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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:
ILikTheBred · 10/02/2019 10:55

I don’t think it should come out of a company events budget, no.

However in almost every place I have worked the company always paid for a meal / a few drinks for the team to mark someone’s departure - as a thank you for service to date.

(I appreciate this is not the norm in public / voluntary sector however).

LellyMcKelly · 10/02/2019 10:55

It sets a dangerous precedent - everyone leaving will expect the company to bankroll their leaving do. She’s leaving so she’s of no further benefit to the company. There’s also no business benefit unless clients are invited to shmooze.

HollowTalk · 10/02/2019 11:02

I think the rules need to be tightened up here so that in situations like this you can refer them to the rules.

She's a CF - she isn't even going to be working for the company any more. She's invited too many people and is now regretting it - let her deal with it.

JenniferJareau · 10/02/2019 11:14

Heck no. If someone leaves, unless they are the CEO etc, there is never company funding for a leaving do.

QuimReaper · 10/02/2019 11:16

The accepted protocol in my place of work would be that her head of department would buy a few bottles of wine for the bar / a round for the group using their own card, and reclaim it on expenses. That way there's a small acknowledgment from the company but not an actual bankrolling of the event. (Or the HoD takes the team out for lunch, but that's not what's been arranged here.)

HaggisMcPhaggis · 10/02/2019 11:21

Again - another one saying this has to be a No for Tax reasons alone. It does not fit into the company events categories so would be be a taxable benefit! I am guessing that would not go down well at all.

She could ask if the company would be willing to put some ££ towards it - but not from this budget.

And - tbh - why would the company? She is leaving.

Jaxhog · 10/02/2019 11:28

I agree Op. Putting company money towards a celebration of someone leaving seems quite wrong to me too. You should be celebrating people STAYING!

cushioncuddle · 10/02/2019 11:33

I imagine there will be others on the committee thinking the same as you and will either state their concern first or back you.
She does not have a higher status for accessing the funds because she is part of the committee.

Icouldbehappy · 10/02/2019 11:38

Definitely not, as most people have stated.
(Wistfully wonders what it must be like to have events paid for by work)

WaddesdonWanderer · 10/02/2019 11:42

Omg a million times no, she is a total CF. Why should the company bankroll her leaving do? I think you might find that if you use company funds in this way the funding may well be cut in the future. Tell her to put her hand in her own pocket.

HazelBite · 10/02/2019 11:44

I can understand it for a retirement, (mind you I bankrolled my retirement do) but not for a leaving do sets a very dangerous precedent.

Parisbun · 10/02/2019 11:49

Its more about setting a precedent than pleasing the largest amount of people surely?
If it doesnt happen for everyone then it doesnt happen for this person.

As the mumsnet mantra goes ... 'No is a complete sentence '

TaimaandRanyasBestFriend · 10/02/2019 12:11

Wow, she is a CF. There really are some people who will ask for everything. Tell her NO.

BrokenWing · 10/02/2019 12:12

Don't wait to hear from the rest of the group, as soon as someone says yes that sets the tone for everyone else to say yes making it harder for you to say no.

Stand up for what's right and reply now and say sorry, while it would be great if the company subsided leaving do's they don't.

GemmeFatale · 10/02/2019 12:14

I’d do mini in office, in work time events to coincide with team members leaving/joining/life events.

So Friday morning breakfast butties - oh and by the way Brian and his wife have had a baby boy. Monday meeting doughnuts- oh and Joan from accounts is retiring this week. Hump day fresh fruit in the break room - because we did great in that sales pitch.

Original poster
toodlepipsqueaks · 10/02/2019 12:22

Thanks for further thoughts all! Just a few more votes for CF, then Wink

Exquisite point re tax implications, Logistria. It's a lot easier to share party poopery with the taxman Grin

*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?*

She's been with us for under 5 years. Not in a senior/management position as others mentioned. I completely follow you re numbers as it does indeed sound like it will be well attended, and whilst the budget we have left is good for this time of year, it probably won't stretch to a separate event other than something fairly informal in the office.

However, even if we can't get another of our own events in before the new budget, we have an annual drinks event coming up that management normally pays for. That's the best attended company event outside the ones we organise and I would feel more confortable boosting that with our remaining budget so that the drinks and nibbles go further than they have in previous years.

OP posts:
Original poster
toodlepipsqueaks · 10/02/2019 12:23

Sorry quote fail!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 10/02/2019 12:49

It's just a no, not appropriate.

If there were a social event already arranged and she tagged her leaving do onto that it would be completely different.

RiotAndAlarum · 10/02/2019 13:05

As members of this committee, you (and she!) must be above reproach in the way you handle this budget for the company. If she gets to use the fund for her own leaving do, that will look corrupt, because it is. This person is leaving, but you will have to deal with the consequences in morale (and possible complaints) afterwards!

Bringbackthestripes · 10/02/2019 13:16

Less than 5 years and leaving to go elsewhere? Nope!
If she had been with the company 30 years and was retiring then yes but I can’t believe she had the brass neck to even ask!

NatashaRomanov · 10/02/2019 13:24

Less than 5 years?
Flat out No!

What does the rest of the group think?

Gina2012 · 10/02/2019 13:29

No way! She's incredibly cheeky to ask
Confused

SavoyCabbage · 10/02/2019 13:47

It’s an outrageous suggestion. I can’t imagine even thinking this never mind asking.

MerdedeBrexit · 10/02/2019 13:49

Good grief, no! What a CF - and the main worry (apart from the taxman) would be that this would open the door for any other CF who fancied a leaving do at the company's expense. Not on.

NewPapaGuinea · 10/02/2019 13:57

A leaving do is not a company event, so a definite no from me. She just wants to benefit from one last subsidised outing.