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

Have had to pay a contribution in the past. Company I work for now pay for everything. Usually once the bar limit is reached we're meant to pay after that but my boss is genuinely lovely and wants everyone to have a great time so I've never had to use my emergency £20! Can't wait for this year's after missing out last year.

@hamsterchump

Why would anyone go if you have to pay? Who willingly pays to spend time with colleagues, (shudder). Madness, we're not going to OH's cos you have to pay for partners, and would only be going for a freebie in any case, I thought that was bad enough.

I actually like my colleagues?! I'm public sector and we pay for our own, it's £40 this year. Lunchtime do and we will head into town after so people often choose to skip the meal and come to town, or vice versa.

Worked for various companies over 25 years and never once paid for any company organised social events let alone the company Christmas party! Wow! Plenty of people don't go to their company dos though OP. Just blame family commitments or something else mundane!

All mine were paid for until I started in a school, but I'd either worked in small businesses or accountancy.

Ours is £40... we pay our own

I’ve always had to pay for mine. Hate organised fun like this so only going as it’s in work time. Makes it even worse that I started my job in the pandemic so havent actually met anybody yet.

Blimey we don't even get free tea and coffee at work 🙄

My experience is mixed. Some places it's free, at others you pay.

It's totally fine to just not go. You've only just started so no one can expect you to have kept the date free.

I've never had to pay in over 20 years of working for various companies. It's always been seen as their gift to us. We couldn't have one last year so we all got £50 worth of vouchers instead.

I hate them personally, and if I had to pay I wouldn't go!

If you can't afford it then you shouldn't go. You don't have to - and £45 seems really expensive.

I've always had to pay where ever I have worked.

I have never paid for a Xmas do! It's always been on the company! In every place I've ever worked.

If you're a new starter, just say you already have plans that night. I wouldn't pay £45 for somewhere I've just joined

I've gone from big corporate swanky paid for to public sector.

I pay for my team's Christmas lunch personally, six of us. Not a chance of a paid for lunch or anything else where I work.

I've never been asked to pay for one before. Always big company events at a hired out venue with coaches and entertainment put on.

Occasionally, when we can be bother with the hassle of it all (finding cover) we all arrange a Christmas dinner or drink out. We pay our own as we are Social workers - unless you are happy for us to use tax payers money ??

Our Christmas party (activity + dinner + drinks) is fully paid for us by our employer, as well as some lovely Christmas presents. At my previous work place (larger team & organisation) we had to pay for our meal & drinks but we could claim it back on expenses up to a value of about £35pp if I remember correctly. Both private sector.

I work for a local authority and we always have to pay for ourselves at Christmas do. £45 is a lot though IMO. Ours is £25 this year .

I've always paid for mine (public sector). DH's company pay for his (private sector).

Never had to pay for a Xmas do! We get £50 a head and free train/taxi/hotel if you need to travel and that’s just for the team lunch. There’s a bigger Xmas
Drinks too.

Public sector. Always had to pay.

NHS yes, always paid. We are not having anything again this year. Feel jealous reading the 'what are you wearing to office party' type threads.

I work for a big professional services firm where team meals out and Christmas/ summer dos are free. Dh runs his own business and either takes staff out for a do or gives them a bonus. Friends run a dental practice and the pay for their staff do.

I wouldn't go if you have to pay. £45 is too much if you're not well off.

We have always had to pay

Just say sorry you can’t go

@Hoolahupsaresquare

No I’ve never ever paid. Nor would I. Why on earth would I pay to spend time with my colleagues ? That’s work.

I like my colleagues.

I worked for a Swedish furniture store (you can probably guess where) and they organised great staff parties along with drinks tokens!
Everywhere else I've worked I've had to pay...

I've only ever worked private sector. It's been varied from full meal and drinks to free bar only to paying for everything myself. This year (I've only been in the company a few months) its a pay for everything yourself. Its not something I've thought of before. If the company has paid its been gladly received, but I've never expected it.

I'm a strange MNer who actually likes my collegues and considers my team as friends. Only on MN do people appear to hate the people they spend most of their time with. I've worked in places before where the team were awful so I left.