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Original poster

Should I cancel the Christmas party?

58 replies

Youngatheart00 · 08/12/2021 10:22

About 40 of us are due to get together next Friday night.

Other departments are cancelling their parties but we’ve had no official guidance.

I am really torn about what to do - any advice?!

OP posts:
MissCreeAnt · 08/12/2021 10:23

take a vote.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 08/12/2021 10:25

No! No one is being forced to go. If people don't want to they don't need to.

Original poster
Youngatheart00 · 08/12/2021 10:40

A vote is a good idea.

I’m totally torn!

I don’t want to put people under pressure to attend but most of us really need the chance to let our hair down after a gruelling year. Likewise if there are lots of late drop outs we’ll end up wasting meals (not the end of the world I suppose)

OP posts:

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Events & celebrations
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/12/2021 10:42

I think if people don't want to go then it's up to them. I wouldn't be going but that's my decision.

TheCreamCaker · 08/12/2021 10:43

No, don't cancel. Go to the party, enjoy it.

Returnoftheowl · 08/12/2021 10:43

I think putting it to the vote is the most fair way.

DentalWorries · 08/12/2021 10:44

We’re having ours this Friday. So far I have only had one person drop out due to the risk and they are flying home for Christmas so understandably don’t want to take any chances.
I have sent out a strongly worded email about everyone doing lateral flow tests on Friday morning before they set off which a lot of people seem to feel is sufficient.

User378436 · 08/12/2021 10:45

Are you the one arranging it, probably let people know that there is no pressure to attend but it is probably best to know sooner rather than later that they don't want to go

Forion · 08/12/2021 10:46

Message from Downing Street is that parties are the way to go so crack on 😃

DockOTheBay · 08/12/2021 10:46

Don't cancel, some people will be keen to go and others won't. Maybe just send a memo that if anyone chooses not to attend then that is fine, although presumably they won't be able to get a refund at this late stage - not fair on the venue

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 08/12/2021 10:47

@Returnoftheowl

I think putting it to the vote is the most fair way.
Not really fair on the people who would still like to go though? No one is forcing the people who don't want to.
SirSamuelVimes · 08/12/2021 10:48

No - let people choose to come or not.

This is going to put a huge number of people in hospitality out of jobs.

JalfreziAtChristmas · 08/12/2021 10:58

Do the vote thing but I would point out that any covid caught at the party, or any omicron contact, would mean they can't celebrate Christmas outside their own home. People seem to have forgotten it's not just about having it and how ill you may be, but that any covid caught from this weekend onwards will affect your Christmas.

Thegreencup · 08/12/2021 11:02

Put it to the vote. That's what we did. And we didn't get a Christmas party. Angry But I think that's cos everyone I work with is a miserable git and nothing to do with covid.

Have people paid for this already? Will they get their money back if they don't go?

loobylou10 · 08/12/2021 11:03

Send communication saying what you've said here - still going ahead but no pressure to attend.

saraclara · 08/12/2021 11:05

We put it to an anonymous vote. The majority were still in favour, so it's going ahead (but is this week). We've made it very clear that we want people to do a same day LFT, and reassured people who are uncomfortable about attending, that it's absolutely fine and everyone's circumstances are different.

I wouldn't go to one next week though. Any consequences would have me spending Christmas alone..it's not worth the stress.

Bathmat1 · 08/12/2021 11:06

Make it non compulsory.

Problem is if one of you unknowingly has the new variant and the rest of you get contacted by track and trace you will have to isolate for ten days whether or not you're double jabbed.

Which means you won't be out until Tuesday 25th MINIMUM so no Xmas for you.

Bathmat1 · 08/12/2021 11:07

Sorry, Tuesday twenty EIGHTH December

Dashdotcom · 08/12/2021 11:09

Just think, what would Boris Johnson do? Grin

idontlikealdi · 08/12/2021 11:10

My firm have cancelled everything - if we go ahead we can't expense it.

Original poster
Youngatheart00 · 08/12/2021 11:36

Yes, it’s my call on what to do. The test and trace is key actually - as it would be dreadful if everyone was stuck in isolation by virtue of that, even if they didn’t actually catch covid

OP posts:
Bathmat1 · 08/12/2021 12:42

Our company have cancelled for thus reason - so people don't miss Christmas with their families and so the biz can continue to function. If everyone is in isolation we'd be fuct. Was going to be a big party though. I think these are good enough reasons to cancel, it's not about 'being scared ' of catching the virus

CrimbleCrumble1 · 08/12/2021 14:16

My DS went to his work Christmas party last week,
at twelve of the people who went got covid and most of the others have been asked to WFH this week.

MyDcAreMarvel · 08/12/2021 14:21

Yes cancel, the staff may have a choice whether to go or not. The general public they mix with a few days later won’t have a choice.

SirSamuelVimes · 08/12/2021 15:01

@MyDcAreMarvel

Yes cancel, the staff may have a choice whether to go or not. The general public they mix with a few days later won’t have a choice.
Surely the general public have a choice a out mixing with them? If you are that worried, dont mix. Order online shopping deliveries, work from home if you can, stick to a small bubble of people who have agreed to do the same minimal contact with outsiders that you have.

It is your choice to limit your lifestyle in this way. I fully understand some people wanting to so do. But your desire to do this shouldn't impact on or restrict my choice to socialise now, in line with all gov. guidelines.

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