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

fuck that for a game of soldiers I wouldn't go

Corporate law and never paid for a works Christmas party in my life

Civil servant here - we always pay for our own section lunch or dinner and drinks, and for the Dept-wide event (drinks (pay bar) and dancing in a function room with some finger food). And managers put in money to cover cost of pizza and beer for a gathering of the Division (about 60 people, with 9 managers covering costs; we use an empty meeting room after hours to cut costs).

The only part partially covered is that it's the sports and social club who organise the department wide event, and if you are a member paying your subs every paycheque, you get 50% reduction on cost of the ticket.

So Christmas is expensive for work socialising.

My employers pay for ours. Always have.

I once worked in Private Equity and it was all paid for. In fact they hired chefs and a decorator and it was held in the (very fancy) boardroom. Gifts for the admin cost more than any presents I bought for my own family. They also chartered a private jet and took us all skiing every year.

Now, I work public sector so have to pay for myself if I want to go - the person who organises it chooses somewhere with shit food and we're forced to do secret santa. I do not go.

When I worked for HMRC companies could spend £77 per employee per year on "events" and claim against their tax. Anything over that was considered a benefit in kind and the employee could be liable to tax. Obviously not usually enforced.

I've never had to pay for a Christmas work do! Shocked to hear that others have! I wouldn't be paying £45 out of my own pocket for something my employer has organised! Just say you already have plans xx

I've always had to pay but I've always worked in the public sector.

Yes, we have to pay. We are public sector so organise a party ourselves but apparently the sports and social team hope to put something towards it. It’s £45 too so hoping to get a bit back!

Exactly this in anywhere I have ever worked

Normal. We always paid. The company which is a very large international company. Paid for a bottle of wine per table and a part of ticket It was average £40for staff £60 partners.. Only went once as was shit.

My boss used to pay for it but now the business is a bit bigger and she has more employees she just pays for part of it and we pay the rest.

Of course you can say no, you don’t have to say why. But £45 is normal.

We have a whole company staff Xmas party which the company pays for, we then have a department Xmas meal which we pay for ourselves but that’s only because everyone has been in the department donkey years (I’m the newbie at 10 years) and actually like each other!

Teacher / always pay although we do get a crappy school Xmas lunch but we have to pay for that too.

I've not worked for anyone else for over a decade but my previous jobs were all paid for by the employer, retail, office and sales. Now I have my own business we pay for our staff, it's a nice thank you at the end of the year and the staff seem to like it!

I’ve had a few jobs that give the team a certain amount , so they contribute?
But my work place now,doesn’t pay for them. I’ve never been hahaha 7 years on ..
go for an after work Friday drink in December with just your team. You’ve been social and your in control of what you eat and drink. Cos generally the foods crap anyways lol

Always paid my own public sector/charities. Also wouldn’t be paying £45 for it. Way too much for what us a generally shit mass produced roast dinner.

I go to both my own and DH’s work do (which I dread all year, but that’s a whole other thread) and both are paid for by the company.

“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.”

As true! I like the idea of the tea/coffee test at work as a crude guide as to how you’re treated by your employer ie. are you provided with free tea and coffee while at work. Such a simple thing but so important in our culture.

PS. I work in the Nhs and it’s be unthinkable that we(frontline clinical staff) would be provided with tea and coffee. Bring your own our there’s tap water! 😀

Depends what's included. It's fine. If you think it's too much, make your excuses- say you are busy.

I work in the third sector, for our entire organisation party night and meal we contribute a small amount and the organisation covers the rest (we’re a small local charity), for our team lunch we all pay the full amount (usually around £25) but the managers shout the table drinks and first round in the pub afterwards.

@Fupoffyagrasshole

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

Lots of us work in the public sector. You wouldn't expect the government to pay for Christmas meals would you?

Companies can claim tax back if staff entertainment per person is less than £150. This is a whole year allowance. So for example, if the deal they have struck with venue is £1000 (100 people attend), they can claim tax back leaving 800 cost to be divided by 100 people. Therefore £8 a head costs etc. So if company are not asking everyone to pay £10 per head they are being fair. If they charge everyone to pay £10 AND they reclaim tax, that is fraudulent tax claim.

I have never worked anywhere that has asked for payment for the Christmas party! I wouldn't go if I had to pay. At my last place partners were allowed to go free too, and all have included all drinks.. my current work even pay for taxis afterwards!