Have just been asked to pay £45 for Xmas do

[youllneedthisfish]

Aibu to think that you shouldn’t have to pay for your own Christmas party/meal? Have just been asked for £45 for the Christmas do at the job I’ve just started (in an office) - it’s this usual? Can’t afford and embarrassed to say no

Yes normal - ours is £20 this year. I'm not going because I don't want to. It's no big deal.

I have always had to pay.

Normal to pay for your own yes! But if you can't or dont want to go as a new starter you have the ideal excuse that you've already got something booked that day.

Completely normal. I've never been on a Christmas do that's been paid for.

I've never worked anywhere where the party is paid for. I have sometimes said no because it's too much or I have got in early with the organising and made it somewhere cheaper.

Yes, you pay for your own Christmas do.

Ah, sorry to hear that, OP.

Some places do pay for staff parties.
Others don't. Neither are unusual.

£45 is quite a lot.
I'd you can't afford it but don't want to say, how about you make up a big family birthday / event that clashes?

It's as common as not.

If you can't afford it, say so. There is nothing embarrassing about having a tight budget at Christmas. Or at all!

I can’t believe these comments! I have never worked somewhere where I have had to pay for myself. I think if the company organises it and invites everyone they should pay. If your team sec organises it just for your direct team then that I’d expect to pay for. Most senior manager present should ALWAYS put their hand in their pocket (first round and more frequent than everyone else /wine for the tablet etc) or look like a massive tight wad.

I've always had to pay £30 this year. If I don't pay who will? Boss might by a round if you're lucky

We get an allowance of £35 a head to an event that everyone is invited, so if you don’t go you don’t get the money. If you want something that costs more you have to top it up.

Christmas parties are shit, I wouldn’t pay to go on one and I’m not keen on going on my freebie this year either but it’s during the day and in work time, so I’ll make the effort 😆

I’ve always had to pay, but have always worked in the public sector so obviously we have to fund it ourselves. It’s always been cheaper than that though.

I've never paid for a Xmas do organised by the company - different matter if it's a group of colleagues who want a night out together.

I've paid at last 3 companies.. Probably 15 years since free

Yeah we have to pay for our Christmas meal but £45 is a lot!

Just say you have a clash and can’t make it, even if you’ve said originally you can say you’d made a mistake/written the date down wrong or something.

Of course you pay for your own Christmas Do, unless you work for a very rich employer. But it's optional and you don't have to go.

If its too much but you don't want to say so, then just say you've already got another commitment that evening.

At our work, the organiser asks early on how much people are prepared to spend and what they want to do. This year, some people are going for an after work drink and then others are going on for a meal. No judgement about who is doing what.

Never paid for mine - we always have a formal do then we have a department one that we are allocated money for.

I'd rather have to pay my own way for a Xmas do than the experience someone I knew had around the time of the financial crash.

The company paid for everyone and their partners to have a fancy meal and night in a city centre hotel, with free bar all night.

Less than 48 hours later a whole bunch of staff got made redundant and give statutory minimum redundancy. Those people would have preferred for the party to have been cancelled and the funds made available for their redundancy

Yes, I’ve never worked anywhere that is been free. Agree £45 is a lot. I doubt you’ll be the only one to decline.

I can’t believe these comments! I have never worked somewhere where I have had to pay for myself.

You've never worked for the NHS or other public sector then

I've never been asked to pay to attend a work Christmas party, but have mostly worked for larger organisations where them paying is a given. Mostly I still choose not to go as it's not my thing. Just tell them you have other plans already? 🤷🏼‍♀️

@youllneedthisfish

Aibu to think that you shouldn’t have to pay for your own Christmas party/meal? Have just been asked for £45 for the Christmas do at the job I’ve just started (in an office) - it’s this usual? Can’t afford and embarrassed to say no

Make an excuse.

"Oh I'm so sorry that clashes with a family do we've had planned for ages. Have fun."

I've never had to pay but I know that some places you do...

I had to pay in retail etc

But corporate and media industry I’ve never had to pay. It just depends on what sector you are in.

Depends where you work op but can be normal to pay for your own