150 quid a head for a leaving do?

[Anycrispsleft]

We have a colleague from our team of about 10 who is leaving for another job. He's been there for years - I think it was his first job out of uni. Usually when someone leaves we have a collection in the whole department and people chip in about 5 or 10 euro and they get a present, and we go out for a meal with them and pay their meal but it's like maybe 30 quid a head.

Now I've just been invited to a group chat where two of my colleagues have come up with an idea for the leaving do to go to a local Michelin starred restaurant and have the tasting and wine tasting menu there for 150 euro a head. Our boss agreed, and then they shared the chat with the rest of us, including an apprentice, a placement student and one of our colleagues who's on a much lower pay grade and has got young kids.

There's no bloody way I'm forking out 150 quid for to sit and eat dinner with my colleagues - christ, for DH's 50th we didn't spend that much - but I'm wondering if I should try and word my reply in a sort of "have you really thought this through" sort of way in case some of our colleagues are going to feel pressured into saying yes?

Exactly what I was coming on to say!

If it were me I’d be sending back “£150?!! Is that a typo?! If not, count me out, that’s ridiculous.” Sod em.

She didn't. Need to be accurate if you are going to have a go at someone or you look a bit of a fool, don't you.

100% this should be sent to the organisers

How much do you earn? I would say it's relevant

Why is it relevant? OP feels it's more money than what she wants to spend on a colleague's leaving do, and has politely declined. So why does it matter how much she earns?

With a portion of their wings!!!! Love those wings!

Quid is not specific to GBP

Well done for being the first

Sure many will follow

That's madness

You took 14 minutes to say no. About 13 minutes more than I would have taken.

The definition of colleague is someone you work with, you can know quite a bit about them.

Yes.....I'm more used to the person leaving bringing cake/doughnuts for the others (and possibly going to the pub after work, when some colleagues will buy them a drink individually), than the office team treating them to a meal out!

you never fully know what goes on in colleges lives. don't make the usual judgemets because they are child free

She’s already said she’s not just assuming; why are you pushing this? Many of us know quite a bit about our colleagues and the op hears quite a lot about her colleagues weekend life, you seem to be insisting she’s wrong- do YOU know him?

I'm known as the blunt one at work (if my mouth doesn't say it my face will) but I would have been "are you taking the piss? £150?! What's wrong with a trip to the pub?"

I tend to get nominated to say shit that nobody else has the balls to but it works well as my manager will come to me and ask about issues because I'm straight with him

Yep! Planned for a "select few".

I’d be pointing out to them that this is out of reach for many colleagues. It would be a no for me. I ended up spending £130 at a christmas meal yesterday as those earning the most always end up paying for drinks, and £40 a bottle! So wouldn’t be going as imagine how much the drinks are on top!

In the run up to Christmas, 150 is not feasible for my budget so I won't be able to attend. I wish you all a lovely evening.

I find it incredible that on this thread people are supporting OP, but on other threads recently people who expressed similar concerns were told they were privileged and shouldn’t say they couldn’t afford it (the logic being if junior staff were happy then seniors should be). Not to say I don’t support OP - I 100% do. But I’m the same names crop up saying the exact opposite about sticking up for less well paid up than they did on other threads!

Either way it’s ridiculous but I’m just curious as to what point people think ‘paying for office drinks/meal etc’ reaches an unreasonable level!

I think OP went with it being too expensive for her, which I read slightly differently to "can't afford". I think it also depends on the context but agree that threads can be a bit inconsistent with reactions!

Edit - autocorrect changed "different" to "indifferent" 😬

I would just say it's a lovely idea but I just can't afford it. I'm sure you won't be the only one.

I do think it's worth sticking your neck out and raising your concerns. You absolutely won't be the only one thinking this. Unless the company are planning on footing the bill, it's incredibly arrogant and completely done-deaf to even suggest this.

I think you should make your reservations public - say that you would love to have the usual affordable do for this much valued colleague and hope that this idea is ditched in favour of something that everyone can afford. unless management are paying!

I fear it will be a very small and sad leaving do 😳