To book our staff Christmas dinner on a Saturday

[Ricekrispie22]

Every year it’s always been on a weekday, but I’m exhausted when I get home from work and haven’t enjoyed them very much. This year, it’s my turn to book and organise it. I’d like to choose a Saturday evening, but not sure whether other staff would rather not do work events at the weekend.

I personally wouldn't as Saturdays leading up to Christmas are very busy and most people I know wouldn't give up a weekend day for it.

Maybe as a compromise do a Friday straight after work? Then those who want to can make a night of it and those that don't get stay for an hour or go.

Although you really should ask everyone!

Nah - id not go on a Saturday.

Just buy in some booze and pizzas and start drinking straight after the kids go home on the Friday. Do a quiz, get steadily more pissed, then anyone who wants to go out to town afterwards can do. Those who are tired can be home by 9pm.

I wouldn’t go if it was a weekend. Weekends are for family time in my house.

We have ours in January. So much cheaper.

We’ve done this in the past too. Last week end of Jan, before valentines kicks in. Nice to have something to look forward to.

Ask your colleagues, Friday is best IMO. We once did a Thursday and that was a mistake the day after...

I would LOVE ours to be on a weekday lunchtime. Especially if they did it late lunchtime and you didn't have to come back to the office.

How about Friday lunch time. So everyone finishes early that day?I wouldn't want it on a Saturday.

There is no way I would go on a Saturday and I doubt I am alone.

A late lunch seems better, say with the meal at 230pm.

It would be a no from me too, and I really like most of my colleagues.

Not for me. I have a life and friends outside of work and December is a manic party month anyway.

Colleagues I want to socialise with fine on a Saturday night. Work partys are part of work for me so preferably lunch but definitely a mid week evening if not!

So bizarre. I’ve only ever been to Christmas dos on a Saturday night. Hadn’t ever occurred to me that anyone would ever do one during the week. Guess it depends on your workplace. I’m in a job where getting 15 minutes to eat lunch is a surprising luxury (nhs) and the only way to get everyone together would be totally out of work time hence ours always on a Saturday and 90% of the team will come. The ones that don’t never ever socialise at all

Why would you ask Mumsnet before asking your colleagues?

No I would not attend a firm party on a Saturday. My weekends are taken up especially around the festive period. Our firm party is on a Friday night which I think is bad enough.

Surely it’s only one day a year. Just suck it up and be tired.
I wouldn’t go on a weekend

Straight After school on a Friday so go out at 4pm or whenever you knock off!?
I like that timing bow have DC as can have a great evening and still be in bed by midnight.

So you can't do lunch. I would say Friday evening next best thing but you need to crack on if you are going to find somewhere.

I wouldn’t go on a weekend, as it’s family time. Although I don’t particularly like work dinners anyway. Lunch is more sociable and suits more people

Would be perfect for me as we are usually exhausted by Friday so would enjoy it much more on the Saturday. It will of course depend on everyone else's thoughts and commitments but you've got in early so they have plenty of notice.

Weekends in run up to Christmas can be very full without a work event intruding ! (Use intruding purposely). Even if many say now ‘that sounds fine’ I would plan for a lot dropping out closer to, when other real life social things start to take precedence.
Weekend Child care and travel/taxis etc can become more difficult/expensive close to Christmas.

You might find that co-workers would agree as a one-off.

You need to ask them, explain your reasons, see what they think.

If the workforce all live locally, you're on friendly terms, and the parties have a reputations for being a good event, then people might well decide to attend whenever they are held.

But if scattered, with some commuting longer distances, there isn't much fellow feeling and the events have just an OK reputation, don't hold your breath

And miss Strictly? No.
Either a Thursday (hangover the next day might not be appropriate though) or Friday night.

I'd say not over my dead body but we have people at work whose social circles consists mostly of work friends, who would love this. Really depends.

I wouldn’t attend

How about Friday lunch time. So everyone finishes early that day?

She’s already said they’re teachers so can’t do a lunchtime.

I think the best solution is just to ask your colleagues in a quick hands up vote who would rather go out on a Friday and who would rather go on a Saturday.