Work Christmas do

[Sparklesandspandexgallore]

Hi,

Just thought I’d start a conversation about how others feel about their work’s Christmas do.
I won’t be going to mine- again.
Reasons:

1. there is zero employer contribution. All employees pay for absolutely everything themselves.
2. It falls on my birthday weekend so I’ve made plans to do something else.
3. my work bestie refuses to go.
4. I’m not close enough to those that go to warrant spending £££ on an evening out with them.
5. the last one I attend, I ended up having to sit next to a new employee whom I had never met. It was ok but bearing in mind I had to pay for the entire evening, I did feel miffed that I couldn’t sit on the same table where my closest work colleagues were seated.

How dues anyone else feel?
I imagine if the event us free it makes a difference.

If they organise a lunch, ie. Within your contracted hours, and pay for it then they can force all the fun they want! Otherwise you are perfectly entitled to say no. I wouldn’t feel bad about it at all.

went to mine last year, what a shambles!! Definitely will not be going this year.

In my old job we paid for ourselves, I went a few times but it was always on a Friday night and I stopped after a couple. Friday nights in December can be filled with far more fun things imo.
Where I am now the meal and a couple of drinks are provided and it takes place during the work day - I go but I get on with my colleagues and a lot of us meet up socially anyway.

emmm ok calm down. All I said was I would never pay to attend something like this.

I understand some places don’t pay for parties I just haven’t ever worked at one.

No, you called the organisation cheap…

Ours is paid for but it falls on a day I don't work (and in November!)

I've been WFH since 2020, don't drink and have zero interest in networking so it's a no from me.

I have only attended Christmas parties/lunches in workplaces where I genuinely enjoyed my co-workers company.

The last organisation I worked for was awful so I did not attend any organised social event or the Christmas party.

I also would not attend if I was expected to pay a lot of money for a party and meal. I have more important things to spend my money on...

😂😂

I will only go if it's paid for, and during the day.

We get a contribution but I won't be going because it's never very good. This is not the fault of the organiser - it's a fact that unless you pay £££, any Christmas event will consist of crap, mass-catered food, usually served late with long intervals because they have as few waiting staff as they can get away with. Followed by a disco playing music I've never heard of. Too little booze and everyone leaves early; too much and at least one person gets drunk and makes an arse of themselves. No thanks!

Absolutely love my colleagues and definitely enjoy our Christmas get together even though we have to pay for it ourselves (also work in a school) - it signifies end of term and kick starts the Christmas holidays with a bang. Appreciate I might be in a lucky minority!

Years ago when I worked in sales we had paid for events and they were always dire...one ended with the two top sales people doing a tonne of coke and getting into a brawl in the middle of the marquee dance floor!

Christmas do is paid for by the company, I rather prefer not to join in but if it’s during work and I’m working I have no option , I like everyone at work but not close to anyone , would prefer not to have to join in any work socials but it does tend to make you a bit of an outsider if you don’t show your face occasionally

This. We don't even get a contribution, we're expected to pay 50 odd pounds for a "party night" at a local hotel and the last couple of times I've been the food was pretty minging and the drinks were expensive so I no longer bother.

Work Christmas parties where you have to pay yourself, are the worst. One I went to ended in 3 grievances and someone getting sacked, alongside complete awkwardness at work as people inevitably took a side.

So frankly I’d rather not engage with them. You’re basically on a night out with people you barely know. That means you need to be vigilant of what everyone’s drinking and saying etc I’d much rather just celebrate Christmas with 1-2 people I’m close with at work separately.

I’ve worked in places where staff & a +1 were paid for, places where you just pay for the +1 and now where we pay for ourselves and the +1 if they’re coming.

When I was younger I loved them - if I could stick with the ones I got on with. I hated one period where attendance was mandatory & they also invited clients so you couldn’t relax.

Not sure if I’ll go this year; it’s an evening meal in a pub, on Mad Friday. Definitely not my comfort zone. I need to decide by the end of this week & I know DH will have other commitments that evening so I’ll be on my own if I do go.

We get £40 per person towards food (you have to buy your own drinks) and it's held during work time. I do like most of the people I work with so I do go and enjoy it. The tricky part is trying to make sure you get sat next to someone you like for the meal. 😂

It's not a work do if work are not paying? I'd pass

I think all employers should pay for things like this for staff morale. I've never understood the sackcloth and ashes public sector approach. Then these employers wonder why they struggle to get staff

Ours is paid for, so I will go if I'm free .
Generally it depends on the social mix. If its with a group of ppl that I know and like its worth going.

If there's a chance I'll end up talking to someone I Don't know well for the evening it isn't worth it.

I used to have a colleague who said every year ‘not on my time, not on my dime’ . Fair enough

Public sector so ours are not paid for. We have a team meal which I do go to because I like my team. Then a wider one which I don’t because I don’t want to spend my money on socialising with people I don’t particularly like

Agree, my previous employer would allow the whole team to have the afternoon off - and even then it still felt like a chore 😅. But when they stopped doing that I never attended anymore I must admit.

I’ve been been 3 work Christmas parties in 40 years

I just say ‘ no thank you’ - I’ve never felt any pressure to go.

Enforced fun is my idea of hell

Ours used to be all expenses paid but the last few years the drinks budget has either been minimal or non existent.
i haven’t been to one since before lockdown.
its a Friday night, id rather be at home in my PJs, the food is usually pretty crap, you can’t have a proper conversation because the music is too loud, a small number of people always end up having far too much to drink and our office is now so big i don’t even know who most people are!