To think work Xmas parties should start in work hours?

[ByTidyHelper]

Just as the title says really. Our work Xmas party doesn't start til 6:30pm this year in London which is a 1hr commute for me each way. I really think work Xmas parties should start in work hours e.g. 3 or 4pm as this would be so much better for those with families who could attend at the start for a couple of hours and then go home.

I'm probably not going to mine this year just due to the fact it starts in the evening and I cannot be bothered to get back home late and have to figure out what we do with my kids bedtime etc (they are in a phase of meltdown mode unless mummy is putting them to bed so would be tough on my husband to have to deal with this solo).

What do you think? AIBU to expect work Xmas parties to start in work hours?

Depends on the organisation. Not possible for lots.

Given the hours I used to see my mother working on marking and lesson plans, a party start time of 6.30pm would be well inside many teachers' working hours.

Not with anybody I know it isn't! However, this is private sector, where there is sometimes wine on a Friday afternoon in the office!

they are in a phase of meltdown mode unless mummy is putting them to bed so would be tough on my husband to have to deal with this solo

Your DH needs to suck it up. It's one night a year.

We did lose a member of staff who started a fight after drinking too much at our 2022 Christmas Party, so you can see why companies wouldn't want to deal with it.

But everyone's grumbling this year because they left organising a party too late, and lots of people can't go.

and have to figure out what we do with my kids bedtime etc

What's there to figure out? They get tired, DH puts them to bed? If they cry and won't settle then oh well. It's one night in a year FFS!

Yeah I agree just let your husband deal with it. The best way for the dc to get used to Daddy putting them to bed is lots of practise.

cannot be bothered to get back home late and have to figure out what we do with my kids bedtime etc (they are in a phase of meltdown mode unless mummy is putting them to bed so would be tough on my husband to have to deal with this solo).

This is ridiculous!

Yeah that's my perfect set up for an Xmas party/get together!

Our company does 2 parties. The first is a department lunch which is in work hours and you can go home afterwards. Then there’s a whole company dinner do which is always on a Saturday night, although there’s around 500 of us, I don’t really enjoy this as it’s too busy and chaotic so not bothering to go this year.

Well seeing as teachers supposedly work much longer hours than the 3pm school finishing then it's easy enough to start party once kids have left

Why is it ridiculous? I'm tired as we are up several times a night at the moment so that's why I can't really be bothered to get back late and have even more of a knock on effect of how I feel the next day. Plus you haven't seen how bedtime goes down at the moment - we share our responsibilities in other ways as I'm doing most bedtimes right now and my husband doing this solo would certainly result in lots of screaming, crying and false starts just because of how our kids are right now. You know....because they are very young kids and they tend not to be super rational or reasonable with some of the things they throw tantrums about. That's kind of their thing. Sure my husband could do it without me but it would be an extremely stressful and chaotic evening for him until I got home most likely so pardon me for thinking of him!

Well just don't go. Don't expect everyone else to have to change due to your personal issues

I only know 1 team this year doing a just evening thing, the rest of us finish c12:30, go for a big lunch then drinks afterwards until who knows what time. Same very year.

Yeah this.

Where I work it's a normal working day until 4-5pm and then we head out afterwards. Not everywhere can just shut up shop at midday so you can get home to put your kids to bed 🙄

Our office Xmas party for everyone starts about 4.30pm. We also have a team lunch which starts at 2pm. I usually pop back to office to check emails and leave early...

Sure my husband could do it without me but it would be an extremely stressful and chaotic evening for him until I got home

And.....? Again, I reiterate my earlier point. It's one night a year. Is it really that big a deal that he has to manage a stressful bedtime and the kids don't get to sleep early enough?

I don't think it sounds ridiculous, it is (hopefully) a very specific time in children's lives where they are like this but it is exhausting. I think it is quite unusual to start early evening so I agree with you. That way people can choose, they stay, I had one where after the meal it was back to the office for a disco with colleagues who were DJs, those who stayed for that were mainly young and no children or past the young children stage!

You can never do something to suit everyone. In my job up till last year (Ward Midwife) Absolutely can't be starting within work times and people always miss going altogether and people always have to come late as they were on shift. In my current role (Community midwife) It has to start after shift finishes to allow people to get ready and make their way.

Childcare wise with me, starting later works out better as I can sort kids and my husband gets home to look after them.

I am having 2 this year, Community one started at 7 and the ward based one starts at 9. However these are organised by us and not the actual hospital. The 7 one was actually more difficult for me to sort with my husbands work.

My Christmas party is this Friday at 12pm so during work hours only issue is I'm unsure how we're all meant to get ready and get to the location for 12 and still work but surely it will be quiet enough!

It's one night! I am sure he can manage.

Honestly go enjoy you sound in the trenches. I always kept the one night out with my mates every week to stay happy and in a good place.

I highly recommend it.

Ours does. Starts at 3 (we're allowed to finish at 1 to get ready/there). I could be home in bed by 7. Lovely!

Ours starts at 3 and is dead by 6.30 as everyone has to leave for their trains (also London but no-one lives locally).

Ours is a Friday night from 8pm as we don't finish until 6
Not everyone goes

We're not allowed to use paid work time (public sector) however we usually negotiate by using time owed and arranging another team to cover any emergencies and we cover theirs in return. That way we can go for a meal at 4. No drinking allowed until official finish just in case anyone needed to go back to work.
Majority of people in my workplace are women, we also have a lot of single parents and non drinkers so it works well to have something low key that everyone can join, and the chance for those who want to, to continue afterwards for drinks.