To think we should all be consulted about Christmas Pary

[Jusfloatingby]

A few of us were discussing restaurants near work and someone suggested a new Italian would be a nice place to go for our Christmas night out. Somebody else said they would email the menu around and see what the general concensus was. However, before they got a chance a couple of staff just sent an email around to say the Christmas Party has been booked for 18th December in such and such Hotel. The cost is 50 euro per person and a deposit is needed by 14th November.
AIBU to think this is a bit high handed? Its not my kind of thing at all, I hate organised hotel Christmas affairs and would much prefer to go to a restaurant for a meal and on somewhere for a few drinks. Surely the Christmas night out should be organised to suit the majority of staff by taking a concensus.

[quoteunquote]

It would be lovely to involve everyone with a decision, but they probably realised after asking the first three people that every single person will have different idea for venue and date,

Anyway why are you paying? We pay for our crew's Christmas do, as way of saying thanks for a great year.

[theoriginalandbestrookie]

I hate do's in hotels as well, however someone has to organise it so they probably thought they were doing people a favour.
I would just not go - you are actually lucky they are charging so you have a good get out clause, mine is that the last 2 christmas nights out were crap which I don't think will go down well - and organise a wee lunch/early dinner at the Italian the week before Christmas.

[CailinDana]

Trying to reach a consensus on this kind of thing is just a nightmare, those colleagues were right to just make the decision IMO.

[justmyview]

You'll never get a crowd of people to agree on these choices. I feel sorry for the organisers. It's a thankless task.

[sooperdooper]

YABU, it's near impossible to find something that everyone wants to do for these kind of things, I'm assuming you don't have to go if you don't want to?

[MerylStrop]

Don't go then

I'd also hate it

Have some nice drinks with some of your likeminded co-workers at another date

[BrianCoxIsEatingBrains]

We had this at work.

It is a nightmare keeping everyone happy. Bearing in mind though that our company pay for EVERYTHING (inc drinks, taxis etc) and people still moaned when the woman organising just gave up and booked a hotel that had been recommended by several friends/associates.

It should be about a good knees up, chance to enjoy each other's company etc - it is one night a year and unfortunately the majority rules, if you don't want to do it then don't go.

[FeckOffCup]

YABU, it's impossible to please everyone and organised christmas party night are usually an ok compromise.

[whois]

Asking everyone's opinion would be a nightmare.

If you don't want to go, then don't.

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

i can see both sides here
admittedly i would hate the kind of formal hotel thing you describe

however in my office, for the last three years we have spent so long arguing that wherever is too expensive/too traditional/not festive enough/too far/too poncey/too scrubber/not enough choice/nothing for veggies.......
that by the time we're done arguing everything is booked up, and we haven't had a party at all.

[GreenEyesAndHam]

Have to agree with others, I think I'd just be grateful that someone else was stepping up to organise it! Have you ever tried it? I did our dept's a couple of years ago and it was a hellish nightmare. And I like these people!

[NiniLegsInTheAir]

[henvy] of all these people who get their xmas party paid for

[PrincessOfChina]

I used to organise our departmental Christmas Party. From the August Bank Hol onwards people would badger me for dates and give me random ideas. Then, when a party was arranged in late October they would all come a whine to me about partners not being invited/the location/the date/the dress code.

Keep out of it, it's a minefield and I'm glad to be out of it nowadays!

[MrsKeithRichards]

I think it's the best way really.

[WilsonFrickett]

I think you should organise it next year, then come back and tell us how you got on. You really can't please all (any?) of the people all of the time when it comes to Christmas dooos.

[Katisha]

We are not allowed to have them unless we pay for them ourselves. Not even just drinks.

However I hate works Christmas dos and so am not at all put out by this.

[Jusfloatingby]

I have organised christmas parties before and usually email around two or three suggestions and then pick what the majority want and book that. I realise there is never going to be complete concensus but I've never just selected a type of night out and a specific venue and presented it as a fait accompli.
I have also gone to things that wouldn't totally be my cup of tea because that is what the majority voted for.
Maybe I'm just lucky in the places I've worked in, but I've just never seen the decision being so totally taken out of people's hands/ A similar hotel do was organised last year and a lot of people didn't go and said they didn't like these things. That was why some of us were planning to circulate around an alternative suggestion.
Anyway, obviously IABU as that seems to be the 'concensus' on here. I shall just smile and say I'm busy that evening.

[WilsonFrickett]

Well it is nearly November as well, and things get booked up - maybe they didn't have time to email round?