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

[Hop27]

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?

Yanbu. If Saturday is not a working day for you like hell would I be going to the office. And I too have most weekends in December already booked up.

Because for instance if the “extra leave” he’s gifting is a full day or two of 3 extra

Some may well be willing

I would be if I’d been gifted extra leave to previous years

How big is your team. Can you all agree to just not go and arrange an out of work meal?

Nope nope nope. We're completely booked up that weekend before Christmas already and I imagine lots of people will be the same. He's lost the plot.

I wonder if your boss sees this as a way of avoiding Christmas grunt work on the home front? Swanning around being the Big Man in Charge instead of demotion to Santa's Little Helper?
For all you know, some of your co-workers are being collected at the end of the last working day by partner with luggage in the car, to set off for the beginning of their pre-planned holiday; I've done that more than once myself. Even if not, they will have made plans for Saturday already; train tickets purchased early to get a better fare, for example.
But that's not the point; even if the plan is simply to stay home and relax all day, that's what they want to do!
If you make enquiries around the office, making it clear that this is not your idea, let's hope you can report back to him daft and deeply unpopular this move would be.

Most people have plans the weekend before Xmas. I would stick to, I already have plans, so cannot make it, and don't go.

If people have already been told the last day of working, they’ve may have already planned their Christmas travel so not be around. Your boss is being very unreasonable

@NoSquirrels

He’s crazy. But you know that.

Suggest a poll of the office with the date change…

This. He will struggle to argue when 95% say they can't make it. Or you could just confirm you can't go and laugh to think of him sitting alone with a shitload of nibbles.

@CounsellorTroi

Also a “family gathering” as opposed to a team members only event is a bit hard on those who do not have a partner or children.

Agree - if my work do was partners and children then if I was single I just wouldn't turn up. Tbh even if I wasn't single doubt my partner would be interested in going so I would then drop out even as a non single person to avoid all the "where's your boyfriend" questions.

So many potential issues with having lots of random people in office - allergies, small children getting tangled in blinds or other hazards, people seeing confidential info - even if you’ve tidied away papers - you probably have files with names on etc. People don’t always share their life with workmates - their partner may be same sex, child have a disability etc that they’ve never had desire to share that at work. If it’s family event and you haven’t got family or they are busy or don’t want to come the employee won’t want to come alone as everyone else will be in family groups. Is it just me imaging small child being introduced to Brian the boss and saying oh I know your name my mummy says you are useless (or a sweary version of that)

I don't care what Saturday it is i'd laugh and say i'm not going.

The Saturday before Christmas i'd just laugh.

I don't even want to go to a works Christmas event in work time when I'm being paid for it, let alone using up a precious weekend day. Your boss is being VVVVV unreasonable

I wouldn’t go either.

@LyricalBlowToTheJaw

Bet this bloke is not the person doing the majority of the Christmas prep in his household!

Exactly my thoughts…it would never have been an option if he was doing the Xmas grunge work. 🤦‍♀️

We have 4 people in this leadership team. Both the men decided this plan was the best option. Me and the other female, weren't consulted just told of the plan. My other director, has a toddler and lives an hour and a half drive away, so doesn't suit her either.
But he expects us to be there from 12, to get set up?!
I'm going to let him run with it, be lucky if 10 people (inc. partners say yes)
Tempted to show him this thread to be honest!

No way in hell.

He can expect you there all he likes, you have told him you can't go, what's he going to do - sack you?

It'd be a no from me: our works Christmas party is on Friday thr 17th, and I have plans with family for the day on the 18th. No way I would come into work on a Saturday, never mind the last one before Christmas!

So is the other one getting cancelled or will both go ahead?

It would be a hard no from me. That sounds like hell to honest. No way would anyone in my family want to do that including me!

I would email all the leadership team saying if that's their decision then you will let people know and issue invites however as already discussed due to pre existing plans that cannot be changed you are unable to attend the event itself. Put it in writing.

Has your boss met children? Even if I wanted to trudge back to the office on a non-working day, which I would point blank refuse to do, persuading my other half and our children that it’s how they have to spend the first day of their holiday would go down like a lead balloon. Who does he think he is to commandeer peoples time like this?

He's a thoughtless twat... however, here's an actual useful suggestion. At least three local workplaces around here routinely book the staff annual shindig in February!

Bugger that for a game of soldiers. He can’t impose on people’s weekends for a work party.

Why would people’s partners and children want to come to a work party anyway.

He seems to have a very inflated sense of his own importance.

Tell him to fuck off but probably more politely.
You are not on works time so he can't dictate what you do. As long as he's happy for about 3 people to turn up then fine, but you won't be there to see it.

No, the one earlier in the month won't go ahead. Just the 'family fun day'