Social events, why are people so fickle?

[Vintagecrap]

Its just so very frustrating.
I ( as part of a tiny team of 3 ) organised a big work summer party. Had to do it on the cheap, so we worked really hard and put a lot of our own work in making things like stocks, and coconut shys by hand.

Last years summer party wasnt well attended, maybe 25 people went at a cost of £2K. Feedback was that it was too expensive £5 to go and they had to buy their own drinks, that they couldnt bring anyone and that it was too drink centered. Work sets up a team of people o deal with this, we take it on board and organise a big family friendly party for free where people can bring their own booze if they want.
Attendance was better, but only because the people that did come brought people with them. 75% of people that said they were coming did not turn up. We have lost tons of money as we had paid for catering for the people who said they were coming.

Its incredibly annoying.

Same as if you organise a night out, sure as anything somone will pull out at the last moment and you will be left wondering if you should just cancel the whole thing.

Say to your managers that the 'whole team' thing isn't working, get them to split the budget into teams and cover for each other so each team can go for an extended lunch at some point over the year.

The 'all together' thing just doesn't work for your particular demographic/working pattern.

i dont think it does.

we have a drinks event in a month ( an extra one we have been forced into and we think noone will go to) also on a sunday, but most of the money is just going behind the bar, think it will be about 2 drinks per person.

if it works, then we will just do that in future, but if thats also a wash out ( which is what we expect) then we are going to have to have a serious chat with the branch manger about what they want us to do.

to be honest, im sat here wondering why the hell im even trying to sort this out, im not getting paid for it.

OP - Do the managers ever go to these events?
I think being limited to a Sunday evening is also an issue.
Forced fun is never something to look forward to.

yanbu its so irritating

I do think people are more fickle these days

They are meant to, but, this time, only one did, when we complained that none were coming and questioned why it wasnt being supported/ promoted.

If they arent going to go, i cant see how they can expect others to go, and i think thats an issue too.

Why on a Sunday? There's no way I'd go to a work social event at the weekend.

I'd definitely suggest just giving up on it. I think the Sunday night thing must make it very hard.

Can they not do more specific things for each shift or whatever? So a few beers/pizza in the workplace or whatever.

We do things like when the world cup was on - put the England game on in the boardroom and provide drinks/snacks etc.

I do think just smaller/lower key things work well. Less expectations from everyone.

because the place is open and people are working from 6am till 9pm, 6 days a week. on the 7th day people work from 9 -5.

we arent allowed to hold events when people work as its deliberately excluding people.

mrscampbell, i do agree, smaller has got to be the way to go.

Its public facing though, with different shifts, so impossible to do something that people can access during their working hours.

though honestly, thank you for all the ideas, im going to feed it all back and try to get everyone on board with a total rethink

could you possibly do stuff on different nights over the year - so over the course of a year most get a chance to attend if they want to?

But to be honest, if people aren't bothered - I'd just give it up and ask for the money to be used for buying everyone a bottle of wine/whatever at christmas.

I can understand your frustration but if it's held on a Sunday night I can see why there was a low turn out. And If you're down to work on Monday then you're even less likely to want to go.

Doesn't sound like folk are that bothered to be honest. Sorry your efforts have gone to waste though.

If it's outside of work hours then it is negotiable, unless it's in your contract that all work related social events must be attended and in your own time! I feel for you being lumbered with arranging it all OP...but really, lots of people just don't want to socialise with work colleagues in their precious own time, unfortunately some managers just can't see that!

I used to work in a group of companies where everyone hated or were completely dismissive of each other ..
Often they would put on fantastic prizes for people winning competitions or prizes. The winners wouldn't turn up.
Prizes were all expenses paid trips to Paris, NY, Barcelona, Rome etc
Or days out at Brands Hatch that kind of thing

I was once at a chef's table prize in a v post restaurant and only 3 of us turned up

Organised fun with people you are already forced to be with for 9 hrs per day...er no thanks

OP do you work at Aldi?

Ultimately, if managers want to improve morale, they should be looking at why morale in the workplace is low and looking at actual solutions, not just assuming that everyone just needs to get pissed with their colleagues (but not on works time!)

haha, i do not work at aldi. I bloody love that shop, but no, i dont work there.

I love the irony of ticking the investing in people box - by completely ignoring the fact that the people you employ do not want to attend work social events. Well done your foolish employers.

We have Friday night drinks once a month- the company gets some beers, wine and snacks out in the kitchen area (it's a big kitchen) and at 5pm everyone who wants to comes down for a drink or two before they leave. Probably 50-75ish people out of 350 people turn up. It's good as it's low pressure and doesn't really eat into either the weekend or productive time. The company also sponsors a mass participation sports event in our city once a year, and we get a load of free entries, so the people that are participating get together once a week for 3 mths before to practice. That's good because doesn't involve drinking, less pressure to make conversation for people that are a bit shyer, and you get to know people who work in a different part of the company to you.

What my work does is that you have to pay a £10 deposit to go to a social event. You then get that money back on the night plus a few drinks vouchers. It works quite well as you get fewer people saying they will go and them not showing up so you get a better idea of numbers.

It is annoying for organisers. But a lot of people have had quite enough of work by the end of the day or week and just don't want to socialise with work colleagues after hours. Some people do and some don't. There shouldn't be an obligation. It's nothing to do with money. Do these people really want to party with each other. Sounds like they don't. It's nobody's fault.

I think Sunday night is the social death zone time wise as well. If you're a working parent, you've been at work all week and then probably spent the weekend with the kids and doing admin/ housework. By Sunday night you're knackered and looking forward to a takeaway, Homeland and your PJs. I'm a bit of a social animal but even I can't muster much enthusiasm on a Sunday night.

As lovely as it sounds OP, I couldn't think of anything worse than this as I don't want to spend my spare time with work colleagues.

However, I would never say I was coming if I had no intention of coming as it's rude. I can definitely see why you are annoyed about the no-showers but unfortunately it will always happen.

How is it non-negotiable to not do it, but ok to nearly pull it due to lack of interest?

I can't think of anything worse than having to go out on a Sunday evening, and then have to spend that with colleagues. Shoot me now please.

People are not interested. They dont want to buy cakes, or come in to work in their pj's, or dress in red white and blue for the World Cup, or dress in gold for the olympics, or red nose day or dress up for halloween.

^

This. I don't attend most work events. I like the Xmas party (so I go) but only because I like the people in my department and there is a sit-down meal plus entertainment. I've only ever attended one summer party.

And if the work do was on a weekend, you would definitely not see me there. I want to be at home, with my family.