Did you have/are you having a work Christmas party?

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We had a bit of food in the office that we had to eat either at our desks or use our lunch allowance for.
The food itself was nice enough but TBF there wasn't really that much per person, by the time you queued up.
It's not the end of the world but it's a shame there wasn't something a bit more organized. Not saying they had to hire some fancy venue and spend a fortune, but a bit of a party would've been nice, just something to look forward to.
I'm in the public sector though so not sure if it's different in private?

There was one for my department, but I didn't go - too much past experience of having no one to talk to and feeling stupid/bored. Private sector and we get a £50 allowance each for a party - the one I missed was one of these multi-company events where you just get tables for your group amid lots of randoms.

We had an excellent Christmas lunch today - I work in the NHS but our directors kindly paid.

With their own money btw! Not from NHS budgets.

I work in the public sector and we have a party every year albeit we pay, but I don’t mind that at all. I’m also lucky to work with a small but amazing team who get on well across the board - so generally everyone is keen to go and we have a good time.

Although this year they left it late to organise so we are having ours 20th January 😂😂😂

Not public sector, but no "do" here ... though customers bring in biscuits and chocs for us to say thank you, so we gratefully grab something on the go. Pharmacy in December is manic. Chocolate helps.

I've always worked in the public sector and there was never anything paid for by my employer. I enjoyed simple, informal things in my department arranged by us - I really would have hated an organised do, especially if it involved going somewhere in the evening after work. Just a little buffet/time to chat and have a laugh/moderate drinks was great. Coming back on a rainy, cold winter evening when I had lots to do at home just before Christmas to be with the same people I spent each day with - not so much.

Had our Christmas party last night - it was amazing. Private sector. Open bar all night, a huge range of free food to choose from, photobooth, live band with confetti cannons, and DJ set. I've been at this company for years and it was the best Christmas party yet.

I am also public sector, we had a “buffet” in the office one day this week, organised amongst ourselves by our floor plate though rather than any management, a list was sent out of buffet items and we all just popped our names beside an item and brought that in. We did it during our lunch break. Then my team have a Christmas night out planned for next Thursday after work at a bar, but again, we’ve just organised this amongst ourselves!

Public sector is taxpayer money, so really nothing is never going to be arranged and paid for because there is no budget for it and most managers won’t pay it out of their own pocket (totally fair enough). But you can still do something, just have to arrange between yourselves! X

I used to teach full time. I went to 1 Christmas meal out but considering I didn't like the majority of my colleagues I didn't go to another. Just went out with those I actually liked!!

Public sector here and in the event industry. So our 'do' has to wait until the 12th Jan, and it's BYOB to our place of work for the evening. I'm choosing not to go and that's met with some raised eyebrows.

Always had a Christmas party, arranged by office/business manager - dinner at posh central London hotels or restaurants. No-one was allowed to decline unless there was a jolly good reason. Forced fun and conversation with people that hardly spoke to one another normally - them/us. Quite often started out mid afternoon until late evening. Bosses think staff enjoy these sort of events but the truth is, most staff just want to be home with their family! Occasionally partners would be invited but that was even more awkward! Thank god it was only once a year - awful things!

I'm in the Public sector. We have a works do, but we each pay for our own place to attend.

If you're in the Public sector too, I cannot believe ANYONE on your team is expecting their workplace to cover it?!! It's taxpayera monet at the end of the day...not for us to have a jolly up

I organise ours every year (team lead so it’s just one of my tasks), meal out with drinks before and/or after for those who want , I send a choice of dates/venues and we all pay for ourselves.
We also have a bring n share lunch with secret Santa so people who don’t want a night out/can’t afford one can come .
we are NHS staff based in a big ish health centre. I’m assuming someone else would do it if I didn’t

My team (who are almost all based in London) went out last week, but I'm in Somerset so didn't bother. I'd have had to pay, but apparently the food was crap so glad I didn't waste my time etc.
DHs work (civil service) had a meal out last week too - again they had to pay for it themselves.

This.

There isn't any money 'from the public purse' that is allowed to be used for catering or parties or treating staff well.
Nor are there staff who have organising such an event as part of their job role. Every social event is organised by some hero, volunteering to do it.
So, every Team needs a volunteer if they want to have a party (or lunch, or evening meal out).

Same here! I only started recently so I’m not overly bothered. Everyone is miserable there so don’t think I would have enjoyed spending time with them anyway!

We had ours a few weeks. I organized it. Dinner at a local pub (paid for by our small business owners). We bought our own drinks. It was a fun night, and we were home by 11. Perfect.

A few years ago, I had a very generous employer. We went to Cirque du Soleil! Sadly, she retired the next year...

Eating at your desks sounds grim. In my old place there was a big bash put on by the firm but also each department would go out for a meal that we ourselves paid for, actually not just an annual occurrence.
My son's work the boss took them out (about 8, he's the owner of it too) for a nice three course meal and drinks.

We've always organised and paid for our own Christmas do. There are usually multiple across the department, you go to which ever you fancy, several if you are up for it! Typically ranging from a night on the town, meal and drinks at the local, sit down meal at a restaurant , or breakfast/turkey cranberry roll in the office followed by a half day (booked as holiday) spent at the pub.
We also do a whole building 'Christmas jumper buffet' everyone brings a plate of something for lunchtime, and there's a bake off competition and quiz - great for team building and lots of fun!
Work Christmas is what you, and the people you work with make of it.

Where I used to work had amazing Christmas parties, all free . I had lunch with a friend this week and her company used to do this as well. Another friend's company used to hire limos to pick them up. It’s not been like that for a decade. DH work have a Christmas lunch which is paid for, I am also having a free lunch. But these will be modest affairs. DS had to pay for his works do but they rented an air B&B and went to some sort of Christmas event where there were circus acts between courses. DS GF is off to a restaurant and her company are paying for food but not drinks. In my first job our boss gave us an entire extra weeks wages as a Christmas bonus and took us out for lunch! It was years ago though.

Personally, one of the joys of being freelance and my own boss, is NOT having to attend work parties any more!!

Life is too short to work with people you wouldn’t be happy to socialise with.

I am very luckily in a job at a private but ethical company, we had a meal, free drinks, and dancing- thoroughly enjoyed it.

what do you mean by “ethical company”?

ethical because it treated staff to free drinks?! 😂

🤣 no I just mean it’s generally a good place to work, if I worked somewhere nasty and full of dickheads I wouldn’t want to have a Christmas party with them.