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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are you having a Christmas Party this year?

42 replies

Yrmyfavourite · 20/10/2021 13:39

I am a Manager for a company and there are a board of Directors above me.

The CEO has never liked hosting Christmas parties as, he says a lot of people don't turn up and take the p*ss with the free drinks if they do, start fights after drinking too much, doesn't like mixing management/drinking with employees. All kinds of reasons but, pretty much - he has just always hated it.

For background, it is a transport company with about 50 employees, half of which are drivers (hard to come by at the moment) and the office staff have had a naff year, too with covid restrictions and dealing with disgruntled driver/customers etc. As you can imagine, staff turnover is very high and we have had plenty of meetings to explore options of how to keep the staff...

I have been here about 10 years and always arrange the xmas party. Drivers even shout me from across the yard to ask me about it in the middle of the year and they were all very disappointed last year when we couldn't have one due to covid restrictions. The year that I was on maternity leave (2019), they didn't have a party at all as, it usually takes my convincing, to get the Directors to host a xmas party.

Anyway, AIBU for thinking that they are being unreasonable to not host one this year or, provide some sort of gift etc, in replacement, when staff turnover is so sensitive and these people have worked so hard all year in a key worker industry? The CEO says we have a lot of costs at the moment but, I product the monthly accounts and I know there are no issues there.

What are your companies doing this year with regards to Christmas?

OP posts:

MintyGreenDream · 20/10/2021 16:40

We're having a 3 course meal disco thing at the local stadium function room.

Chasingsquirrels · 20/10/2021 16:41

We didn't have one last year, out 0ffoce had a Zoom party which was a quiz and then chat. Work provided little goodie bags with a bottle of wine or some beers or soft drinks and some chocolates and bits.
Firm wide we also received 2 x £50 vouchers.

Our office is having a party this year, currently being organised.

luckylavender · 20/10/2021 16:44

We're not having one and we didn't last year. But apart from that we always have one. We sent everyone a Christmas afternoon tea package. Went down well.

lanthanum · 20/10/2021 17:05

If the CEO hates hosting it, does he have to come? Or could he just pop in at the start and then leave them to it? Provide a round or two of drinks and after that people have to buy their own.
Tell him that it means a lot to the drivers, they usually look forward to it for months, and it's worth keeping them on side at the moment.

CoRhona · 20/10/2021 18:52

We're not, last year we did Christmas packages for all staff and I think that will happen again this year.

Covid cases are rising where we are (school) and in surrounding areas so probably for the best.

immersivereader · 20/10/2021 18:54

Online party

I won't be 'going'

HereWeGoAgains · 20/10/2021 19:16

NHS here, management sent round an email saying no Christmas parties allowed this year. Thanks.

DrManhattan · 20/10/2021 19:22

God I hope not

HikingforScenery · 20/10/2021 19:26

We’re having a team one and we’re paying for it.

PooWillyNameChange · 20/10/2021 19:37

Last year we got bonuses, £300 vouchers, a hamper and a virtual party with drinks and food sent to our houses.

This year there won't be a big black tie dinner (our business unit has over 2000 people and the company is over 10X that size) but we will have team events. If the organisation is doing well you should really do something.

PooWillyNameChange · 20/10/2021 19:38

meant to say our organisation globally is over 100 times that size

MinnieMountain · 20/10/2021 19:50

Our company has just been taken over. The company we’ve joined is laying on coaches to take us to their party in another town.

I’ve already got birthday plans, which provides an excellent excuse

Sparklesocks · 20/10/2021 20:26

We have one booked, but there’s only about 35 of us as it’s a department one rather than an entire company one. We’ve booked a private room in a pub with our own bar and will be having dinner and drinks etc. The room sits about 60 so thankfully won’t all be elbow to elbow as we have been at some team events in the past.

At the moment there’s no reason why it might not go ahead, but my boss is willing to cut the loss of the deposit if there are lockdowns/restrictions etc.

BobMortimersPetOwl · 20/10/2021 22:13

We're playing it by ear a little for now but hoping to either fly our overseas colleagues in here or we fly to join them and have a big get together. If that isn't possible we'll have a night out in town, maybe a comedy club or similar.

BobMortimersPetOwl · 20/10/2021 22:15

Sorry meant to say that everything is paid for on our get togethers, we just pay for cabs into town or to the airport.

We also get vouchers. Last year we received cocktail boxes and gourmet snack hampers for a virtual thing.

Arbitan · 20/10/2021 22:16

Yes, we have two. A firm party, with a sit down meal, at a local bar / restaurant (probably about 50-80 people), and a department party (probably 10-12 people) which is really just drinks in a local bar / pub.

StCharlotte · 21/10/2021 07:58

We normally have ours in a shared venue as there are only about 30 of us but this year we've hired out a local restaurant exclusively so there should be less licking

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