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

Never had to pay and could bring partner or friend free too.

I work in public sector and ours usually costs £30/35

DH has his paid for him if they have one (not this year or last - Covid) but they're usually quite lavish from what he says.

Public service employees would have to pay for themselves but for private companies I believe there's an amount per employee that is tax deductible, ( £35? not sure of current figure) so I would expect the employer to pay for that. But I certainly wouldn't pay money I couldn't afford to go out with people I hardly know to somewhere I had't chosen.
Just say, " Sorry, can't make it", and leave it that, unless you actually want to go.

Depends where you work.

I’m a teacher and we pay for ourselves. I can imagine that being front page of the Daily Mail if school budgets were spent on teacher nights out!

Public sector here, so have always had to pay.

I’ve never had to pay but I used to make my excuses and leave as soon as the meal was eaten.

If you are expected to pay and don’t want to go or can’t afford it, tell them that’s a shame as you have a prior engagement and you can’t let X down.

I've always had to pay for my own Christmas party. We don't even get a free drink!

Have never had to pay and they’ve always been extravagant....and that’s across a number of industries over 20 years

Never ever been asked to pay!!!

Everywhere I’ve worked they’ve been paid for… and are usually monumental piss ups. I generally avoid them- not been to one for about 5/6 years! I’m going to mine this year as it’s just a lunch with my immediate team which seems much nicer.

£45 is a hell of a lot. I'd have other plans, unfortunately ...

We never paid, but I know it isn't unusual.

If it’s not clear I’d say you would pay but you don’t have to go?
My company pay for our Xmas meal but that’s made really clesr

I've never had to pay for a work Christmas do. My current employer does epic Christmas parties. Very much looking forward to this year's after there not being one last year

Normal to pay, although I've had companies subsidise. Mine is £45 this year. Can't afford it, not going. Hope to go next year.

I’ve worked in the public sector and in large private companies and I’ve always had to pay.

I've never had to pay and now I run my own business I wouldn't dream of charging anyone! I'd be as shocked as you!

20 quid at our place. 45 is a bit steep like.

Private sector, some companies/years we have had to pay others the company has paid.

One employer used to have a massive all expenses paid Christmas lunch do on the last working day before Christmas (even if it was Christmas Eve). Never went myself but the stories which used to come out of it! A few people said that after the Christmas Eve do they had been too hung over to face their own Christmas dinner the following day.

You dont have to go.

I’m so surprised to see that many pay. Even my first job in a shop they paid for us to have a meal at Christmas, and I’ve worked in the events industry and had it paid, and at an at agency. Plus the large supermarket chain I worked for at head office put on a big party - but in January

What? I’ve never had to pay ever in the last 10 years (6 jobs) always all paid for

Never would go if I had to pay - it’s meant to be a treat from employer surely

It definitely depends on the job. In a privately owned business, you probably shouldn't have to pay. But in the public sector, who do you expect will pay? It's not really fair for your boss to pay for everyone when I bet they're not earning much more than you.

As long as it's made clear before anyone commits how much it will be, I don't think they're unreasonable.

I’m shocked to see how many people say they’ve to pay

I've never had to pay - except one year when the company I worked for at the time decided not to do one, so all the staff in our department booked a party meal ourselves.

Depends where you work but yeah i usually have to pay and get up to £10 of drinks from the company. Usually people try to find somewhere cheapish to go under £30. One year it was £50+ and loads of people refused to go.

ive never had to pay :S thought the point was that the business is treating its staff... whats the point if you pay.. then you may as well do the said thing with your friends instead