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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to participate in the work christmas do as its too expensive..

96 replies

b584 · 29/11/2018 21:55

I work for a well know food retail company, They have some large stores but mainly convienience stores, Out of the 7 years I have worked in one of the smaller stores we have only had 2 christmas do's.

We are given £10 per employee towards it. it has been that amount since i've been there, over the 7 christmas's I have been there we have had 5 different managers, 2 couldnt be bothered to organise anything and arrange cover for the store so we were given the £10 in store stamps so we had to spend it instore,

The 2 times we have gone out have ended up costing about £60 per person as the managers have chosen where we go and once you have paid for a taxi there and back, then your drinks, meal. it soon adds up when the company is only paying £10 towards it,

We have a new manager now, been with us about 2 months, He has organised a christmas night out at a large pub/restaurant chain, A week before payday and even if it was on payday many of us cant afford it, We have 11 staff at the moment, 15 is about right for the size of our store so all fed up and overworked,

He is making some of us feel bad for saying we might not be going, To be honest I think we deserve more than £10 for the shit we put up with every day especially during the Christmas period with double deliveries, not enough staff and stressed out customers. And You would think that it would have gone up abit in the last 7 years.

Aibu to stick to my guns and not go or am I being a misery guts?

OP posts:
Holidayshopping · 29/11/2018 21:57

No one can force you to go! I have never worked anywhere that pays anything towards a Christmas do though, so would be happy with any sort of employer contribution no matter how small!

PumpkinPie2016 · 29/11/2018 22:02

YANBU to not go if you don't want to/can't afford it. However, I do think you are lucky the company contribute anything at all to it - many don't.

I'm not going on mine as it would involve train/taxi which add up plus the meal itself and drinks. I could technically afford it but I would rather save the money and use it for something else. Some colleagues are going, some are not for a variety of reasons.

Can you suggest something cheaper?

Invisimamma · 29/11/2018 22:05

If you don't want to go, don't go.

Could you skip the meal and just join them for a couple of drinks? Or don't drink alcohol and just have a main meal? That shouldn't be too expensive.

My work wants everyone to attend the Xmas lunch so we only have to pay £10 each (+alcohol) and we go during working hours.

EvaHarknessRose · 29/11/2018 22:05

I would say a breezy ‘I’m sorry, finances won’t stretch this year’ and tilt your head.

Drivenmad80 · 29/11/2018 22:06

I work for the NHS. Our Xmas do has been arranged by senior team members and it's £45.. I simply cannot stretch to that at this time of year. We don't get anything towards it either. I'd much rather we all just got together in town and had a few cocktails 😂

DanielRicciardosSmile · 29/11/2018 22:07

YANBU, I haven't been to a work Christmas do in nearly 10 years, and I'm far from the only one at my workplace.

ilovesooty · 29/11/2018 22:08

Of course you can decline if you wish.
My company doesn't contribute to our meal.

Pimmsypimms · 29/11/2018 22:10

Is it the Coop?? If so, then yanbu, their prices are so frickin expensive, they can definitely stretch to more than £10 per staff member!!!!

yorkshirepud44 · 29/11/2018 22:10

Crikey. I've never once had to pay to attend a work Christmas do and am feeling very fortunate now. One place dh worked actually flew us all abroad for 2 nights for their annual do. Shock

Where I am now it's a lot lower key but we're fully paid for, partners can go for £10 and it's a meal and drinks in a lovely venue with a band.

There shouldn't be any pressure if it's going to put you out of pocket though.

TheyBuiltThePyramids · 29/11/2018 22:11

If it's a COMPANY xmas do, then the company should pay. Otherwise if it's a voluntary thing, you choose whether you want to spend your hard earned cash or not.

DonnaDarko · 29/11/2018 22:12

I want to know which company this is, cos that is appalling. I work for an extremely small company and we still don't have to put anything towards our Christmas do

Youmadorwhat · 29/11/2018 22:16

@yorkshirepud I was just going to say the same thing!! I have worked in a few companies and restaurants throughout my teens and university years, I am a teacher and I have never had to spend money on a Christmas do!! I’m actually in shock 😮

Youmadorwhat · 29/11/2018 22:17

But for a more helpful comment, I would just pretend something else has come up that is free!! 🤣🤣

Kikithewitch · 29/11/2018 22:22

In contrast I work for a very large food retailer and our Christmas do is free, and that includes food and drink. They usually have wine on the tables and a paid bar if you want anything else.
We are having a department meal out as well which we obviously pay for ourselves.

Grinchly · 29/11/2018 22:24

That sounds horrible on every level.
I'd take the £10 vouchers though.

AllPizzasGreatAndSmall · 29/11/2018 22:24

I am a teacher and I have never had to spend money on a Christmas do!! I’m actually in shock
I've never heard of a school funding a staff Christmas do; what budget does that come out of?

Grinchly · 29/11/2018 22:24

That sounds horrible on every level.
I'd take the £10 vouchers though.

SkullPointerException · 29/11/2018 22:25

YANBU at all.

Also, shocked to read how many places seem to actually make employees pay for the privilege of attending the Christmas do.

I've worked for a ridiculously cheap employer before and even they paid for it all. My current firm goes all out and charters an entire club for exclusive use AND pays for hotel accommodation on top.

Never heard of any such thing in my life and probably wouldn't attend if they expected me to pay for the "pleasure" of being networked by lower downs while being expected to flatter higher ups myself. If I wanted to pay to get pissed and shag my boss, I'd simply turn up with a bottle of gin on a Friday. Would be cheaper.

Seniorcitizen1 · 29/11/2018 22:26

When I have worked in private sectir the company has always picked up the full bill, including taxis home. Now I own the business I have followed this oractice - however this year I asked staff if they want a night out or the cash equivalent (I hate these events) and all have elected for the cash. So each will have an extra £250 in their salary tomorrow. Hopefully this practice of christmas nights out will fall hy the way side over the next few years and save the business money.

Youmadorwhat · 29/11/2018 22:26

Allpizzasgreatandsmall I have no idea really I didn’t ask 🤣🤣 head just paid!! Maybe he paid the bill himself??🤔

OwlinaTree · 29/11/2018 22:27

I'm a teacher and we all pay for ourselves.

sparkleandsunshine · 29/11/2018 22:28

YANBU!! If they’re not paying for it they have no right to make you feel bad!! I’m in shock at so little contribution from them!! The last 2 companies I’ve worked for have done £35 per head and we never went for anything over that! My Xmas do this year is being paid for in full but some of the staff aren’t coming because they just don’t want to! And that’s totally fine because people shouldn’t be pressured into anything they don’t want to do!!

megletthesecond · 29/11/2018 22:29

Yanbu.
In 20+ years I've only had about 4 free Xmas do's. Plus one retailer who put £15 each towards it and the other years were local government or third sector, no Xmas do's there.

cariadlet · 29/11/2018 22:29

I am a teacher and I have never had to spend money on a Christmas do!! I’m actually in shock
I've never heard of a school funding a staff Christmas do; what budget does that come out of?

I'm a teacher and have never had my Christmas or end of year do subsidised. I thought it was standard to pay for yourself in the public sector.

HappilyHarridan · 29/11/2018 22:29

Was it a private school?