To not go to Christmas do due to this?

[KeiraKnightley2]

I work in the private sector. Me and the one other person who lives a 1.5 hour commute away either get a taxi home after or a hotel stay. I've done both.

This year I asked for a taxi and at first they said yes. The next day I received an email saying budgets this year wouldn't stretch to it so it isn't possible. So I'll need to travel in and I won't be able to relax because then I need to worry about travelling back again.

The trains are hellish enough just now never mind the week before Christmas. In all honesty I've been struggling lately due to a bereavement last month but thought at least I can show face then have the taxi home.

There's always the feeling you need to be seen going to these things. Would you suck it up even if it's pretty crap?

@PersephonePomegranate23 sorry but I agree with the other poster, it’s nothing but the OP complaining.

I hear that this is a change from normal practice but surely people have noticed that we are living in economically challenging times and can’t be that surprised?

Some sectors are raking in profits right now, rising cost of living and inflation doesn’t ever mean that all businesses are struggling. Some industries are struggling to acquire and keep staff right now. “Challenging times” doesn’t apply to everyone, as harsh as that may sound to those living day by day to survive.

That's exactly my thoughts. You work far away, not their fault. Either get a job closer or accept you can't do everything.

I don't understand the hand wringing over a work Christmas party.

Just don't go FFS.

The issue isn’t that the op expects transportation/accommodation after her works do.
the issue is that this has been provided on previous years and she was told it was available this year then withdrawn
im pretty sure everyone if everyone saying just pay your own had a perk previously and it was withdrawn then you may feel differently

I wouldn't bother going. You're not going to enjoy it if you have to worry about getting home again.

I've worked in the community sector my whole life and the thought of an employer paying for a taxi home after drinks is just crazy to me. They give 40p a mile for traveling for work purposes if we are on another site and that's the most we could ever expect.

Don't go if it's more hassle than it's worth. You really don't need to show your face at these things. People will be too drunk to care.

Surely it's your decision to live 1.5 hours away from your workplace and it's not your employers responsibility to get you to and from work or voluntary events outside of work hours. If they paid in that past then great, you got something for free. But I don't see how it's their responsibility to get you to and from a party. If the event doesn't matter enough for you to sort out your own transport (and it's interesting that you expect them to pay for a taxi whereas you won't stretch to that and would take public transport), then don't go.

If they usually supply hotel/taxi it maybe have become custom and practice, so they are obligated to continue.

I work in london and commute. Some colleagues and I were saying yesterday that you used to be able to get a hotel room for £100 for the 2 of you and that would be doable if you commuted a distance. This year the cheapest was £150 with a shared bathroom down the hallway in not a nice area. The trains are hugely unreliable at the moment. I had a client event last Friday and out if 5 trains, 4 were cancelled and the last was reduced to 8 carriages with no seats. My taxi from the station to my house after midnight was £48 for 9 miles. Very few of my colleagues live in central london, I choose to live in a village with no train station.
I would go for as long as you want and then just go. When you go just leave. Most people won't notice. My boss does this all the time. He says if you just slip out without saying goodbye most people won't even clock it!

I don’t doubt that this is part of the issue but she also says ‘Jesus how bad are the budgets that they can't stretch to two taxis so we can enjoy our night? We work bloody hard year round.
My colleague/friend who has worked there longer assured me they spend money on all sorts of unnecessary nonsense but then can't 'stretch' to this.’

Which suggests that at least part of the issue is that she thinks they are entitled to this. I do understand that if you’re used to it, it will feel disappointing but we are in a period of massive financial uncertainty and if you don’t want to go, don’t go!

I just wouldn't go.

If its 1.5 hours there and back won't they understand if you politely decline ?

Let your colleagues know. They may have a spare room to offer you? If not just don't go.

The company I work for always used to pay for taxis so I don't think it's a strange idea. The problem here is they said yes and then changed their mind.

Ive taken annual leave so I don't have to go to our Christmas do this year. I hate my job so I have no intention of pretending to enjoy myself in my own time as it starts early but carries on into the evening.

in some places I worked they did pay for hotel room. other places arranged for taxis home. my current company is paying half your hotel room and has arranged taxi vouchers. they want people to go and this entices people. plus helps get home safely. my sisters company is 25 years old this year huge bash. partners invited aswell and everything is paid for including hotel room. just because you can't imagine it happening doesn't mean that ut does

Everyone on here goes on about cost of living crisis - bloody Tories etc..... do you think the COL crisis doesn't impact businesses aswell? YABU.

In your situation I'd politely decline and, if it is ever referenced that I was not there, I'd be clear I would have attended had a taxi been paid for.

Totally agree with this. I was looking at the cost of hotels so that I could attend a couple of team social events I have been invited to. The cost was in the £££s for somewhere even moderately convenient.

Trains get flakey outside of normal commuting times. Taxi from the rank outside the station would cost around £50 to get to where I live.

Also, it just doesn't feel safe. Some people (especially men) don't get this. I have had some hairy experiences with late night taxi drivers getting lost, being stoned, being weird. Corporate private hire always felt a lot safer.

So I have politely declined. I will stay home and possibly have a takeaway.

It was your choice to apply for a job 1.5 hrs from your home!

Why do Mumsnetters tell people to politely decline as opposed to just decline?

But everyone else has a short commute home in comparison to me and my colleague.

Well that's your tough luck then. I'm amazed that any company would pay for a taxi home or overnight hotel stay after an optional, non-working social event, never mind a journey of an hour. And I'm shocked that you think this is an entitlement even after a number of years.

Would you be OK with work paying everyone in the office an equivalent sum for a Christmas bonus in lieu of taxi fare or overnight hotel?

Your choice to live so fat from work consequence is that its now costing you ££ to go to the Xmas do.

Just don't go?

It's up to you if you go or don't go. Presumably you're not looking for promotion and you don't think there will be redundancies soon.

Our Christmas event has already happened and was a 4 hr train ride away, sp we did have travel and hotel expenses paid for but it was one heck of a journey as train cancelled on way back.

I've worked in the private sector all my adult life and have never heard of companies paying for taxis for people to go home after the Christmas do, so I think you've been lucky up to now.

If I were you I'd go for the afternoon segment and leave before the meal, that way you've made the effort, but you don't have a late night train to contend with.

Absolutely this. Also, please post their reaction

Would a colleague let you sleepover? I wouldn't want to spend money for hotel or taxi if I didn't get on that well with one or two who might do this for me, after working there a few years. Other arrangements have always been made, but DH has volunteered to let colleagues sleepover a couple of times when they've been in the same situation.