Partners invited to work Christmas party...

[Stinkycheeseandbreadcrumbs]

Is this unusual? New work place. I've never come across partners being invited before. (You can bring a friend/family member instead - or come alone).. I can't imagine inviting a friend to my work do. None of them are local but I think they'd find it odd anyway.

It used to be quite common in my industry (Financial Services) but has become increasingly rare over the last decade as everyone has cut back dramatically on costs.

This used to happen where I work, until as Hundred has experienced, we've had cost cut backs. The good old days! We're now scaled back to a day of presentations and a modest dinner.

OP it sounds like the company is doing alright and it will be a good 'do' if they're prepared to double their spend like this to include a plus one.

It is also an HR thing. People get less out of hand when their partners are there.

We have had some small dos where partners are invited but it is rare. Why double the cost or make yourself liable for twice as many drunk people?

Yes, the work dos i recall would perhaps have been less debauched if partners had attended.

In my previous job it used to be partners invited, then someone's partner got drunk and started ripping into one of the managers that his wife had been passed over for promotion, after that partners were no longer invited. On the whole I agree that behaviour is more restrained when they are present though. They are invited in my current job but its a small business so still not many in total.

My husband's work do invites partners. V nice affair with a free bar!

My work gives each employee £15 towards a night out!!

Used to happen a lot in the late 70s/1980s/early 90s, but I think the tax situation change, something to do with the amount being spent per head being treated as a benefit, so partners weren't usually allowed after that

In my past job we had paid for ourselves for a number of years. Although most managers paid for their own staff and senior managers chipped in for drinks kitty. I assumed staff themselves had decided they would invite partners. Hadn't occurred to me that it was paid for.

Partners are expected at our annual work party. It’s on the weekend and attendance isn’t mandatory, but is strongly suggested.