To ask if you're going to your Christmas party?

[Ragevibration]

I'm not.

I can't stand all but 4 people for the 38 hours I have to spend with them and would rather scrub my kitchen floor with a toothbrush. Please it's assigned seating (I thought it was a Christmas reward not a punishment!!!!)

Am gutted I am missing a free meal and bar though!

I have to go as our party is in the afternoon and organisation gives us the afternoon off to attend. If we don't attend, we have to work the full day.

I m not looking forward to it as it's usually pretty awful. Just going to leave as soon as the opportunity presents.

I love our Christmas do each year. I really enjoy getting the chance to chat informally outside of work.

BUT I have just discovered some information that has completely humiliated me in work, and I'm really struggling to deal with it. I think I will probably have to report sick and miss both the Christmas quiz and the do. I'm gutted tbh, but I have to try to concentrate on myself.

I didn't go last year and felt a misery for not going. So going this year as it's one time you can let your hair down and have fun with people who work hard together. No freebies as work for NHS.

yes. we're a really small team, so it's super-awkward to wriggle out of it. At least this year we're going in January, so no overpriced turkey set menu, and I like the restaurant that's been chosen. I'll buy a round after the meal and then make my excuses.

I work for myself so no party.
I sit alone at my desk wearing a party hat and eating brussel sprouts.

I haven’t been to a Christmas party for a decade. And that’s how I like it! They are colleagues, not friends and I’m not spending my free time and money with them!

Yes. But I like my colleagues and that makes all the difference. Plus it's just drinks down the local, not a meal or anything so if it's crap I can leave after a couple.

No I'm not going. I have something else on the same night and I'm not really keen on the venue where it's being held.

I do think, though, that some people feel that not going to the office party makes them superior to those who are. It doesn't. Some people like parties, some don't. Some people have been to loads over the years and just want to step back now, others are still at the stage where the office party is a novelty.. Some people work in a friendly environment, some don't etc etc etc.

But grandstanding about not going because Gawd I have to spend all day with these boring people is a bit silly and supercilious.

I’m going to mine. And for drinks with dear friends from my old place too. I love it!

Yep defo - good opportunity to network surely?

Yes, it's next week and for about 400 people, so plenty of choice on who to spend the evening with. I have friends in other depts. that I see out of work, but dont work with so it's nice to have a few free cocktails with them at works expense.
It's usually pretty good with various entertainments (band early on, DJ later, casino games, variety of food, free bar) and they provide shuttle buses to various points of the city hourly from about 10pm till it's over at 2am. The drawback is that there is a always a theme - not required to dress up, but it's appreciated if you do. This year is The 80s. I don't really do dressing up, though I might dig out my old walkman and a few tapes to accessories with.

Yup. Its on works time, nice meal and some afternoon drinking for free.

I will leave after the afternoon bit though. About two thirds to this, with the rest heading up town to carry on.

No this is one of the main reasons I've been self employed most of my working life