Work Hospitality

[Nootka]

I am not sure whether I aibu or not so as a long time lurker I thought I would ask on aibu.

Our department is very large and our boss allows each team within the department a set amount from the department's budget to spend on team hospitality per year. The amount varies from team to team as it is based on a per person amount as to who is in that team on 1st January. If someone joins in the year the team doesn't get extra money, but if someone leaves money does not get taken away either. So for example a team of 10 people would be allowed say £100 per person so £1000 to spend on team hospitality for the year. Some teams will spend it all in one hit at Christmas, others will have a couple of smaller drinks events throughout the year. The department does also have a whole department Christmas event as well which is separate to the team money.

Today one of my colleagues moaned that it wasn't fair that he doesn't drink so would prefer not to attend a team event and have the money instead. These events are not about getting shit faced at all, just about going out as a team for food and a few drinks. Whether you drink alcohol or soft drinks you don't have to pay so you are not losing out. He was adamant that he would prefer to be given the money, but it doesn't work like that.

AIBU to think he is out of order? He doesn't have to attend, it's not compulsory.

He’s bang out of order and An ungrateful twat

He sounds like a Miserable sod.

Well he can prefer all he likes, the cash isn't on offer is it! There are always miserable so and so's like this in any workplace IME - I tend to say to them that if they don't like the social events on offer it would be more productive to make suggestions about stuff they'd rather do instead of grousing about it. They never do though...

I don't drink and always find that works things include money spent on drink or bills split in restaurant include wine. Unless people have been ordering champagne I just suck it up.

A work do is to provide a night out and he is getting that whether he choses to drink or not. I suspect he just doesn't want to socialise with you all.

Ungrateful miserable sod. I'd remind him that not all companies have a hospitality budget (I've never worked anywhere that does).

If we had to pay for ourselves then absolutely agree that people should pay for what they consume. Our team is lovely and no one takes the piss.

It is absolutely fine not to attend, as I said it is not compulsory, but I was astounded that he thought he should be given the money if he doesn't. He knows that is never going to happen, but is put out about it.

LOL at "ungrateful twat".