Work Socials - who pays?

[StripeK]

Hello! My workplace recently put in a Social Committee following feedback from Great Places To Work Survey. I say recently, it was autumn but we've finally had information about the first department social.

It's go karting, with a cost of £44pp (although this may fall if numbers are high enough, not sure by how much). I've had a nosey and the place that's been booked and this is the price they charge. This is way out of my budget and I'm feeling a bit miffed about it as feel excluded because I cannot afford it. I guess I was expecting either cheaper activities to be booked, or for it to be subsidised by the company.

To add, we have a company wide summer party every year which is fully funded but also based around links the company have (for example, we had a mini festival last year but all bands featured at least one member of staff so were performing for free or a discounted rate). We also have department Christmas meals which are normally paid for.

YABU - work social committee events are always fully funded by the employee
YANBU - the company should be paying for part of the activity

The government allows a certain amount per year to be paid tax-free per employee for things like this. It would make sense that the company would work within that, so anything over and above would be paid for by the employee. I think that's reasonable. If they didn't do that, you would have to pay tax on the amount spent above the threshold, and the company would have to spend time and money on figuring that out.

In my experience, events are funded by the attendees. The employer is merely providing a platform for people to be social.
I do agree that £44pp is expensive however I'd imagine there is no expectation that everyone will a) want to go b) be available to go.

The building I work in has a social committee that does things like:

• International Food Day: an hour or two where people bring along food they have made/bought
• Bakery Day: as above but baked gods
• Board Game nights
• Treasure hunts (cringe)
• Wellbeing walks, over lunchtimes
• Coffee mornings

I wish they'd do a book club. Might suggest it!

If you are paying then there should be ideas floated about and budgets discussed. Sometimes some people will have to miss out, but there should be something for all budgets.

My company pay for our Christmas party (within a certain budget) and that's it. Any events that the social committee puts on is funded by those who book on it. They are very good at sourcing discounted tickets for events, however, so sometimes have cheap theatre tickets available to those interested (going as a group). They also arrange no-cost events such as coffee mornings, craft circles, book clubs etc as well as minimal cost stuff like sports activities where you may need to contribute a small amount to the court hire. If you feel it's too much, simply don't go. Hopefully they'll organise future events that are lower cost that you can go to.

It depends on the company and their budget. At my current company social activities are paid for by the company but at other places it hasn’t been the case.

I think the limit that hmrc allow is something like 100 quid and thereafter it is taxed at 100pc (so could cost the company £88 pp in your example). So if the annual party that's paid for is around £100 then the company is entirely reasonable to not fund any other socials.

I work in public sector and we don't get anything funded. Because ya know tax payers money! So we make an effort to organise socials that cost a range of money, some v cheap or buy your own through to some fun stuff where there's a cost around £10-15 . £44 seems a lot IMHO.

I'd just make the point to the organisation that this is a lot and maybe the next social could be something a lot cheaper

Last time I worked for a company the amount they were allowed to contribute towards social stuff before the employee was taxed was £75. This may have increased. Over £75 and HMRC define it as a 'benefit' and is therefore taxable. So if your employer is already paying for a Christmas party and a summer festival they may well have busted this limit and anything else is up to the employee to pay for.

I suggest you approach the social committee and ask them to arrange a cheaper event next time

Two annual company funded parties is more than many people get, so YABU to expect further social events to be paid for/subsidised.

However, while you obviously can't expect all socials to be affordable and suitable for everyone (there will always be someone who can't afford it, doesn't like it, or is unable to join in for time, dietary or other reasons) there should be a range of activities and inclusivity should be a consideration, ie not alcohol dominated if there are people who don't drink, thinking about the times that people may or may not be available and of course, cost.

You need to get yourself on the organising committee so your voice is heard.

We have a social club, events are heavily subsidised but you have to pay to join (think it's about £10 a month but I'm not currently a member). Most the actual cost is paid from the membership fees but think the company contributes a bit. If you do everything it's a bargain, if you only fancy one or two things not so much.

Thanks for all the replies! Lots of technical stuff I had no idea about so good to know.

To confirm, I am in the private sector and I'm very aware lots of workplaces have it far worse. I think I just feel priced out of it and worried it will be an ongoing trend as am among the lowest paid in my department.

I won't be joining the social committee, my workload is pretty full on and I also volunteer in my spare time so don't feel I could fit it in. I will check that some future events will be cheaper and hopefully they are just starting with a bang.

Not discussing the tax element, but when companies spend seemingly "too much" on events, there's a lot of grumbling about wasting money - and people preferring having that cash in their Christmas bonus than another day out.

I think it depends on the company you work for ,
My son has a recruitment company in London and its performance based for each department,
They have Friday breakfast club ,Lunch at High end restaurants and trips to Ibiza ,A hairdresser for the guys and a Lash lady for the Girls last year he paid £250k to take them all all the other is paid for also by company ,And he was acutely on the Sunday Times list of best placeless to Work for 2 years now ,

Ours pays for a Christmas do, and there is sometimes a limited budget for in-office things such as refreshments to encourage people to attend (e.g.) a 'sustainability day' event, but they wouldn't pay for activities organised by a social club.

The way to go is to feed this back - to tell the committee you would like to see some more affordable events. They'll work it out for themselves if no one signs up to go-karting because it's too expensive.

Most places I've worked there's just been partial funding for a Christmas do. One place also had a summer barbecue/fair. Mostly work socials are self-organised and self-funded, which usually means a departmental meal out. Sometimes management will pay for the first round of drinks. I don't really want more - I already have a busy life outside of work, and fond of I am of some of my colleagues, and do enjoy nights out, I don't need to see them out of work every week.

My husbands company has days like this and the company only puts in a contribution usually 25% and he has to pay the rest himself. It’s basically mandatory as well as it’s frowned upon if you don’t attend. So shit if you genuinely can’t afford it but don’t want to be that person who never goes.

I wouldn’t pay to attend a work event. Just say that you have other commitments outside of working hours and can only go to the main summer event.

All out social spending has been cut this year so basically it’s if you want to do something you have to pay. So there have been no social activities for the last year.
no xmas party, no summer activity. Now moral is low!

So mine isn't in regards to work activities...

But just for insight...

My son goes to public school (we are scotland uk).

He is in primary 7 and will start high school in August.

Just in past few months alone we have had to pay for.

Residential trip- 3 nights 4 days away at a cost of £240 or there abouts. Per child
Trip to titanic museum in Belfast this cost £65 per child.
P7 end of year trip to laser quest at a cost of £20 per child.
Also got notice on Thursday 13th just there when he came home.from high-school visit that he will be going on a 1 day team building exercise in August at start of high school and it was to be paid for, you guessed it 13th June. At a cost of £15 perchild
We also had to purchase 2 PE tshirst as part of PE kit at a cost of £15 for 2 tshirts.

So yeah the school have dwindled money from us left right and centre past few months.

And it's been a struggle trying to afford it.

Average take home pay is about 1200 in UK. <<< basic job full time Hours.

Cost of living has gone up but our pay hasn't.

When you go go- karting you have to wear the overalls and helmet provided. If it's busy those are warm and sweaty from the previous person ( like bowling shoes in the old day but 1000x worse). I wouldn't pay £44 for that.

I'm in a public sector organisation. We have no social budget at all.

I think YAB a bit U to expect all social events to be suitable for you, whether that's due to budget or activity or time of week or whatever.

I've been on many of these social committees and the number one rule is you can't please everyone. A good social committee will seek feedback from staff about what they like and don't so hopefully they will- but frankly unless you're willing to put yourself forward to be part of the committee and share the load of organising then you do have to suck it up to a degree I think.

I wouldn't pay to go on a work social! If we go for drinks after work it's usually claimed on expenses (although rarely happens post covid), any other team building / summer / Christmas parties are funded by the business. Not a chance I would pay to go.

Our workplace provides a budget to the social committee and they have to work within that. Anything extra must be paid by employee.

Generally we'd pay about £30 towards something like bowling.

We are a charity so can't be lavish about these things and can't contribute towards the cost of alcohol.

Can you claim alcohol on expenses?

By I mean, one company i worked for was no alcohol on expenses, another was one alcoholic drink allowed with an evening meal. It may have been different for events, but I've not Bern involved with planning those.

We only get a Christmas lunch paid for, apart from that, teams organise nights out (too many in my opinion-about 8 a year), I never go to those, I really like my colleagues but in my head I can't help to think of those work gatherings as well....work! I need my time off to spend doing things for myself and my family so I always politely decline. I do get a teased a bit though....🤣