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?

Yes good jobs are hard to find, so I do think going for the Secret Santa and skipping the meal is absolutely the right way to go.

I have the same problem, although public transport isn't an option for me. I either drive or get a hotel. I can't afford a hotel, and I don't really want to drive 2 hours at midnight(the food isn't until 8pm) after being up since 5am (I leave for work at 6.30am). People are expecting me to go but I know I won't enjoy it as I'm already resenting the hassle.

I’m private sector and live over an hour from my workplace, but I’d never expect my work to cover the cost of a taxi or hotel for the Christmas party??? I always just get the train home about 10ish and it’s always worked fine for me. I don’t really understand the big deal. If you just don’t want to go then don’t.

Same here, not to mention actually paying for the meal/party ourselves.

My work due is fancy dress (particular theme)..even hiring and deposit of outfit isnt cheap..and its compulsory apparently 'lets get into the spirit!!' in email. So its 2 hour travel one way, financial outlay for compulsory fancy dress 😒... And hotel in a city. Expensive and tbh draining. 3 of us arent going but we are meeting up locally to have a meal out, drink. I love xmas dues but not when its a lot of work whereas i wont be able enjoy it cos travelling back next day.. with hangover 😂

I'd decline and say "my budget this year doesn't stretch to it" 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wouldn't be going.

The cost of a taxi would put me off and no way would I get a train on my own after drinking.
I hardly ever go to my own works do's and I only live 20 minutes drive away. Can't be arsed

Some posters are being so miserable!

it’s a Christmas do, a party! Some people actually enjoy them!

If they’re saying that their budgets won’t cover hotel or taxi, I’d just reply in the same vein - I.e. ‘I’m afraid my budget won’t cover them, either, so I won’t be joining you.’

Sure, and many of us dont. Mine used to be horrendous- everyone would get absolutely trashed and after several years of being ranted to by various drunk colleagues who repeated the same stories over and over again with their beer/wine breath right in my face I decided no more. If that makes me miserable then so be it, but it wasnt a "fun" night out by any stretch of the imagination.

I would be completely honest about it. I was going to attend as I was told that a taxi home was going to be provided for me. As now that is not available anymore I won't be able to attend. I had a difficult year and I feel I wouldn't enjoy the evening knowing that I have to travel back by train by myself late at night. Done!

Just say your budget doesn’t stretch to a taxi or hotel either so you’ll have to decline.

I they can get you to pay for it they will. It's a christmas do, that's meant to be a treat, if you are dreading it dont go. You dont need an excuse, but if you want to use one just say the travel is a faff which is true!

A PP asked if it was possible to split a taxi and if not, look for another job as the business may be in trouble...

I did ask to do this and even that was declined. So I am definitely putting the feelers out at the moment.

In that case, the employers have to suck it up graciously if people who live far away decline to attend outside normal work hours.

It's highly likely they've just got new accountants or auditors in and they have decided it's not a reasonable thing to pay for, rather than any intrinsic financial issues with the company.

I actually enjoy our parties and go to them all. Last year I got the train as it was actually during the day and finished by 8pm. This time its nowhere near a station and a night time event.

Big parties are great if you live locally but many people don't especially since wfh became the norm.

Yes, loads more people live further away from the office now and only go in two days or so.

And it's not the distance always but the journey. My normal commute is an hour, but it's 25 miles and rural at my end, it's not just going across London on the Tube. If transport is fucked, you are.

I have stayed over after the Christmas do a few times but am just going home this time as there are a couple of back up options if the transport lets me down.

I wouldn't go due to the circumstances and costs. But then I'm never arsed what others think of me, so the 'going for appearances because it is expected' can fuck right off.

It takes me 1.5 hours on public transport and 25 minutes in a taxi. My company pay for my taxi when I come to the company do when in our local office.
OP my company are paying for our flights to London, accomodation and any travel expenses to get to and from said do this year. Quite frankly, a company who can´t afford a taxi for two people would give me a lot of reservations about their economic viability.
I would decline due to budget constraints too.

Totally agree with this. In any sector, private or public this is crazy. Very unfair that someone would be getting an expensive benefit because they don’t live close to office, compared to other employees.

Why should the company pay for this though? Compared to their other employees and shareholders

During my working life, which now = retirement, I rarely if ever attended the Christmas do unless they were on the premises. Any journey and I was not going period.

I am probably one of those people who thinks forced fun and office politics are awful things. I just said, I can't make it that night due to X, Y or Z. No one cared. I think we make the mistake that it will be noticed, maybe it will for 5 seconds then people get hammered and get on with the night.

I survived and retired at quite a senior level, which obviously had zero to do with whether I attended the Christmas party or not.

If you live far away as the do is not near your office then fair enough it would be nice for work to pay but if it’s because you live far from your office (which it sounds like is the case) then no they shouldn’t pay. Why should they pay for you and not everyone else just because you have chosen to live further away.
if you don’t want to go to the do then don’t go but don’t blame it on work not paying.

I only go to Christmas parties if it's easy for me, and I'm in the mood for it. I'd have no qualms about saying no to this one. Wouldn't cause me a moment's angst.