To not want to be in a crowded venue with 150 colleagues for the Christmas party?

[irememberitalltoowell]

Compulsory Christmas party that over 150 colleagues will be going to, a sit-down lunch and an open bar.

We will do lateral flows beforehand, but AIBU to not want to be around that many people, especially so close to Christmas?

Your choice, don't go if you're worried.i probably wouldn't go but tbh I'd regard covid as great excuse for missing some Christmas parties😃

If you don't want to go then don't. Say your lateral flow test was positive or you've got a nasty cough.

YANBU. I wouldn’t go.

It's during the work day so it's compulsory.

There was a summer party and for that I actually had a cough so couldn't go as I was waiting for my PCR result, so I think I couldn't use that excuse again

If you all do lateral flows before then what's the issue? Just go

Yanbu.

It isn't compulsory if you challenge it with someone higher up.Firms can no longer make these occasions compulsory. Of course you can use not being well again. Even book yourself a PCR test on the day if you feel that you have to.

Even without COVID, the idea of a compulsory Christmas party is madness so YANBU.

"If you all do lateral flows before then what's the issue?"

They aren't completely reliable and you are trusting the testee that they've done it properly.

Don't go. Take the day off.

Should I ask to have it off as holiday? I do have 1 more day to take before the end of the year. Or will that come across badly?

@TotallySuper

If you all do lateral flows before then what's the issue? Just go

I went to a party where everyone had done lateral flows on the day but someone who was there tested positive the next day so was contagious at the party. (They had Covid in the house and were testing daily)

I agree that compulsory Christmas parties are completely mad. I hate the idea of " enforced fun".

No, I wouldn’t be going. If they were locking up the office for the afternoon and having nobody on the premises, I’d quite happily book leave or take flexi.

I think some employers declare things compulsory and just assume that nobody will question it.

I suppose it depends on size of the venue and the tables you are sitting on as if they are tables for eg 6 people spread around the room it probably isn't much difference to eating out in a restaurant.

However you certainly aren't unreasonable to not want to go. I would be very honest and upfront with my manager I did not wish to attend and why. But I would be happy to take a day's leave .

My DH always used to take leave on least day at work before Christmas- even though it was fewer hours and not much work done. He said he couldn't bear the falseness of the management chatting to them about Christmas plans when they had been ignored the rest of the year .

The lateral flows only pick up the virus if it’s a heavy load. Apparently.

My friend had a sore throat and tested with them three days in a row. All negative. In the middle day she went to the drop in test centre and next day was told by the nhs she’s positive.

So the tests she did herself didn’t show it. Just as well she isolated immediately or she’d have spread it, and many have no symptoms at all.

So I’d probably not attend the party tbh. Even if I had to take annual leave or sick leave due to something other than covid symptoms, like a diarrhoea bug or something!

Don't go if you don't want to. Pull a sickie if necessary.

Take a day's holiday, they can't make you go then!

@TheKeatingFive

Don't go if you don't want to. Pull a sickie if necessary.

Do not pull a sickie.

If it's in work time are they planning some work related activity- maybe awards or annual performance round up etc? . I think if you have a holiday left to take use that. If its a big department, would anyone really notice? Lots of us use up odd annual leave days in December for Xmas shopping etc