To ask how much you pay for your office Christmas party (if you have one)

[Meikyo]

My work Christmas party is tonight but I decided when it was announced in September not to go as I think it is too expensive. Party is a meal and disco at a museum venue (ie not a fancy restaurant) and is £75 per head - includes 2 drinks vouchers. I reckoned that with taxis to and from venue (even sharing) and a couple of additional drinks then cost would be over £100. Organisation is publicly funded so no contribution from company - whole cost to be paid by staff which is fair enough. However, out of a total staff of 25, 10 are not going...not sure if down to cost. I would rather spend the money on presents for my family instead. What does your office party cost you?

Public sector, we organise and pay for our own team lunch - this year's is £15 for food plus whatever you want to spend on drinks.

IT consulting, global corporation. We don't pay anything, company even pays for the open bar.

Went to DH's last night at a hotel. Company paid for first drink, meal and wine/water on table. Buy own drinks at bar later. They also pay for taxis both ways which I think is fab (about 100 incl. partners attend).

Public sector, three course lunch with soft drinks would be £40, plus fiver for "optional" secret santa, senior team pay for booze. I just moved teams so had two invites, declined both, I can't drink as drive every evening, and always end up stuck sober sat next to people I'd rather avoid!

Nothing at my present job or DH's, unless you decide to stay at the hotel or use taxis, which you pay for. Both do dinner in a hotel with dancing, casino or similar, partners invited and free too. Small, local company, great CEO in both cases.

In my last job everything was organised and paid for by the staff themselves. THe last few years (it closed down) nobody bothered organising a company wide one (75 or so people) because it was too much hassle and so much moaning from certain people about what was chosen. Individual depts/groups just organised their own. Large multinational corporation. Tight as a gnat's arse management.

The job before that was good - individual depts organised their own night out, usually in restaurants, with partners and paid for themselves. The company also put on an all expenses paid piss up in the staff restaurant one evening (no partners invited, lots of food, real ale, lots of wine, disco, party games) - it was great. This one was also an offshoot of a large multinational but very much locally run and with good management.

Big four firm. Everything is free. 3 course meal and alcohol. :)

A team of 13 in the public sector, so we choose and pay for our own. Last year was a £40 hotel dinner with disco, but that caused a lot if moaning about the price. Last night we went to the local wetherspoons, £13.25 each for three courses and a drink included, we had our own waitress so table drinks service. The drinks kept on flowing! The food was great, too; much better than the carvery style stuff in the hotel last year.

That is expensive and I wouldnt go. Ours costs 10 euro for the rank and file, 50 for a middle manager, 100 for a senior manager, and the big cheese stumps up most of all. It's on the premises and is simple with home grown entertainment (silly videos, cabaret acts).

Ps also public sector so no entertainment budget

£4 this year. My employer pays £30 and we only have to pay what's left - we managed to get a deal at a posho hotel for xmas buffet, dancing, party games and a 'free' drink each for £34. It was fab

Ours is £25 per head for meal and disco, we have asked them to pay £20 each but have actually paid for the meal as a company and will be putting the £20 per head behind the bar to cover drinks although our staff don't know this yet.

I didn't want people attending just because its a free night out, so we now have people going that actually want to celebrate the year togeather. Although I've organised it all I can't go because I'm not well and haven't been in work all week

Wow wow wow! £75 base cost before taxis?? Nope. I'd not go either! I think 3 course meal up to £25 and then for me it'd be £10 taxi there and back (apart from the not drinking this year as I'm 31 weeks pregnant)! Any more and I'd resent it and be thinking the whole night "I could have spent £75 going to a fantastic gig/amazing meal with DH".

I am jealous of all your xmas do's. Need a new job I think!

I am a teacher - I thinks ours was £25 for a meal and disco.

We also have a formal meal on the last day of term after the children have left which we do not pay for. Always very nice.

My partner works for the private sector his Christmas do is free, we also get taken out by various clients.

Blue lights are you not just putting off people who would really like to go but can't afford £25 plus drinks.

Ours was free except for £5 on the split cab fare home. Departmental do is next week, that's £25 for food plus drinks, bosses normally cover the meal and drinks with it, but there will no doubt be drinks and possibly dancing afterwards, so will probably spend about £30 plus cab fare.

I haven't read this entire thread however I'm shocked that people pay for something like this.

I\ve never worked anywhere (and I'm 40+) that I've been expected to pay. If I had I wouldn't have gone as I really don't like forced organised events like this.

I think it's obscene that you are being asked to pay for this.

Eliza imagine the Daily Mail headlines or even the MN threads if teachers didn't have to pay for their Christmas do.

Aria we did discuss that but came to,the conclusion that £20 was a fair amount to ask for.

I'm hoping it will be seen as a nice gesture and will be appreciated, they have worked hard this year and we want them to know we know it.

We have a buffet lunch and all take a contribution. There is an evening do at a local pub which is £30 a head but I don't go to that as it's unaffordable for me.

I have only worked in two full time jobs and both Christmas parties were free.
Accountants- large office meal approx 70 people, bit swish, meal and wine free but pay bar, disco etc.
Auctioneers- smallish business, approx 15, meal out in local restaurant, wine included. The first two years spouses and partners were included too!

Arisbottle - of course, and quite right too. Public sector is different. I've only worked for private sector (well I did a short stint in public sector and found out it wasn't for me)

OH pays a lot for his.... Because its HIS company and he pays for everyone and all the there OHs too.

They don't pay a penny, but then they work bloody hard all year, and deserve it.

This year a couple of new staff were saying they weren't sure they could afford it, and were delighted to be told they don't need to pay a penny, (except transport)

I bet I win the prize for crappest company Christmas 'party'. Well, it's not actually a party but it's the only thing the beggars do. Get this: we have a meeting, in the basement meeting room. Then after an hour of yak yak yak, it's lunchtime, hurrah! Only we have to bring in our own food - everyone brings in a dish. Then we get to eat our own food. But hey, there are SIX whole bottles of cheap wine!

This is not an organisation on its uppers. My division made £650,000 profit this year...

We have these too. They're called 'fuddles' here. They seem to be the standard office party in our sector. We bring our own food. And our own drink. And alcohol isn't allowed. So do I win the prize then?!