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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Christmas party!

100 replies

ChristmasParty · 30/11/2021 17:51

I get the ultimate decision about if our Xmas party should be going ahead next Thursday.
It will be a big knees up, lots of booze and dancing. Sweating too as it’s fancy dress and most outfits make you sweat. Vodka luge and a sing a long schedule for some point.
We’ve got people coming in from all over the country (and one or two from abroad but we might cancel them as the timings don’t work) and have put many people up in a hotel to really make the most of the evening.

Now, people really need this. We haven’t seen each other in a while and do have a pub culture (but not only a pub culture). Everyone has worked hard, and our results are staggering good.

On the other hand, if one person has it the whole company will have it and well be up shits creek.

I was really hoping bojo gave us a bit more today. He was as underwhelming as ever.

So, aibu to go ahead with the company chrismas party?

OP posts:
Original poster
ChristmasParty · 30/11/2021 18:23

Bump!

OP posts:
MrsMcCluskeysCat · 30/11/2021 18:26

Our is still going ahead next Friday but we would all lose our money if we decided to cancel anyway as the rules haven't changed, is that not an issue for you?

We are all still happy to go but we can WFH so even if there is an outbreak the company won't end up on its knees.

InTheMiddle23 · 30/11/2021 18:32

Go to the party

ShabbyNat · 30/11/2021 18:34

Send an email to all staff to ask their opinions, as to whether they`d likely attendSmile
Then make an informed decision on repliesSmile
But as far as covid goes, you can pick it up from anywhere!!!
Perhaps ask people to do a test just before attending?? Just to keep the risk lower??

MaudebeGonne · 30/11/2021 18:37

Can you put it to a vote? I wouldn't go as I have vulnerable family members (and I'm a healthcare worker so the chance of me getting invited to a big Christmas bash are zero). I'm sure some people would jump at the chance, but equally there will be some who will not want to attend.

I would be disappointed if I ended up having to carry extra work for those who did party and then ended up off with Covid or who passed it on to me in the week before Christmas.

So yes, it would be great craic, and we'd all love a party but the time isn't right. Celebrate with a nice fat bonus instead.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 30/11/2021 18:40

Now, people really need this

No, you really don't. Fancy spreading COVID? Everyone would love that for Christmas.

Pippa12 · 30/11/2021 18:40

Lateral flows prior to the party?

It’s our Xmas party on the 18th, I won’t be going. I desperately don’t want to be isolating over Xmas or put any of my relative at risk, I will do everything I can in my power to avoid this.

I work in healthcare which is a 24/7 service, I personally think that going to a party is irresponsible and I hope to god management see sense and cancel.

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 30/11/2021 18:42

Ours is still on at the moment but with a request to do a lateral flow before attending and obviously not to attend with symptoms etc.

mybroomstick · 30/11/2021 18:43

Ours is still going ahead next week, 700 people.

I'm not going. I don't overly love work parties and I don't want to risk it.

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/11/2021 18:45

I agree you could suggest people test before attending. People worried about the risk will drop out. If others are willing to go ahead I think that’s okay.

20viona · 30/11/2021 18:52

Absolutely have the party.

OmgIThinkILikeYou · 30/11/2021 18:54

Ours was cancelled today and it was only a dinner in q restaurant.

seb342 · 30/11/2021 18:58

Have the party. Do lateral flow tests if you must but let people have some fun. It would only take one person to enter the workplace with Covid for the same result as someone having it at the party.

ThinWomansBrain · 30/11/2021 18:59

the Vodka luge seems a bit dodgy - cancel that maybe?
or use it as hand sanitizer

ImInStealthMode · 30/11/2021 19:01

Give people the choice, ask those wanting to attend to do an LFT beforehand (and obviously don't come with symptoms).

Maybe you could adapt to reduce some risk too? I'd start with dumping the vodka luge and maybe rethink the fancy dress.

And people will shout me down but let's not forget that one case slipping through the net isn't even near a guaranteed 'then everyone has it'; my friend's husband currently has covid and his wife, DC and the 7 people he had a boozy dinner with 3 days prior to his positive test all remain negative. When my Mum had it my Stepdad that she shared a bed with didn't.

Our Christmas do is the weekend after next, pulled back from a party to a lunch, LFTs in the morning beforehand, free choice as to whether or not to attend. To my knowledge everyone is.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 30/11/2021 19:01

Senior management have advised we shouldn't go ahead with ours, but as our team is having it in the evening and paying for it ourselves, they can't technically stop us. We are going ahead but it's dinner in a restaurant, only 17 of us and most of us will be driving. So not desperately boozy and there won't be any dancing. A couple of people are getting twitchy - it's next week so I think we'll get a few drop-outs.

caketiger · 30/11/2021 19:03

Outs booked later this week has moved from in the flesh to zoom for the exact reasons you mention. We work with vulnerable people and can't risk it.

Fairylights25 · 30/11/2021 19:14

LFT for everyone is a must, there is going to be so much partying in the next few weeks, it is inevitable anyway that numbers are going to rocket. Built in I would say, so there is no point in ruining your party.

Anyone worried or CEV is not obliged to go. I would think it good practice to insist everyone tests every day for 3 days post party too, and if you have unreliable team members perhaps ask them to do on arrival so you can see it is happening.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 30/11/2021 19:15

I was going to say cancel the vodka luge. That’s just asking for trouble.

Otherwise I think go ahead. Ask people to test before going perhaps?

IslaInthesun · 30/11/2021 19:16

Vodka luge? Fuck that. Cancel that at least

weebarra · 30/11/2021 19:33

What even is a vodka luge?
Mine is ten of us in a restaurant. We might get some drop outs, I need to pay a deposit and have the menu choices in by Monday.

Crunchymum · 30/11/2021 19:35

@mybroomstick

Ours is still going ahead next week, 700 people.

I'm not going. I don't overly love work parties and I don't want to risk it.

Is 700 a typo? Shock
ChimChimeny · 30/11/2021 19:42

@Drywhitefruitycidergin

Ours is still on at the moment but with a request to do a lateral flow before attending and obviously not to attend with symptoms etc.
Same for us, we've also been told we can pull out if we want & get our money back. It's only a pub lunch but some people are planning o staying out for drinks.

It's on 15 Dec so tricky timing for Christmas/isolation. one team moved theirs forward a week so they have an extra week to be clear of isolation for Christmas

Els1e · 30/11/2021 20:00

We’re still going ahead, though no vodka luge planned. We’re have best decorated mask competition.😁

confusedlots · 30/11/2021 20:08

When is it? If it's this weekend I would probably go ahead. But if it's after this weekend, there's a risk people could pick it up on the night out, not have symptoms or a positive test for a few days or a week, and then be in isolation over Christmas. I think it's quite a real risk