To think this is a bit off?

[donatingmychristmaslunch]

I work for a huge organisation.

Last week we were told £25pp had been approved for our Christmas lunch so teams could get on with booking their get togethers.
I'd say about half of the work force works from home still. Lots of people will have been looking forward to getting together with colleagues at Christmas.

We've just been told the offer is withdrawn and money will be donated to charity instead! I know lots of people don't get a paid for Christmas event (mainly public sector workers etc) so this isn't about whether we're entitled to the money.

Aibu to think this is an absolutely bizarre move by the company and will foster some pretty bad feeling amongst people?

Yes, that’s not a good look if,presumably people have worked hard and achieved for the organisation. I wonder if the senior/ top levels people will be having a Christmas lunch?

I'm not sure tbh. Even if they're not, they get paid enough that it probably doesn't matter to them.
With the rising power prices I'm beginning to resent how much me wfh is costing me and then I'm told they're taking away our Christmas lunch

The more I think about it, the more it annoys me. Maybe some of the higher ups could donate part of their huge bonuses instead.

I would be so happy - hate work Xmas do's and look for any excuse not to go.

Maybe a few people contacted them and said they did not want to go - working from home gives people more confidence in speaking up about this sort of thing without having to face their colleagues disapproval everyday.

Can you round up colleagues to make a formal protest? Points I'd raise are that the social event provides a much needed morale boost in difficult times; it's important for your motivation to feel valued; and people who do wish to donate it would prefer to choose a charity that is meaningful for them.

There was no pressure on anyone to go and it would be lots of separate Christmas dos as the work force is so huge. So no big do that everyone would be going to.
I don't think that's what happened tbh. How likely is it that a few people messaged their bosses and said they didn't want to go (to something that hadn't been organised yet), that got back to the decision makers for them to decide to donate it to charity even though the majority probably wanted the free lunch?

I wouldn't necessarily expect a contribution but to offer it then take it away is really poor form. With WFH having some sort of team building is more important than ever.

They haven't even said what charity it will be donated to.

@Sally872

I wouldn't necessarily expect a contribution but to offer it then take it away is really poor form. With WFH having some sort of team building is more important than ever.

Yes, that's what has annoyed me so much. Last year there was nothing offered due to severe restrictions/ lockdown. Wasn't bothered. But to tell people to book something and then tell them actually, we're not paying anymore.

Yeah, that's a bit shit. To change their minds so quickly is odd - if they'd approved it months ago and then decided it was a bad move when loads of charities need help or something, fair enough. But it looks like someone's approved it without higher up approval and then been bollocked, so they've thrown the charity excuse in last minute.

What? If the money’s there why the fuck is it going to some random charity instead of the employees?
I’d be raising hell

@NothingSafe

Yeah, that's a bit shit. To change their minds so quickly is odd - if they'd approved it months ago and then decided it was a bad move when loads of charities need help or something, fair enough. But it looks like someone's approved it without higher up approval and then been bollocked, so they've thrown the charity excuse in last minute.

Yes this

@TractorAndHeadphones

What? If the money’s there why the fuck is it going to some random charity instead of the employees? I’d be raising hell

My cynical view is that there's more tax relief for a charity donation?

@donatingmychristmaslunch they would get tax relief on the Christmas do.
I would want to see proof of the charity donation tbh or else I'd assume that was a lie and they are just cutting Costs

@donatingmychristmaslunch
That’s true. But as an employee I’d rather they withdrew the approval (or if someone made a mistake admit it) rather than cover their arse with the ‘charity’ excuse.
If they suddenly decided it was too much money that it!
All of CSR and charity is business’ way of putting money into one pocket and taking it out with the other. If they really wanted to improve society they could start by paying and treating their employees properly!
But no CSR is cheaper

If it’s not about saving the money, do you think someone will have moaned about Covid risk and indoor gatherings being inappropriate in the winter?

Either way it would be worth asking for an explanation, and politely explaining the goodwill they’ve lost.

@TractorAndHeadphones

What? If the money’s there why the fuck is it going to some random charity instead of the employees? I’d be raising hell

^ 100%!

@MsMarple

If it’s not about saving the money, do you think someone will have moaned about Covid risk and indoor gatherings being inappropriate in the winter? Either way it would be worth asking for an explanation, and politely explaining the goodwill they’ve lost.

Someone might have complained about it I suppose. The gatherings would be quite small though, in individual teams (of between 12-20) Rather than a large affair with hundreds of people.

I agree with other posters that a proper explanation should be given. My manager seems pissed off to have to have given us the news tbh.

The irony is that I don't even work Fridays, I logged in on my day off to make sure a bit of work had gone to plan over night. I'll not bother in the future.

Someone's done a Covid risk assessment and realised exposing whole teams to Covid unnecessarily is a bad idea. But you could each be sent a cocktail set, or a cheese tasting set or similar!

That should have been the decision of the workforce, not the management. If they are worried everyone will go down with COVID together as a result of celebrations bringing people together in confined spaces, they could have given you each the money to provide food and drink for an online get together. Charity ‘gifts’ aren’t gifts unless the recipient sees them as such.

What a rubbish move

@picklemewalnuts

Someone's done a Covid risk assessment and realised exposing whole teams to Covid unnecessarily is a bad idea. But you could each be sent a cocktail set, or a cheese tasting set or similar!

Yes, if that's the case then really the money should still be spent on employees.

Id be sending an email asking why they have changed the original plan

@Hankunamatata

Id be sending an email asking why they have changed the original plan

I think I will

That's absolutely disgusting, particularly when you have had no say in it.

We're not having a Christmas do again this year but the staff will get a larger than usual voucher of their choice to reflect that.