Christmas Work Parties

[Hoolahoophop]

Just wondering what expectations are?

Does your company pay for a works party?
Are you expected to pay yourself?

Previously we have had an office party - they put on some hot and cold buffet snacks and cold drinks (no alcohol we all drive) and a meal at a local restaurant partners included all paid for.

Is this usual?

Last year they offered a more 'team building' experience (bowling) couple of games paid for and snacks, some people went on for dinner together after but this was not paid for. - seemed a bit tight to me compared with previous years.

Just wondering what the norm was.

Thanks.

Horribly harsh!

Not at work now. Team leader would give us a tiny present maybe. Otherwise we brought stuff ourselves for the buffet to share and paid for any meals we ate out with whatever section we went with. Also we bought the presents for the secret Santa if we opted in to it, and coughed up £ after £ for whoever decided we needed more damn decorations round the desks.
As the world changed with time the last sad things left on the buffet table, three days later, stopped being the salted peanuts and started to be the Doritos.
Public sector.

My DH works for a small engineering firm. They have fully funded dinner and drinks at Christmas. Clearly very generous with the drinks budget - I have picked him and colleagues up now several times!

I have worked at several places where everything was paid, including taxis, and others where we had to bring our own food and drinks to the office. Both were fun.

We get ours paid for us. Small engineering firm. All food and drinks in a nice restaurant. They take us for an away day overnight every year and pay for everything. Plus several lunches and drinks in the year.

We pay for ourselves, but then everyone gets a Christmas cash bonus of about £30. That way you can choose to use it towards your party or not. The director typically will buy the drinks package or similar too.