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AIBU?

To say no to voucher instead of Christmas night out

84 replies

Askinforabaskin · 26/11/2021 18:33

Basically I have agreed to arrange the night out for my team at work. We have a budget of £35 per head every year. Usually if you don’t attend your money just gets put into the kitty for drinks for everyone else.

Obviously last year we didn’t have a night out due to covid. So everyone got a bottle (tbh it could have been anything they wanted from the supermarket) in place of that.

This year we are having a day out (meal followed by drinks, in the afternoon so people can still get train home). Obviously due to the nature of these things not everyone can make it due to other commitments so I have had a few people say they can’t attend.

But today I had a pretty shitty phone call from a guy saying he disagreed with the night out and he didn’t want to catch covid and was demanding a voucher instead. Although I am organising it, I have no control over the money (I have purely just been contacting the venue). Unfortunately the manager who is in control of the money is off just now as his poor wife is very ill. I tried to explain the situation to the guy and that basically it wasn’t my call to make and he was rather nasty about the manager. I managed to palm him off but no doubt he’ll be back in contact soon.

OP posts:
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maddening · 27/11/2021 01:06

No to anvoucher anyway as it is a cash equivalent imo.

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violetbunny · 27/11/2021 03:00

My workplace provides coffee but I don't drink it, should I ask them to top up my salary by £5 a week to cover it?Grin

Honestly, some people...

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Marvellousmadness · 27/11/2021 03:07

Tell him to take it up to management if he wants
But how rude is he. Demanding a voucher and getting shitty about it. Pff

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SpinachIsAGatewayDrug · 27/11/2021 03:12

@gofg

Yeah it does which says I won’t take shit off a crap company . If Every employee is asked to go to a works do that’s paid for and they have a decent excuse why they can’t go then yes they should get their portion back. Thank god I’ve worked for decent companies clearly.

I've been around a very long time, and have known dozens of people who, for one reason or another, don't wish to attend a works do. Not one of them has ever felt they were entitled to a voucher instead. A company not paying people who don't attend a works do most certainly does not make them a "crap company". I can't believe the level of entitlement of some people. You get paid to do a job, your employer offers something extra, you choose not to avail yourself of the opportunity, then tough luck.

Gottta say this is my experience. I've been lucky enough to work for some fairly fab companies. High ranking in top places to work. The kind where when I tell people
the perks they take the piss because they are so outlandishly generous. I've never known any to offer cash/alternatives if you don't go to he Christmas party, summer ball, Halloween bash, or any of the other seemingly endless socials they put on.

Genuinely never come across it. That might well be because the variety of perks was such that people didn't worry too much if they didn't get their share of 'this one' but I don't think that alone marks them out as a good company or a bad one.
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WomanStanleyWoman · 27/11/2021 03:18

@gofg

Yeah it does which says I won’t take shit off a crap company . If Every employee is asked to go to a works do that’s paid for and they have a decent excuse why they can’t go then yes they should get their portion back. Thank god I’ve worked for decent companies clearly.

I've been around a very long time, and have known dozens of people who, for one reason or another, don't wish to attend a works do. Not one of them has ever felt they were entitled to a voucher instead. A company not paying people who don't attend a works do most certainly does not make them a "crap company". I can't believe the level of entitlement of some people. You get paid to do a job, your employer offers something extra, you choose not to avail yourself of the opportunity, then tough luck.

I wouldn’t be boasting about being around a long time’ if I were you. You just sound a bit old-fashioned.
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WomanStanleyWoman · 27/11/2021 03:20

I've never known any to offer cash/alternatives if you don't go to he Christmas party, summer ball, Halloween bash, or any of the other seemingly endless socials they put on.

Neither have I - but I’m not arrogant enough to think it never happens.

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SpinachIsAGatewayDrug · 27/11/2021 03:33

@WomanStanleyWoman

I've never known any to offer cash/alternatives if you don't go to he Christmas party, summer ball, Halloween bash, or any of the other seemingly endless socials they put on.

Neither have I - but I’m not arrogant enough to think it never happens.

I didn't?
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Whichcatthatcat · 27/11/2021 03:45

Thats just silly. The party is open to all, if you decide not to go, fair play, just politely refuse the invite. Just like any other social event.

I often put cakes in the staffroom on a Friday. I get an alternative for those with allergies. If someone told me they didn't fancy a cake but could I give them the £2 cash equivalent I'd tell them to take a running jump!

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WomanStanleyWoman · 27/11/2021 03:53

@Whichcatthatcat

Thats just silly. The party is open to all, if you decide not to go, fair play, just politely refuse the invite. Just like any other social event.

I often put cakes in the staffroom on a Friday. I get an alternative for those with allergies. If someone told me they didn't fancy a cake but could I give them the £2 cash equivalent I'd tell them to take a running jump!

Unless you own the company, that’s your choice.
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TheWitchersWife · 27/11/2021 05:06

I don't think he should have been rude to you. You told him you were not in a position to do anything about his request and he should have accepted that.
But I do think an alternative would be nice, I know it's not strictly your works fault but I've always been quite antisocial. I'd rather spend time with my family than with work colleagues, my Nan is coming to mine on Christmas day and has quite a few disabilities and illnesses. Feels a bit rubbish that my "festive thank you" is going towards other people drinks because my family is important to me. I wouldn't kick up a fuss though because if I'm working somewhere it's because I need the job and this isn't the hill I would die on.

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nettie434 · 27/11/2021 06:46

Whether or not a company should offer a voucher as an alternative to a Christmas meal is obviously something that attracts different opinions. Perhaps this guy has genuine worries about Covid or needs to shield other family members. However, he behaved completely unacceptably by being rude to Askinforabaskin when she explained it was not her decision.

Lots of people have to pay for their own Christmas meal. I suspect more and more companies will go this way as it does solve a lot of problems like this.

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dancinfeet · 27/11/2021 08:40

I do kind of see his POV- when I worked for a company (am now self employed) they organised a staff meal out at X amount per head (can’t remember the exact amount). I was a single parent with no support and it would have cost me more for a babysitter than the cost of the meal. When I mentioned to my supervisor that I wouldn’t be able to attend he actually replied with ‘oh good, more free drinks for us then’. I asked if it was possible for a voucher to be given instead only to be told by the store manager who backed my supervisor up that the Christmas meal wasn’t optional, and that we were expected to attend. At that time a voucher would have been really really appreciated, even for the shop that I worked in- I could have bought a little something extra for my kids for Christmas with it. And no I did not turn up to their shitty meal at Wetherspoons. If this guy doesn’t want to attend a big gathering before Christmas surely that’s his choice? What is with all this enforced fun?? How do the rest of the team feel about the meal? I don’t know why you wouldn’t give people the option of meal out or voucher, if most people choose a voucher - there is your answer.

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hangrylady · 27/11/2021 08:51

Who does that? How embarrassing!

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Hankunamatata · 27/11/2021 13:05

He was an arse but would be quite nice for those who couldn't make it to even get a £10 voucher

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Viviennemary · 27/11/2021 13:11

I do agree that because of covid anxiety things are different this year. But up to the company to decide if a voucher is appropriate.

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TractorAndHeadphones · 27/11/2021 13:52

@Kite22

I think it depends.
Say there are 20 of you in your Team, and you've been told "there is £700 to pay for a Christmas Meal / party", then obviously if someone chooses not to go, then they just miss out on that little perk.
OTOH, if the company have said "there is £35 per head for a Christmas 'treat' / 'bonus' {call it what you like}", then I think he has a fair point. I mean there is no reason to be rude to the poor sod who has been landed with the thankless task of organising it, but the point is right..... if the company are giving £35 to each person then it should reach each person.

But the company may not be giving each person £35. It can be simply a way of managing budgets.
Where I’ve worked ‘£35 per head’ mean that people organising events were allowed to claim up to a maximum of 35 x N for the entire do. N being number of people in the team.
So for example one year had a pub lunch with lucky draw. Nobody got exactly £35 it depended on what you won! Another time posh meal which would have cost more if not for the group booking.
In this case giving £35 to those who didn’t attend would have a) reduced the amount for others as a group and b) been unfair to those who went as they didn’t get £35 worth of stuff anyway.

I think people organising them should be sensitive . Make it easy to attend etc. If people can’t come for valid reasons they can always order them gifts or goodies but excuses like ‘I’m an introvert and prefer to spend time with other people’ should get nothing.

In any case to expect the full amount ‘per head’ is entitled because everyone else isn’t guaranteed to be getting that amount.
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Kite22 · 27/11/2021 15:14

Which is exactly why I said it depends what the company have offered..... Hmm

It's all a bit theoretical from where I am sitting, as in 40 years of work, I've always paid for myself when I have opted to go to any Christmas 'do' - no such thing as the company paying for you in the public sector.

I do think companies that do offer something like this ought to realise that many many people aren't ready to risk going to a crowded bar / restaurant / dance just before Christmas though, even if in "normal years" they pay for a party of meal (when, no, I wouldn't expect those that don't go to get a voucher). Covid puts a different light on things.

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DrManhattan · 27/11/2021 15:20

@Smartiepants79
It is enforced if you don't want to go. Sometimes it's expected and it can impact your career if you don't go.

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FruitFeatures · 27/11/2021 15:20

We’re giving vouchers to those who can’t make the meal. Covid is still a thing and some people are having to shield, or they can’t make it for childcare reasons etc. Should we not thank those people for their hard work this year?

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Smartiepants79 · 27/11/2021 15:39

[quote DrManhattan]@Smartiepants79
It is enforced if you don't want to go. Sometimes it's expected and it can impact your career if you don't go.[/quote]
I did mention that.
Sometimes we all to do things for our job that we’d perhaps normally choose not to.
As long as it’s not criminal or dangerous sometime you just have to suck it up.
Spending a couple of hours with colleagues at Christmas doesn’t sound like a lot to ask for most people. Especially if it’s being paid for!!

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tillytown · 27/11/2021 15:41

He is right, everyone who doesn't go should be offered a voucher

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NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/11/2021 16:12

@AllWaxedOut

I can see his point too.

Also, not everyone drinks alcohol!! Why do drinkers get a massive perk and no one else does?

He seems to be going about it the wrong way/ complaining to wrong person, but he's not completely unreasonable imo.

I don't drink milk, take sugar in hot drinks, rarely have alcohol and can't eat Gluten.

Perhaps I should be demanding a pay rise at work to take into account that others have access to free milk, sugar and biscuits throughout the year?

Or some friends go to the pub whilst I'm working - should I demand that because they would have included me in a round had I been there, they should PayPal me the cost of a Fentiman's Rose Lemonade?



It's ridiculous.
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HaroldSteptoesHorse · 27/11/2021 16:26

If you don’t go and don’t want to go you still have to pay £35? Or does the company pay?
I wouldn’t pay if I wasn’t going. I wouldn’t expect a voucher of the company paid on my behalf either

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Offmyfence · 27/11/2021 16:34

@CharlotteRose90

Wait did I read it right that if he doesn’t go that his portion of money goes to the kitty for other peoples drinks etc? If yes then I’d do the same and demand a voucher or cash as that isn’t fair. No way should he or anyone else be penalised for not wanting to be in crowds. I would speak to management and see what they can do as he won’t be the first or last person to say no

You have no right to demand anything, it's a meal that's being offered, not a selection of what you want.
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Offmyfence · 27/11/2021 16:35

@tillytown

He is right, everyone who doesn't go should be offered a voucher

Why?
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