How do you feel about works 'christmas do's?

[OutVileJelly1]

I always approach these with trepidation as some folk can to get overdrunk and show themselves up or say things they wish they hadnt

I think I actually hate them and im dreading ours but cannot get out of it now - if you back out at a late stage they make you pay for your place

I am an employment lawyer too and I can't believe companies haven't learned that they will be liable for when it all goes wrong. Our own firm's Christmas party has a very limited free bar and then you can pay for more but there are sober chaperones etc.

My mind is well and truly boggled by the sauna evening. This has the makings of a legendary tribunal case if you are in the UK!

Love them. Key part of my Xmas socialising plans. My colleagues are great.

I think a lot of companies and bosses don't realise they are potentially liable for what happens on Christmas do night, even if it's after the bit they've laid on.

That being said, I still love a works do!

I think it depends on the workplace and your relationship with co-workers. My first job was a huge place with several independent departments each with their own Christmas party - because I worked with about 5 departments, I got to go (free) to 5 parties, which were held in the daytime, so it was just a lovely relaxed celebration with friends (since I got to know the people I worked with quite well). Next place I had a great team, so going out with them for a meal was a pleasure. Place after that, not so much, and I ended up avoiding any sort of do.

I've never experienced having a Christmas celebration paid for by an employer, or drunken revelry late into the night.

I like them because I’m friendly with my colleagues and spend time with some out of work by choice. But nobody gets plastered.. or if they do it’s in a pub later on in the night.

I used to work in a pub and we always dreaded Christmas dos. One year an older lady who I expect didn’t get out much was cajoled into drinking a lot of wine by much younger colleagues. She threw up all over the table and was wetting herself as they walked her out of the door. Awful.

Love them but I dont drink now so its a stress free great time and I can drive myself home.

I have awful memories of getting absolutely trashed at previous work places Christmas do's (everyone did, it wasnt just me!) and making an utter fool of myself in the past when I was younger so now it's lovely not to have that worry any more, or to cringe going in on Monday

I don't go to our work Christmas events because (a) we have to pay for it ourselves and it's not worth the cost, (b) definitely don't want to pay to spend the evening with a number of people I wouldn't choose to spend time with outside of work, and (c) staff politics, no interest in watching that shit show of ass kissing, so nope, just, nope.

Depends. Chat can be awkward if you havent much in common eg small kids. Mine are 20s. I did enjoy night while temping. That was few years ago. Very conscious drinks wise you have to work with them lol.

Hate them. I haven't been to one for years.

I despise most of my colleagues. Even the ones that are tolerable in a work setting aren't remotely people I want to spend any of my free time with.

I go and have one drink and long it out for a bit and then go home. Don't trust half of the people I work with 🤣

Over the years my attitude has changed, as I've got older and because of where I worked. I really wish I'd had more confidence to duck out of some when I was younger that I knew I wasn't going to enjoy...due to work colleagues or where it was.

But I've also had a brilliant time at the vast majority of them. I quite like a drink and nice food and in most of the jobs I've been in I've liked my colleagues. I still go out for a Christmas do with people I worked with 20 years ago. And while that has got a bit staider over the years, it's been raucous at times. With dancing if we can find a pub with music.

Current job we've settled on drinks and nibbles in the office. With anyone who wants to afterwards going on to the pub. It's nice and partners can pop in if they want to. We all know each others' partners so that's good too.

it's public service so we have to pay for ourselves....

And yes, I've made an absolute tit of myself at some of them, but did bag my husband at one.

Ours is lovely. Really special.

When i was in my 20s, they were great. Now mid 40s can't think of anything worse so I don't go.

Retired legal PA here. When I was working the firm Xmas parties were a bit staid, but our department Xmas parties were the stuff of legend! Other departments always wanted to join forces with ours and you invariably had people with tenuous links to our department gatecrashing. We usually booked a venue, had a buffet, disco and loads of drink. Over the years I have danced on a bar wearing fake antlers, drunk (and regretted) champagne Jaegerbombs and fallen headfirst into a coat rack. I worked with a great team and we always had a blast.

Not normally a fan but I used to like the one in my last job. I was the boss. About 200 lovely people, 80% women. We put on dinner, free bar, dancing and then taxis or overnight accommodation if people wanted it. The atmosphere was great and everyone really enjoyed it. I used to call it a management conference so I could slide it all past finance.

Each to their own. In my last job we had to pay for ourselves but I enjoyed socialising with my colleagues. We had some brilliant nights out, not just at Christmas.

I like the lunch bit, but after the lunch bit we go for drinks and it’s a massive piss up until the early hours. I normally opt out of the drinks but.

My work means I don't get one but I don't mind them. Maybe it depends on where you work?

im always intrigued to see who gets loose lips and talks about x,y,z when they have too much booze etc

Love them. We all got on well though. Everyone would come for the meal then some would leave and the rest of us would go round town. Always a great night.

I enjoyed them in my 20s and early 30s when they were a rubber turkey Christmas lunch in a hotel with disco included and several other office parties. They were a laugh. But latterly they were a meal on an overpriced restaurant followed by a bar crawl which I just found boring. I’m glad I’m retired and don’t have to go to them any more.

It really depends, as there are so many variables.

I've been on some really enjoyable ones and I've said 'no thanks' to others at different times of my life / different sets of colleagues / different types of event arranged / different costs.

Too difficult to generalise.

Love them - we’re a small team, folk are nice and we go out for a meal and an activity we’ve all agreed on. Cinema, escape room, bowling and the like. Just nice to do stuff together which we don’t often do due to kids and different work schedules

I never go to, I keep well away from them. Not all all bothered if it looks bad, as they are in the evening, which is my own time to decide what I do with.

Hate them. Stopped going. Just said money was tight thanks but no thanks. But I know in some roles there is more pressure to show up.