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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be the company party pooper

51 replies

toodlepipsqueaks · 10/02/2019 10:09

Hello all,

I'm on the events committee at work. We're lucky enough to have fairly free rein from management about the types or event we put on within the allocated yearly budget, although there is a general feeling that we should aim for them to have as wide an appeal as possible (so nothing too niche as to rule certain groups out, not just evening drinks events, etc.).

One of our group is leaving the company in a few months and has asked whether some of our remaining budget for the year can be put towards the leaving drinks she's organised as more than half of the company have accepted the event invitation.

I'm waiting to her from the rest of the group but AIBU to feel an instinctive "no"? On one hand our budget is looking healthy and if a lot of the company go in a way it seems to have met our aim of pleasing as many people as possible. However I'm just not sure in principle that we can allocate company funds to one specific person - even if attendance looks healthy there will be people who might not feel comfortable going because they don't know/like the person and so are ruled out at the outset. It could also set a tricky precedent - if we now get lots of requests for support for individual events how do we decide what gets funds?

Am I just being a stick in the mud and will end up forever known as the party pooper that ruined that night? Blush She's already told quite a few people in the company that there should be some money behind the bar but I can't help but feel she's being a bit of a CF to expect the company to bankroll it... thanks all for your thoughts!

OP posts:
milienhaus · 10/02/2019 10:11

Yeah that would be a no from me - they’re leaving the company so they don’t get company funding!

superram · 10/02/2019 10:11

No money-if she wants to put money behind the bar then fair enough but the company shouldn’t pay-unless it pays for everyone’s?

TeenTimesTwo · 10/02/2019 10:11

I agree with you.

Seeleyboo · 10/02/2019 10:13

Categorically no. She shouldn't assume either that there would be a funded bar. If you go with that request where would it end. A wedding party, engagement, baby etc and so on. Keep a professional head and decline based on you can't donate for individuals.

Birdsgottafly · 10/02/2019 10:14

She's being a CF.

It will also cause a feeling of resentment and sour what is a good system and a good company policy.

You'll then have to justify why this event was given part of the budget and other people's celebrations can't be.

It would be different if you had a month to spend the rest of the budget and nothing to spend it on.

When is the cut off date, is it April to April?

trooth · 10/02/2019 10:14

Definitely a no. She's leaving the company, she surely can see it's totally cheeky to ask the company to pay out? And like you said, what about any other personally arranged events going forward.
These budgets are for thinks like the Christmas do, summer bbq party etc not one individuals leaving drinks!

milienhaus · 10/02/2019 10:14

Also this is a social event which is already planned so now you can use your extra money for an additional event and people will be happier than if there was only one event.

raviolidreaming · 10/02/2019 10:15

I agree with you. It sets an awkward precedent and is unfair on those who don't like her / didn't work directly with her / don't care that she's leaving. Company funds shouldn't be specifically in favour of one person and certainly not someone who's leaving.

FrancisCrawford · 10/02/2019 10:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StealthPolarBear · 10/02/2019 10:18

Have you been in mn long? People hate socialising with colleagues

Original poster
toodlepipsqueaks · 10/02/2019 10:19

Thanks all! The budget indeed runs April to April and there are other firm wide events we can boost if it comes to it. The company has never paid for/contributed to anyone's leaving do apart from in cases of retirement. Really struggling to see how I could say yes in good conscience!

OP posts:
MaggieAndHopey · 10/02/2019 10:20

I work in the voluntary sector - no way would this happen in my organisation. If your colleague were retiring, then we might put some money towards the cost of a retirement dinner, but not for a leaving do, that's ludicrous.

IWantChocolates · 10/02/2019 10:20

Definitely a no. Otherwise it'll become expected for leaving drinks. It's her problem if she's a) invited everyone and b) told people there's money behind the bar.

CalmdownJanet · 10/02/2019 10:25

A definite no, you are opening the flood gates and setting a precedent for every leaving party, next time it will be "oh but you paid for drinks at Carols party.

Besides that she sounds like a pain in the ass that is full of her own self importance so I'd say no and get some pleasure out of it too

cuppycakey · 10/02/2019 10:29

Absolutely not, no.

ChakiraChakra · 10/02/2019 10:30

Nooooooo.

Every Tom Dick and Harry will want some for birthdays, engagements, funerals, weddings, arriving, leaving, retiring... much easier and fairer to have a rule not if it's for a specific person.

Purplecatshopaholic · 10/02/2019 10:33

No way - when would it end, people leave jobs all the time!

BlueJava · 10/02/2019 10:36

No - you can't have a company funded (or partially funded) leaving do for one and not another.

Logistria · 10/02/2019 10:39

Are you aware from a tax perspective that if the company pays for her leaving party that is treated as a reward for service? And is therefore taxable?

And also, although there is a tax exemption for annual events it does not apply to one off events - which is what this would be.

So the company would have to treat it as a benefit in kind and pay all the associated tax and NIC.

I doubt that's what your budget is for or includes.

Just say no, the proposal is outside of what the budget/policy covers.

SilverySurfer · 10/02/2019 10:39

Definitely a CF. Unless you do the same for every person who leaves, why should her leaving do be paid for by the company?

sackrifice · 10/02/2019 10:40

What is your staff turnover like?
What would the approximate cost/year if all leavers had a funded event?
What would the protocol be if two went in the same week, would you need to spend twice as much on that event to appear to be fair?
What about if someone joined and left in a short space of time, potentially money is going on their do that they may not have contributed to?

I'd do the maths and work out that it would be infeasible to support all leavers dos.

reluctantbrit · 10/02/2019 10:45

I volunteer in a similar role in my company and would come up with a categorical No. the only times the company paid for single employees celebrations are retirements and milestone like 25 years anniversaries etc.

A leaving do - that is ridiculous.

AWishForWingsThatWork · 10/02/2019 10:52

Unless the company traditionally helps fund leavers events for everyone, then the answer should be a firm No, that's not what this money is for.

Whisky2014 · 10/02/2019 10:52

Hang on. How long has she been there? If its a fair amount of years I do think you could put some money towards it. You say you have a healthy budget and it's renewed in April? So is there other stuff planned that will use up the budget in the next fee months?

Half the comoany expected to go..that's a good amount no?

Trills · 10/02/2019 10:53

Nope. Your leaving do is your personal business.

A leaving do MIGHT be company business if it was someone very important to the company (a founder? a CEO?) but it doesn't sound like this is the case here.