Work Christmas do- so many drop outs! Never organising again!

[NameChangeLifeChange]

Just that really. It's tomorrow. Booked for 30 originally, 30 people up for it and put names down. By 2 weeks ago with deposit and food choices due we were down to 16 (inevitable some drop outs and times are tough). Today (so far...)we are down to 12.
I feel really bad for the venue as they're down over half the amount of people expected. Late drop outs will pay the full amount for their meal but obviously less spent on booze etc.
Also just stress and faff etc when not needed. Aaargh just come if you say you will or don't agree in the first place!
I'm worried more will drop out and we will end up a piddly group of 4 with the venue owners looking at us furiously
Rant over. NEVER AGAIN!

It is a thankless task! Glad I am not involved now!

Infringement is in the eye of the beholder. My time is full with a side business, family, dog, DIY, garden, travel, etc. --- and I celebrate the festive season with friends.

We can connect over lunch or over some sort of party in the afternoon at the workplace -- on the clock.

I've ne er worked anywhere where work has paid for a Christmas party.

I think money is so much tighter for people than it used to be that anything work related that requires people shelling out is going to be tricky.

I've noticed that younger people in the office won't let me buy a drink if I'm getting a round and they all just buy their drinks individually. I assume it's because they won't be able to reciprocate. If you are in a junior - middling role in the public sector you just don't have the cash.

I've worked in a variety of places for 30 years and have never worked anywhere where the workplace paid for the Christmas party.

I've worked in a variety of places for 35 years and my employers have always paid for the Christmas party, without exception . Must depend on the industry.

Never in a million years would I go to a work do I had to pay for, not surprised so many have dropped out if that's the case.

I have always had work Christmas parties paid for. In my last place it is pretty much the right of passage for new graduates to organise the party when they start in September (supported by one of the managers). It usually takes a few weeks to get them up and running so this keeps them busy and get to know the wider team

Last years group got invited to bars that they had requested quotes from for wine tasting. As the supervising manager I had to go along to support them and stop them blowing the budget 😀

Last year we had loads of drop outs before the day and on the day itself as Omricon was just starting to kick off. Loads of buffet and pre paid drink left which the bar let us take home. I got two very nice bottles of wine that were consumed on Christmas Day

My new company is just having a lunch. We don’t need to go back after it but it’s usually done by 4 apparently which sounds very boring for a festive party. My old work is having theirs that evening and I have been invited to pop in which I think I will do

It's quite possible that the office Christmas Party has had its day. That's the feeling I'm getting from reading these responses. People honestly don't want to be bothered any more but are reluctant or afraid to say 'no thanks', lest they be dimly judged. We all know that judgemental behaviour is frowned on on MN!

My life is also 'full' but it's possible to do all the things you mention and do one night a year of a work Christmas party. If you don't want to or don't fancy it that's one thing but to suggest it's some sort of infringement of your oh-so-precious personal time makes me 🙄 a bit. In my experience the people most likely to come to these kind of social engagements, to get in the spirit of things and kick their heels up are in fact the busiest people with the 'fullest' lives. There is an air of condescion in some posts here, as if only saddos with nothing better to do would go to something so naff as a work Christmas party. Or as if there's something strange about having true friendships at work. I figure we spend so much time there that we should make it as pleasant- even enjoyable - place as we can.

I have never done anything work related that is not In work time and I'm being paid to attend.
I like my colleagues but I like to spend my free time with my friends and family

Work occupies 30 waking hours of 47 weeks of my year.

My friends and family see me a fraction as much as my work colleagues.

I remember the excitement of my work’s Christmas do when I was 25 and fancied my future DH so much and was convinced that the work’s Christmas do would be when we got together. We didn’t - it was four months later but still - that excitement was amazing.

All other work Christmas do’s have ranged in horrendous banality to young and being in London wined and dined by our publishers and eating at some amazing restaurants to just a simple, lovely team lunch in Holborn.

Not a fan these days, generally can’t be bothered now we have young kids, and working from home makes going into central London feel like a big faff.

Oh but how well did the Office Christmas special capture the magic and crashing mediocrity of the office Christmas party 🥰😂