Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book our staff Christmas dinner on a Saturday

169 replies

Ricekrispie22 · 04/09/2019 05:58

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.

OP posts:
NotTerfNorCis · 04/09/2019 07:31

Friday would be best. Then people can lie in on Saturday without needing to give up their weekend.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 04/09/2019 07:33

Sorry, that would be a NO from me.

Jenasaurus · 04/09/2019 07:33

The alternative would be for you to book annual leave the day after 😀

AMAM8916 · 04/09/2019 07:33

I would prefer a Saturday. My work do's are always on a Saturday

LaBelleSauvage · 04/09/2019 07:33

No chance.

What about Friday lunchtime if the company will allow an afternoon off?
Everyone home at normal time, unless they want to stay late, and it eats into company not personal time.

LaBelleSauvage · 04/09/2019 07:34

Sorry just read your reply. Friday after work then. Honestly I think most people like to keep their Saturdays.

Doodle poll it

Paddington68 · 04/09/2019 07:35

If you are teachers does the school do its own meals.
I have been to a school staff Christmas party on the last day of term. Kids finish 1 ish and the lunch was at 2.30pm in the dining hall.
It was lovely.

BlueJava · 04/09/2019 07:37

Do a survey and see what everyone votes for. Personally I wouldn't go on a Saturday (but it wouldn't bother me).

Tumbleweed101 · 04/09/2019 07:40

Personally I prefer Saturday as I finish late on Fridays which tend to be the main other option. Last year was a rush to get ready and back out.

edgeofheaven · 04/09/2019 07:41

Many people may not be able to attend if they have friends or family engagements already. Then add in those who just don't want to give up a Saturday night for a work do, those who commute a distance so don't want to do it 6 days that week, etc.

rookiemere · 04/09/2019 07:43

Why not a Friday? That way you get to recover over the weekend but those colleagues who live out of town don't need to make a second trip in. I like my colleagues a lot but I would be reluctant to spend a Saturday night with them, just because I use the weekend to decompress from work.

00q007 · 04/09/2019 07:43

I wouldn't go on a weekend. Weekend is friends and family, weekday is work.

NameChangeNugget · 04/09/2019 07:43

Not a chance

lastqueenofscotland · 04/09/2019 07:43

I wouldn’t go to a work thing on a weekend.

mintich · 04/09/2019 07:45

Our christmas do is always on a saturday night!

Starrynights86 · 04/09/2019 07:46

At my work, booking a Friday or Saturday dinner would be a disaster. Most people want to do straight afternoon work on a weekday.

Mummadeeze · 04/09/2019 07:48

I still think Thursday is best with an agreed late start the next morning if that is possible given the nature of your work. I think attendance will be higher.

MaryPopppins · 04/09/2019 07:50

We are only small.

But we actually really like doing a lunch out in the middle of the day. (Effectively work is shut that day from midday)

And then back to the office for a bit of a party. (We have to be there until the postman comes at 4:30 anyway) We do a quiz and have snacks and crackers and secret Santa.

Means none of us eat into personal time and it feels nice and festive.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 04/09/2019 07:52

Can the school not juggle a few things around so that you could be having a "Staff Meeting" on the afternoon of the party instead of having to have classes? Is that something that the head teacher could facilitate?
Irrespective of the job, there is no way I would show up to a work do of any sort at the weekend, if my job did not already entail working on the weekend. If I was in a Mon-Fri job, the work event should match that calendar.
A weekend event would have to be optional (and I know attending a party is optional and not mandatory).

MaryPopppins · 04/09/2019 07:52

Oh. Just seen you're teachers.

Why not just do whatever you're doing starting at 4pm or whenever all the kids are gone?

Spotsandstars · 04/09/2019 07:52

Teachers can't bunk off work. I'd do Friday eve

Pineappleofmyeye · 04/09/2019 08:01

I can't see many teachers wanting to do it on a Saturday unless it was a very very special party.
My DHs firm does it on Saturday but it's all expect paid 5 star hotel type things.
As a teacher myself I can't imagine wanting to go in on a Saturday for our usual holiday Inn/local.pub and you have to pay for yourself type affair.

Pinkyyy · 04/09/2019 08:08

Not sure why you have asked strangers, rather than the actual people attending? But why can't you do a Friday evening? Has anyone else ever been unhappy with it being in the week, or are you trying to plan the entire thing around your tiredness?

jesuschristwtf · 04/09/2019 08:10

No one I know would go to a Saturday party - and I do PR for a team that’s 400 strong.

user1493759849 · 04/09/2019 08:10

I really wish people would post all the info in their OP. The OP said she is a teacher but not til later in the thread.!!!

And no I would not go to a Works Christmas do on the weekend. No way. Wouldn't even go in my own time at all. We finish at around 1.30pm one day during the last week at work, (so usually the Wednesday or Thursday before we break up for the Christmas/New Year break,) and have the meal, and then go home around 3.30pm.