Work Christmas Lunch - Truth or a Lie re. Attendence

£40 seems like the going rate here - I can in Oxfordshire which is an expensive area. For that it’s 2 courses and a hot drink. Around here non Christmas menus would have mains between £18 and £25, and desserts around £10. So add on the Christmas bits (crackers, extra staff etc) it isn’t outrageous but eating out has become more expensive like everything else.

£60 😳 Was that for HEOs and upwards? My BIL who's one wouldn't countenance that amount for a work do unless it was all in. Even £40 would be pushing it with him 😃

It’s not so much that you can’t spend tax payers money - it’s more they still have the event but expect staff to pay and want to attend that I find bonkers.

Although clearly some people do.

I would never ever spend my own money for an employer.

Almost 6 million people work in the public sector.. that would be £240m on Christmas parties @ £40 a head 🥲

Because as I said even basic shelf stacking jobs at least pay for something.

Im surprised anyone goes at all if you have to pay for it yourselves.

It's not compulsory so just don't go. Offer to stay behind and answer the phone?

We have an office lunch out, that we pay for ourselves, because public sector and about 50/60% of the office go and the rest don't for their own reasons. Some don't like to be sociable, for others it could be cost. Ours is £35 and I admit that I did intake breath when I saw the cost, as it's a lot for a nice pub lunch round here.

But most people are sociable and actively want to have a nice lunch with colleagues so many people do go. But I agree that the cost could be prohibitive for some - perhaps next year suggest something at work where you get pizzas, fish and chips etc delivered and maybe have a quiz instead?

But I did decline the evening do because that's £60 for a bland looking turkey dinner and dancing at a city centre hotel, but hardly anyone goes to that these days.

Why the surprise at that.

I'm in LA and we get nothing at all, for anything

I am also civil service (B1 in SG) and our Christmas lunch is £39. That’s for 3 courses, drink and tea/coffee. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect a Christmas meal for less than that honestly. I don’t think the meal/party itself is expensive but it does add up when you include new outfit, taxis and drinks.

If you don’t want to go then just say you can’t make it this year, it doesn’t need to be made overly complicated.

It seems a lot without booze. The ones we had were usually a set meal with about half a bottle each, or 3 beers. The budget was around £35. That was a while ago though. They must have left it too late and can only book somewhere a bit too high in price. Just be honest. 'I'd love to come but it's out of my price range I'm afraid. Christmas budget is really tight this year. Hope you have a great time.' they can't exactly hate you for it?

As a senior I think you need to have an honest conversation about the need to be sensitive about the cost of living situation and that your prefer they organise something more affordable instead of alongside it.

My brother is a G6 and he typically goes for a pub and buys a thank you drink for his 20 staff members. The G7s then buy their teams a drink and then it's pay your own way.

@Msmoonpie yes you have to pay and go on your own time as its taxpayers money

I eat out all the time, but I wouldn't choose the Christmas menu usually (and don't go out for a work Christmas set lunch or anything) so probably never noticed. I didn't realise they bump up the prices so much, like I said a 2 course Sunday lunch isn't that much, but people obviously must pay the prices.

Then I wouldn’t be attending. Simple as that.

Why would you ?

I’m in the north of England. Finding somewhere doing a Christmas menu under £40 a head is good going! Have you seen the cost of eating out recently?

When you factor in the usual cost inflation for Christmas, £40 is a very middle of the road price. The local curry restaurant me is £35, and the cheap local Turkish restaurant is £30 for two courses, up from £18 in their summer “special offers”.

Christmas menus from late November to New Year are always more expensive than eating out at other periods. Surely you’ve noticed that?

You pay for yourself in the public sector.

Just say you won't be going, (or you won't be able to go, if that's too blunt). You don't owe anyone an explanation.

If any of your colleagues asked why you aren't going, just say "family reasons". It's not a lie, but it avoids the truth.

Sorry you have to pay to attend a work event ? Is that correct ? I have never been asked to pay - not even when I worked in a shop.

No way would I be spending my own money for a work related event. Even a fun one.

Not too different then, a fancy gastro pub here is £18 for a beef dinner and £9 for a prawn starter, so £27 for 2 courses. I mean a Christmas lunch isn't hugely different from a Sunday lunch so I wouldn't expect to be paying £13 extra for any extra trimmings on the dinner (and assuming it's turkey not beef!).

Unexpected hospital appointment clash, if pushed say it’s lady garden-related. If asked for more details, say ‘I’ve waited months for this colposcopy, I can’t reschedule, sorry’. That’ll be the last you hear of it and you’ll have the day off presumably?

I’m in a similar position and rarely go. It’s not the money (I doubt you’d find many Christmas menus much less than £40 anyway) but primarily because I just don’t want to. I don’t give any reason just politely decline. There are about 40 odd people in my department and no one really cares if I go or not!

I wouldn't moan as organising work events is a massive ballache. Everyone has strong opinions as to what they don't want to do, but no one ever seems to have any positive suggestions. I'm sure the organisers have tried their best to find the option that suits the most people.

I think the most diplomatic way out is to offer to hold the fort this year, and mention budget well in advance of next year's planning.

This absolutely depends what role/department you're in.

I would consider G7/G6 the middle management grades. When I was a G7 I didn't even manage anyone. But I'm assuming you maybe work in some kind of operational role (job centre or similar) where HEOs manage hordes of people!

its not about affording it per se as I understand it but about whether its worth it to the OP. And I am sorry but I am not going to spend money that I don't want to spend on ANYTHING in order to keep a business in business.

@TennisLady I'm in the south - local pub charges £21 for Sunday roast - just the roast. Starters, drinks and desserts are extra. Their 2 course Xmas lunch menu (not Xmas eve or day) is £55 and on Xmas eve and day 2 courses is £100 and 3 courses is £150 (drinks are extra)...

We wouldn't get anything decent under £40 where we are. (Civil Service too). That would be a - nice-ish - standard work Christmas 3 course lunch. But you may live somewhere with more options.