AIBU to think that £70 p/p is a lot for a works Christmas Party?

[PineWoodChicken]

It’s that time of year again and my family has found this year tough like so many others. I manage a clerical team within a much larger public sector industry and the Christmas Party talk started today but by all accounts we are late!
The minimum price per head is coming in at £70 with others way over £100.

I’m struggling to justify the expenditure but as a “manager” I feel it’s my duty to go. That money would pay for our Christmas lunch if not more. Everyone else seems ok with it so I’m also embarrassed- AIBU to think this is too much?

I wouldn’t go. You are not available on the set date.

Do you mean you are paying personally to go?

I mean it is a bit late to be planning a Christmas do tbh. But what are we talking? For sure you can book a festive meal in a pub for about £30-35. You may have to compromise a bit on the date now tho (like, hold it in November, or a Monday night). If this £70 do is one of those big evening events with entertainment and a meal and wine then £70 is not bad really. But surely you don't have to do that?

I just wouldn’t go. If you don’t want to say it’s about the cost just say you’re not available. Nobody is owed your presence outside of working hours anyway!

Who is paying?

I think as a manager you should say that you don't think it's appropriate to ask or expect colleagues to pay that much given the COL, and that if there is a staff Christmas meal, it needs to be at price point that is inclusive for everyone.
Maybe try a pub, and people can buy their own drinks?

I am under the impression that companies get a £150 tax relief per employee for Christmas parties. So you shouldn’t have to pay anything.

Are you saying you’re expected to pay personally?
if so that’s an absolute joke. Maybe ask for a budget from management of what the organisation will contribute and the fund something within that?

It's public sector. Of course "the company" isn't going to pay.

Where are you, because there's lots of nice places doing a 3 course Xmas meal round here for around £35 each? Sure, that doesn't include drinks, but the point is that people can then choose what they want to have and spend-there's nothing wrong with just having water.
Maybe you're somewhere very expensive, but it might be worth looking round and seeing if there's somewhere cheaper, if you're the manager who would be involved in this?

Some people clearly have no experience of the public sector, LOL. Yes, we pay personally for our Christmas meals. Would you rather we used your taxes?!

Does no one else work for the public sector? Of course we pay for ourselves. Can you imagine the headlines if we didn't!

Exactly.

I wouldn't pay that.
Can't you all just go
for a pizza and bring along some Christmas Crackers or something?

Ha crossed posts, thought it was just me for a second there!

And yes OP that's way too much. I'm sure lots will drop out.

Obviously OP! If work covered the cost it wouldn’t be an issue.

I wouldn’t go. I’m sure others are thinking the same. If you feel confident I’d say- sorry I haven’t budgeted for this amount so I won’t be able to attend.

You can definitely find something cheaper than that

I’m also public sector and the teams I have worked in have fortunately never had Xmas parties/ meals out but that is because most of us work remotely.
as pps have said I would look for a pizza place or similar that does a Xmas meal for £35ish or have a fuddle (everyone brings a dish/crisps etc ) in the offices

Haha I was thinking exactly the same. Can't believe how many posters are shocked we have to pay for our own Christmas do

I worked in the public sector for nearly 40 years. We always had to pay every penny of our Christmas dinner/party costs. The organisation couldn’t contribute as it would be unacceptable to spend ‘taxpayers’ money’ on a works Christmas party.

I work in a similar environment and we pay the same , but we book in february then a member of the team organises it and everyone pays £10 a month for 7 months and it's all paid off at the start of October, so it's manageable, we put this to a vote and it was actually the lowest paid team members who prefer this as the price includes all drinks, so they budget each month for the £10 and the actual night out doesn't cost anymore than they've already paid. I think you just need to book earlier

As a manager in the past I’ve rebelled against expensive Christmas parties. I feel bad for the younger people on lower salaries but honestly the times I’ve been least willing to pay that kind of money were as a manager with kids in nursery; £70/pp is about the monthly budget for nights out unfortunately :-/

Yanbu. Way too expensive.
A trip to pizza express would be better value and probably more fun than a fancy Xmas meal.

This is public sector…