To deliberately book annual leave to coincide with my work's Christmas party?

[christmaspartyblues]

Work's Christmas party is compulsory, it's during the working day so I can't use the excuse of being busy.

Thinking of trying to book the day off for annual leave, although cutting it a bit fine as I won't have given as much notice as we are technically meant to, but it's been fine before. The whole office closes that day, clients are told in advance, etc. So I can't use the excuse of wanting to work/man the phones.

I'm quite new in the job, but everyone seems really excited about it and I'm just dreading it

OP if you really really don’t want to go I wouldn’t book it off as holiday because it looks a bit fishy…use some excuse on the day (Covid/childcare/neighbours cat)

I also wouldn’t book it off. I’d claim I’m waiting for a PCR result and am isolating!

It sounds as though you're catastrophising this because of your anxiety. The only Xmas party I attended where people got rat arsed was a start up where the workforce was young and the CEO's credit card was behind the bar. Generally people are civilised and many leave after dessert

I really think you should make an effort to attend.

@Littlescottiedog

I'd like to work for a company who paid me for a regular working day to actually attend a Christmas do!!

And me. Although I'd actually just like a Christmas do. Never have them where I work.

I would say that I don't feel safe enough to spend time inside with that many people because I have vulnerable family members.

One of the perks of being self-employed! No more office parties!

I don't think I'd want to use annual leave to miss the party, but I symptathise with your wish to avoid it.

If I was managing someone and they didn’t attend the Christmas party I would definitely reconsider them being in the job. Maintaining good relationships with your colleagues and being a part of the organisation is a key part of your role.

I'd probably just claim a last minute emergency on the day... doctors, dentist etc. that way you can pretend you wanted to go
In the run up to it.

I'm the opposite...I'll be on annual leave on our Xmas party day but I'm still going in! I haven't met any of my colleagues in person so I'm actually looking forward to it, but I guess everyone is different.

@Flowers500

If I was managing someone and they didn’t attend the Christmas party I would definitely reconsider them being in the job. Maintaining good relationships with your colleagues and being a part of the organisation is a key part of your role.

You can maintain a good, professional working relationship with your colleagues without socialising with them

If I was managing someone and they didn’t attend the Christmas party I would definitely reconsider them being in the job. Maintaining good relationships with your colleagues and being a part of the organisation is a key part of your role

This seems really unfair- someone may have a very valid reason for avoiding parties where people might have too much to drink. Not going to a party doesn’t mean someone isn’t friendly and pleasant to their colleagues while in the office.

If I was managing someone and they didn’t attend the Christmas party I would definitely reconsider them being in the job

I love Christmas parties but that's ridiculous.

You really need to go.

Going to a Christmas party during the working day is no great hardship and it speaks badly of you that you can’t get over yourself and go.

It might not be fun, so what? It might be awkward, again, so what? Leave earlish and no one will notice when you go. They will definitely notice if you don’t turn up.

A 'compulsory' party is distinctly off-putting.

However, as its the day after your probation ends just suck it up. Seriously.

You can sack it off next year.

Slightly odd question but are you sure that it’s all party, two of the employers I have worked have has full day Christmas parties but actually to lunchtime were actual whole organisations catch up / briefings then corporate lunches before becoming more normal Christmas parties.

I usually do it. I hate Christmas nights outs. I’m usually more tired at this time of year, it’s cold and dark and I am paid to inhabit the same suave as these people otherwise I wouldn’t be friends with them. I like about 5% of my workmates.

I used to phone in sick, that way you don't waste your holiday

@Kittykatmacbill

Slightly odd question but are you sure that it’s all party, two of the employers I have worked have has full day Christmas parties but actually to lunchtime were actual whole organisations catch up / briefings then corporate lunches before becoming more normal Christmas parties.

Yeah exactly. There are speeches by management about how the year is gone, reflections on where things could improve, updates on the direction of the company. Thanks from senior management for hard work and recognition for special achievements.

Then it turns into food and fairly work-like socialising—which has a big benefit of ensuing everyone knows who you are, especially in an age of working from home—before descending into outright fun.

It’s totally acceptable to leave when the proper fun, booze socialising starts but not to skip the bits before. Anyone who tries to do so would (in my mind) not be a team player or wanting a long-term career in the company. They would certainly not be a candidate for promotion. Listening to senior management go on about company success is part of your job!

I think dodging the work C'mas do is pretty poor.

Lots of people find them boring or anxiety inducing, but they do help you know your colleagues better, and it will be noted if you dodge it.

There's lots of info on how to manage anxiety around parties online - read up on it, and have a plan: you sit through the speeches, talk to at least six people, and at Xpm you can leave, with the excuse you have to do X early in the morning (if you need an excuse for shooting off early - people probably won't notice.)

@Vapeyvapevape

I would book the day off, I’m not going to our Christmas party, it’s in the evening though and I can’t really put my finger on why I don’t want to go, I just don’t. One of my colleagues keeps pushing me for an answer as to why I don’t want to go (fancies himself as a bit of a counsellor ) I just give the same answer ‘because I don’t want to’ , I think it’s driving him mad that he can’t analyse my reasons. If you don’t want to go then don’t go.

Could this be you? (DM because other papers covering this are paywalled.) www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10226641/Hassle-Going-hits-hospitality-sporting-music-events.html

I hate that people have to get stressed about about works Christmas do's. There are more threads than ever it seems this year. Surely if You want to go then go, if you don't then don't.

I rarely went to a work function, but they were all in the evenings, and I didn't like to have to mix with people (some) I didn't particulary like on my free time. However if they had been during the working day I would have attended. Why are you dreading it so much? Surely if you don't really know your colleagues this would be the ideal time to get to know them.

If I was managing someone and they didn’t attend the Christmas party I would definitely reconsider them being in the job

How ridiculous - the Christmas party has nothing whatsoever to do with their work.

This kind of Christmas party isn't really socialising. It's thrown by the company partly to thank the workforce. I think you'd be better to go for a couple of hours and leave early. It'll probably won't be as bad as you think. You could test renting a dress.

If it is to do with work and it is held anywhere but the normal place of work I hope they have reminded people if they are driving that they need the appropriate business insurance for their cars.