monitor towards me. It was a director's-cut orgy scene from "Caligula." I (had just eaten almonds and) gagged. I looked at him and he just started popping and locking.

I would pay a large number of Global Points to see how this article and the above string is handled by Martha and team tomorrow. Would somebody please, please, please post the email that will go out about it tomorrow. Or better yet, videotape one or more of the team meetings that will take place to discuss EF Culture and what a wonderful place it is to work.

post it on You Tube!

All the employees at EF are actually in their mid 40's. The Cafe downstairs fortifies all products with severe growth inhibiting hormones to keep everyone looking and acting college aged. They also have a company abortion station in the basement that is open after every Christmas Party. Damn Democrats.

Every Monday, EF rounds up 10 on-staff virgins and sacrifices them in an enormous company wide blood orgy just to set an example: "Holding out will not be accepted. Now lets get out there and get the job done!"

I worked for EF and I have nothing positive to say about the company. It insults college grads with a horrible work environment. The pay is even worse!!!