Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think work Xmas parties should start in work hours?

230 replies

ByTidyHelper · 04/12/2024 10:12

Just as the title says really. Our work Xmas party doesn't start til 6:30pm this year in London which is a 1hr commute for me each way. I really think work Xmas parties should start in work hours e.g. 3 or 4pm as this would be so much better for those with families who could attend at the start for a couple of hours and then go home.

I'm probably not going to mine this year just due to the fact it starts in the evening and I cannot be bothered to get back home late and have to figure out what we do with my kids bedtime etc (they are in a phase of meltdown mode unless mummy is putting them to bed so would be tough on my husband to have to deal with this solo).

What do you think? AIBU to expect work Xmas parties to start in work hours?

OP posts:
sarah419 · 05/12/2024 06:41

Ablondiebutagoody · 04/12/2024 10:16

Hell no. I think that they should start with hard drinking immediately after work and continue into the early hours. It's a party not a family day.

not everyone drinks and should work colleagues really be getting drunk together???

HobbyHorse30 · 05/12/2024 06:41

ByTidyHelper · 04/12/2024 11:07

Why is it ridiculous? I'm tired as we are up several times a night at the moment so that's why I can't really be bothered to get back late and have even more of a knock on effect of how I feel the next day. Plus you haven't seen how bedtime goes down at the moment - we share our responsibilities in other ways as I'm doing most bedtimes right now and my husband doing this solo would certainly result in lots of screaming, crying and false starts just because of how our kids are right now. You know....because they are very young kids and they tend not to be super rational or reasonable with some of the things they throw tantrums about. That's kind of their thing. Sure my husband could do it without me but it would be an extremely stressful and chaotic evening for him until I got home most likely so pardon me for thinking of him!

Show quote history

This is a very specific set of circumstances to be expecting your entire organisation/team to plan the Christmas party around!

Yerroblemom1923 · 05/12/2024 06:39

We used to have ours on a Saturday night with partners attending too. It was lovely. I think mid afternoon parties are a bit tragic. It's like saying "I can't really be arsed with hanging out socialising with my work colleagues so I'll get it over and done with and be home for 5" - it's a bit miserable and if my staff were so against it I wouldn't bother throwing one.

Bourneo · 05/12/2024 06:39

WhatHaveIDone21 · 04/12/2024 10:49

@CrushingOnRubies me too!! I can just imagine if we got the kids to colour in while we all had a few drinks in the hall Xmas Grin

Sounds like a plan to me! We could theme it. The kids do movies and munchies, while we get merry with mulled wine and mince pies! Maybe the PTA could sort it out? 🤣🤣🤣

Isxmasoveryet · 05/12/2024 06:35

Could you imagine ring fire brigade get a bunch of drunken firemen shop workers staggering about the shop floor call centre workers actually telling a tricky customer to go do one ane closed as staff drunk every work place being untidy as cleaners are off on xmas do lol def would be interesting

Casperroonie · 05/12/2024 06:32

Dearg · 04/12/2024 10:18

Well that accurately describes many I have attended.

Show quote history

When I was a student and working part time yes. In real life, no thanks.

whatsgoingon2024 · 05/12/2024 06:28

Some places may able to swing it but as a general rule there would be uproar if your kids school, GP Surgery etc had a sign up saying closed for staff party. Generally I would expect it to be after work hours.

BigCarMistake · 05/12/2024 06:17

Ours is tomorrow. Full day event with lunch and then afternoon drinks. I love this as it means I can still take part and then get home for DS. Also had a work subsidised family night for Christmas lights in November. Obviously I don’t work in the public sector, but I think more companies should give colleagues the opportunity to get together for Christmas during work hours and then have the option to continue after work.

schmeler · 05/12/2024 06:06

This is not an option in many places! I imagine the parents at my school would be pissed if we shipped the kids home early to start drinking.

Youhaveyourhandsfull · 05/12/2024 05:55

Mine is at 1.30pm I think? Be a long boozy lunch and anyone who wants to stay on will. We have another one which is a bigger event that's in a local bar and starts at 5, but it's downtown and anyone who wants to start drinking earlier than 5 will.

PuddlesPityParty · 05/12/2024 05:48

Ablondiebutagoody · 04/12/2024 10:16

Hell no. I think that they should start with hard drinking immediately after work and continue into the early hours. It's a party not a family day.

😄🤣 this made me laugh, but you’re right!

DanielaDressen · 05/12/2024 05:44

DandyTealSeal · 05/12/2024 05:21

Ours starts at 12 and people stay out in the evening if they wish.

Same. I’m in charge of booking it so it starts at midday, in work time. People can go home in the afternoon or stay out if they want. I intend to be h9me by 5pm 😁

DandyTealSeal · 05/12/2024 05:21

Ours starts at 12 and people stay out in the evening if they wish.

FrodisCapering · 05/12/2024 05:19

This reply has been withdrawn

Post withdrawn at author's request

Sooverwork · 05/12/2024 03:13

Goldenbear · 04/12/2024 12:36

There are no national rules about Christmas party conditions, why would there be? If you are in a public sector office it will be similar rules to any in the public sector. If you work for a private company in an office they are going to please themselves, why would it not be the case?

Show quote history

You are missing the point or being deliberately obtuse. Imagine the outrage if schools , hospitals , police stations commenced their Christmas party whilst on shift and therefore weren’t attending to students / patients / call outs ? Of course there is no legislation on Christmas party conditions, grow up

ViciousCurrentBun · 05/12/2024 00:32

In one University I worked at it started at midday with free lunch and free wine with lunch. Then anyone that wanted to would then go down in to town and go from there. They were often around 12 hours long. This was the 1990’s.

One that turned in to absolute shenanigans had two members of staff have a fight in a pub.

I am retired now and it’s a buffet in the staff room in one place I volunteer at and at another a get together is held at the main organisers house. My hobby group has a carvery dinner out. My walking group have a very boozy night out but I don’t go as it involves an overnight stay and I’m almost teetotal.

No33 · 04/12/2024 23:43

Our offices are closing at 3pm for Christmas do

DogSmiles · 04/12/2024 23:40

That reply was to @LuckySantangelo35

DogSmiles · 04/12/2024 23:34

It sounds like she’d end up feeling worse by going. She sounds very tired already. The difficult bed times and disturbed nights will hopefully soon pass and there will be plenty of nights out in the future. Missing a few nights out is something a lot of parents do when their kids are little or going through something. It was only when we had our own children that we realised sometimes it was better to not go on a night out rather than it cause a knock on effect for days after. My kids are older now and I’ve had plenty of nights out as they’ve got older. One of my kids will be picking me up from my works Xmas do so I’ll be disturbing their sleep…. getting my own back all these years later. 😂

Wincher · 04/12/2024 23:10

Well I work for a religious organisation so our Christmas do is a Carol service followed by a booze-free lunch! Last year everyone drifted back to work after. This year's is off site so hoping there will be a general exodus to the pub instead...

everychildmatters · 04/12/2024 22:54

Yet another disadvantage to the teaching profession! 😂

CalmFox · 04/12/2024 22:50

Stopped going to ours for the last four years. Dislike being around drunk work colleagues. I'm almost 50 and would rather be at home with my family

LuckySantangelo35 · 04/12/2024 22:45

DogSmiles · 04/12/2024 21:47

I’m sure he would, but she’s said it’ll be very stressful with how her children are at the moment. One of my children went through a few months of only being able to be put to bed by me without it being a complete nightmare. They also had a while when my partner was ‘the chosen one’. We just went with it, made sure we were there and it stopped eventually. I wouldn’t have wanted my child being so distressed and wouldn’t have gone out at bed time for something that wasn’t an emergency during that time. I’ve known lots of parents who just make a few changes for the short time needed including missing a night out. It’s usually not for long.

Do you have children and if so, have you had times when they’re really distressed at bed time @LuckySantangelo35. It can have a terrible knock on effect to the next day and longer if they don’t sleep well and then everyone is miserable.

Show quote history

@DogSmiles

i don’t. But im not the only one saying it! Just think it’s a shame for OP.

CraftyOP · 04/12/2024 22:20

We have worst of both worlds, after work but everyone is too polite to drink more than one or do anything but make small talk for 5 hours. Painful.

Goldenbear · 04/12/2024 22:18

ByTidyHelper · 04/12/2024 19:31

DH works for himself so no Xmas party sadly! My Xmas party isn't a meal it's just drinking - they've hired out a pub/bar in London and it'll just be free drinks all Night. If it were a meal and then drinks or something a bit more civilised I'd probably be more inclined to attend but as a 30 something mother of two, my days of going into London and getting shitfaced are behind me. Just not something I enjoy. As it is just a drinking affair I would much rather it to be starting early so I could make a brief appearance and leave but alas this is not the case so I probably won't go.

Show quote history

Drinks all night without food is not that appealing I agree.