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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have work Christmas party on the Saturday before Christmas in the afternoon.

171 replies

Hop27 · 15/11/2021 09:34

At work I'm responsible for our team, my role is focused around them and had planned our Christmas party months ago as a team only (no partners) event on a Friday afternoon in December. All agreed, numbers confirmed etc.
My boss has now decided he doesn't want to do this anymore and wants us to have a family gathering in the office on the Saturday before Christmas. Just drinks and nibbles, with everyone's partners/kids invited, with the main reason for this change being given as we are now finishing on the 17th of December, gifting people extra leave so we cannot justify giving people another half day off.
AIBU to think this is a ridiculous plan, most people will have plans that Saturday nor will people want to spend a Saturday in an office when they clocked off for the year on the Friday?
I've suggested the Friday from 4pm, but apparently that makes it too hard for partners/family to attend.
I have plans on the Saturday before Christmas, so raised it with my boss that I could attend but not from start to finish. His response was it his expectation as a senior person I'd be there for the team. AIBU or would you attend such an event on a Saturday afternoon?

OP posts:
edwinbear · 15/11/2021 10:03

He thinks people will want to commute back into the office, kids and partners in tow on the Saturday before Christmas? With a months notice? No way, personally, we already have the pantomime booked, many people will have things booked already, Santa's Grotto, pantomime, lights trails etc. Or seeing family they won't see over Christmas. If you finish on the Friday, many people might be travelling.

If he's hell bent on the idea, better to arrange it for next year and stick to the current plans this year. My work do a kids Christmas party and it's great, well attended and appreciated, but it's on a weekday afternoon.

NoSquirrels · 15/11/2021 10:04

So is it that he’s cancelling your team event AND hosting a family event?

Are other teams also affected by him cancelling their team gatherings?

If the family event is in addition to planned team celebrations then I’d let him crack on and just not be there for the Saturday event - regret cannot attend, already have other plans, as previously advised etc.

If you can’t have a whole afternoon off work because permission for team event is revoked, long lunch instead?

coconutpie · 15/11/2021 10:21

YANBU.

Your boss is being totally ridiculous. Who wants to drag themselves, their partners and DC into the office for "drinks and nibbles" on the Saturday before Christmas? What a fucking nightmare. It'd be one thing if it was earlier in the month and it was a kids Christmas party, eg santa grotto, fun activities for the DC etc so that the DC would have fun but bloody "drinks and nibbles"?

I would be telling him that nobody will want to attend this nonsense and that I would be telling the team that they are not expected to either. What an idiot he is.

VimFuego101 · 15/11/2021 10:22

I think most people (even me, the least social person in the world) will already have plans for that weekend. Even if they don't, I can't see many people wanting to spend an extra day at work before starting their Christmas break. I would send a poll around the office and ask everyone to vote on it, as someone else suggested.

Original poster
Hop27 · 15/11/2021 10:40

It's laughable. He is changing most of the company's Christmas party to an occasion that most won't be able to make or want to. I'm tempted just to roll it out and wait for all the declines to roll in ......

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 15/11/2021 10:42

Wouldn’t go either day, organised work dos are awful.

ChristmasPlanning · 15/11/2021 10:42

Your boss is being ridiculous! Many people will be fully booked for December already having committed to seeing their loved ones, attending events etc.

My DH and kids would have no interest in a get together on an valuable Saturday at my workplace. Even less so in December!

It's completely unreasonable to change plans like this so late.

If he feels so passionately he should canvass opinions for Christmas 2022 to do something like that.

mynameiscalypso · 15/11/2021 10:42

Also - and I by no means a Covid-worrier - I don't really want to spend an afternoon in what will no doubt be a poorly ventilated office with a load of random kids the week before Christmas!

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/11/2021 10:45

Today 10:42 mynameiscalypso

Also - and I by no means a Covid-worrier - I don't really want to spend an afternoon in what will no doubt be a poorly ventilated office with a load of random kids the week before Christmas“

Very good point.

NoSquirrels · 15/11/2021 10:45

@mynameiscalypso

Also - and I by no means a Covid-worrier - I don't really want to spend an afternoon in what will no doubt be a poorly ventilated office with a load of random kids the week before Christmas!
Also this, TBH.

Socialising with your team/workplace - you’re already exposed to that.

Families with DC at school - you’re already exposed to that.

A melting pot of different kids from different schools and families the weekend before Christmas? And bearing in mind most people’s plans got banjaxed last year by COVID restrictions so not keen to repeat the experience? Thanks but no thanks.

NoSquirrels · 15/11/2021 10:46

Who else is senior leadership who can talk sense into him?

LolaSmiles · 15/11/2021 10:47

It's a silly idea.

Few people would want to go into work the Saturday before Christmas and drag their families with them, and most sensible people wouldn't want a mixing pot of groups the week before Christmas in the current climate either .

User135644 · 15/11/2021 10:48

@SturminsterNewton

Coming into work on a Saturday to have to make polite conversation with people I've never met and with over-excited children? No way would I attend.
That sounds like my idea of hell.

What is wrong with these bosses?

timeisnotaline · 15/11/2021 10:50

As a senior team member, I have to tell you that everyone will have Christmas things on that day with family and friends as do I. Work celebrations aren’t supposed to be about canceling Christmas with friends so don’t expect a high turnout.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 15/11/2021 10:53

I’m doing Xmas with the in-laws the weekend before, and I think a lot of families have gatherings on that date. I wouldn’t expect huge attendance.

Also, bringing my eldest to a work do is my idea of hell. He’s autistic and would be a nightmare. It would be weird to introduce him to colleagues as my work and private life are very different.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 15/11/2021 10:53

No, he’s completely wrong

No one will fancy that

Your original plan is much better

Maybe his partner made a fuss?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 15/11/2021 10:54

Also, involving partners will make those who don’t have one - or have a crappy one - feel like shit

User135644 · 15/11/2021 10:55

@mynameiscalypso

Also - and I by no means a Covid-worrier - I don't really want to spend an afternoon in what will no doubt be a poorly ventilated office with a load of random kids the week before Christmas!
I'll be having Christmas dinner with my relatives the following Saturday (including my 95 year old Gran) so will be being more careful in the week or so before. Therefore have no qualms this year telling people no. Covid is a good excuse.
KatyMac · 15/11/2021 10:56

Maybe it's a cost cutting exercise and he hopes no one will come

ItsSnowJokes · 15/11/2021 10:58

Even if I didn't have plans I would have plans when asked in the office! No one wants to give up weekend time for a works Xmas do.

Comefromaway · 15/11/2021 10:59

For the last two years (pre covid) I haven't attended my works Christmas party (& its a family firm ansd I'm the daughter of the MD) because they were held on evenings after my kids had finished school/college and I already had cinema/theatre trips away organised.

The Saturday before Christmas there would be no chance of me attending.

User135644 · 15/11/2021 10:59

Maybe it's a cost cutting exercise and he hopes no one will come

Nobody really gives a shit though. The big office parties that we've had emails about this year got cancelled due to lack of interest. There's smaller ones within teams (i.e. a few drinks or meal after work).

JoanOgden · 15/11/2021 11:00

If children are invited, you definitely need a Covid risk assessment...

DifficultBloodyWoman · 15/11/2021 11:01

Nope. No way. No how.

Frankly, I wouldn’t even have made the half hearted offer of being their for part of the time if I had been in your shoes. I would have had a prior engagement that couldn’t possibly be changed.

OmegaKappa · 15/11/2021 11:02

Get everyone to email him this

To have work Christmas party on the Saturday before Christmas in the afternoon.