Christmas party!

[ChristmasParty]

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?

@DrManhattan think so? It would be good to have clear view from the government on it. Then we would move it and not loose any money.

@ChristmasParty
Who knows! Boris doesn't. It seems like a massive over reaction if it's not a 'bad' variant but if it is, I don't think we are doing enough.

[quote ChristmasParty]@DrManhattan think so? It would be good to have clear view from the government on it. Then we would move it and not loose any money.[/quote]
If this pandemic has taught us anything it is that the government prefers vague waffle to clear information

@anniegun it makes it really difficult as an employer. It’s very hard to make some decisions as I’m not a medical expert and I don’t get much advice directly from sage! We do try on balance to do our best, we don’t always get it right. It seem ridiculous!

Can you find some way to do an anonymous vote? You need to know how many people actually feel comfortable going ahead or you could end up with lots crying off at the last minute.

We’ve got a 500 plus party next week. Don’t think I’ll be going. Seems a bit nuts to me.

I don't really see how theatres, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and schools all being open and allow mixing is fine, but christmas parties are what are going to tip us over the edge?

Mine is still going ahead but I suppose we are in the lucky position of still having everyone wfh anyway and could feasibly manage if everyone got ill (loads of people have the 2 weeks off over christmas anyway and there are no minimum staffing levels). I can see how it might be different if the local dr's surgery wanted to do the same.

Personally I think we don't know that the new variant is any more dangerous/spreadable/vaccine resistant than the others. We do know that mental health caused by restrictions from socialising (normal human behaviour) has been affected hugely. T

I don't really see how theatres, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and schools all being open and allow mixing is fine, but christmas parties are what are going to tip us over the edge?

I don't think people are thinking it'll "tip us over the edge" as such, but employers will worry about the impact on their business if large numbers of staff come down with covid and people will be keen to avoid having to isolate over Christmas, especially if they missed out on seeing loved ones last year.

I’m wondering what more you wanted from Bojo? I mean I’m far from a fan of his but I’m unsure what he could have said or done to help you here.

We’re going ahead and I’m asking everyone to do a lateral flow test in the afternoon before. We’re in a hospital so I feel I can rely on this happening.

@ChristmasParty I'm devastated for the luge. I've never worked for anyone that would supply staff with a vodka luge, and I feel I'm missing out big time.

If everyone is jabbed as far as possible, taking LFTs, and could WFH if not too unwell, I'd crack on. Every attendee makes their own personal risk assessment.

@RedCarsGoFaster I’m so sorry you’ve never had a vodka luge! They are great fun, totally unhygienic, not really a good idea but so. Much. Fun.
I work in a pretty fun industry. This is tamer than some parties too. I could talk about a ski trip and a hot tub, but I won’t!

[quote ChristmasParty]@RedCarsGoFaster I’m so sorry you’ve never had a vodka luge! They are great fun, totally unhygienic, not really a good idea but so. Much. Fun.
I work in a pretty fun industry. This is tamer than some parties too. I could talk about a ski trip and a hot tub, but I won’t![/quote]
Its seems everything fun these days is considered unhygienic and not a good idea, so in for a penny...

Folk who want to stay home for every new variant please do so. Let everyone else carry on and try to get back to normality from this mild illness.

I'd worry about the duty of care towards employees and the implications if anyone gets covid.
Could the party be toned down and proof of covid status requested.

It will be interesting to see how many people come down with COVID after Christmas parties, and how many people have to isolate over Christmas, especially if you are a contact of the new variant you have to isolate regardless of vaccination status.

I work in education, word on the street is that new guidance will be coming out for schools in the next few days.

I am factoring in a lockdown of sorts for January - but who cares about January, it is a very quiet month. So I think we have timed it all rather well, people can enjoy Christmas and family and friends, Jan and Feb might need to be quite restrictive but then we will burst into the spring with a new booster hopefully to sort out any wayward variants and we will be through the winter most importantly. Very happy as I love Christmas and parties and will be doing plenty of celebrating!

@Fairylights25

I am factoring in a lockdown of sorts for January - but who cares about January, it is a very quiet month. So I think we have timed it all rather well, people can enjoy Christmas and family and friends, Jan and Feb might need to be quite restrictive but then we will burst into the spring with a new booster hopefully to sort out any wayward variants and we will be through the winter most importantly. Very happy as I love Christmas and parties and will be doing plenty of celebrating!

This A fantastic Christmas and New Year and then an excuse to do nothing in January sounds just perfect to me

We are looking in much better shape than much of Europe and I am grateful for that, because I am not sure this country could withstand another lockdown Christmas. Make the most of it is what I say! Everyone I know has had covid this autumn so I am wondering how many more people are left for it to infect!

@Fairylights25

We are looking in much better shape than much of Europe and I am grateful for that, because I am not sure this country could withstand another lockdown Christmas. Make the most of it is what I say! Everyone I know has had covid this autumn so I am wondering how many more people are left for it to infect!

We really are not, our health service is under far more pressure, we have higher daily hospitalisations and deaths and we are now going to have to tackle Omicron on top of a very high base level of Delta infections.

There was a big Christmas party in Norway and 50 people are today confirmed having the new Omicron variant. It’s currently the biggest Omicron outbreak in the world. 🎅🏼

Sorry, now 60 people!

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/norway-covid-christmas-party-omicron-b1968467.html

Ours is going ahead tonight but an email was sent round saying that if anyone wanted to cancel with the tightening of restrictions they shouldn’t feel at all obliged to come. And obvs to all lateral flow today.
I do think booking the vodka luge was ambitious tho! I can’t see us ever going back to something so germ spready.

rrhuth You can't really just make up the facts as they suit you and post them. Have you actually checked lately what the stats actually are. Much of Eastern Europe, Russia and Germany are topping well over 500 deaths PER DAY! The UK has had the same more or less for months always under 200, sometimes under 100. Our hospitalisation rates are really quite low in comparision, Germany are now flying patients to Italy for treatment, and are overwhelmed. Austria have bodies piling up in the hospital corridors, but don't let the truth stand in the way of moaning about our country again, even when it is unjustified.

Germany topped 73,000 cases yesterday we are averaging low 40,000.
There is a vast difference in vaccination rates, so this is another reason why the UK is doing so well.

We are most likely going to be one of the only countries that will remain open and restriction free over Christmas, thanks to the scientists and the bravery of the ministers involved.

May I also remind you the new variant will be hitting every country, not just ours. Good lord, this stuff is basic ffs.

@Fairylights25 Yes indeed re. Germany, some shocking recent numbers.

At risk of sounding like I want to split hairs, I was not thinking of Russia.

I just don't think ongoing high cases have been great for the UK, because herd immunity through high infections was bollocks really so we will layer our Omicron cases/deaths onto our high Delta cases/deaths.

We have very high total deaths. I don't consider higher total deaths as a positive.