Only a quarter of team going on works do

[parentsonthenet]

Usually a really good turn out. We haven't all seen each other in 18 months although a few smaller gatherings.

Only about 25% of the team have agreed to attend the Christmas do. It will be a bit flat I think so now I'm thinking about not going.

Do you have a do and are you going?

Would you go based on the above?

I never go, I don't like socialising with ppl I work with. I like to keep the two separate

We have a lower percentage than that going. All of us on the factory floor have gone out to work throughout all lockdowns and put up with covid restrictions to be told we can all sit together with no masks at the party, while we are still on socially distanced staggered breaks and need to wear a mask if we move from our workstation. So almost all of us aren't going. Most office staff aren't either.

We're having one. Well, my old workplace is and I'm still invited. I doubt uptake will be quite as high as previous years but there's enough of us that get on well and enjoy a night out. It's on 3rd which I think makes a difference too.

My old workplace was quite stressful and having a good bunch of colleagues who could make you smile and forget some of the shit, was important to help us cope at times. I consider some of them my friends which seems to be unusual here on MN.

I’m taking Christmas lunch to my 94 year old PILs just before Christmas, have my 82 year old mother here for Christmas and Boxing Day and am hoping to go on holiday on 27th. PILs and my mother were both alone last Christmas as we were in full lockdown. We’ve agreed as a family (have a DH and 2 x late teen dcs) that we won’t do anything “extra”, like big events we’re not that keen on, in the 10 days before Xmas to jeopardise this (mostly the holiday part - 😎). I suspect a LOT of people will be in a similar position.

I'm not going. I don't want to be run down or ill over Xmas because I want to see my family.

Was anyone asked what they'd prefer by their workplace, like a quick survey? We weren't. We had hampers instead last year that were well received yet we weren't asked, the Christmas party menu just appeared out of the blue.

My work is doing one but we are not actually expected or forced to go because our boss is a decent person. We are a remote team anyway (regardless of covid). Some are going and others aren’t. I’m not. I don’t really enjoy those things all that much anyway.

I’m not going to ours. Would rather spend my (limited) time and money with family & friends than work colleagues. December is a busy and expensive month so worst possible time to try and squash in an extra expense or activity, particularly one that I don’t really care about.

We have a team of ten and three are going for a meal.

I like them all. I’m just not prepared to sit in a busy bar and restaurant with them. I’m cev. I certainly don’t expect life around me to stop, but I’m not willing to do anything that will increase my risk until numbers in our area drop significantly.

I’m not sure why all of the others aren’t going. A combination of the above, other commitments and not wanting to socialise I think.

It's a shame that so many people understandably can't take the risk this year.

@Sn0tnose

We have a team of ten and three are going for a meal.

I like them all. I’m just not prepared to sit in a busy bar and restaurant with them. I’m cev. I certainly don’t expect life around me to stop, but I’m not willing to do anything that will increase my risk until numbers in our area drop significantly.

I’m not sure why all of the others aren’t going. A combination of the above, other commitments and not wanting to socialise I think.

That ^^ I think 10 from a team of 30 are going I love my team and partying with them and it's a free meal but I can't risk it

Ours is next week, there’s 12 of us in the team and work are paying for a hotel and meal because we’ve also incorporated it into a team building day.

I never used to go to them before covid and wouldn’t go to a mass gathering one now especially within 10 days of Christmas Day.

Couldn't think of anything worse tbh. I see my work friends outside of work, everyone else insee enough in work!

I'm going to two and both are reasonably early December so won't jeopardise Christmas. I take regular lateral flows and am not out and about a lot so I think it should be fine.

We're all going to ours. We se each once or twice a week in the office - no more likely to catch Covid at a party than then!

Myself and the staff I manage are going out for lunch. There are plans for the wider team to have Xmas meal. I think though that with 18 months of not seeing each other, the wider team have realised they don't need to see each or spend time together and it all feels like an effort and enforced fun. Our office is a long journey in so cost of commute plus cost of meal and drinks to see colleagues you aren't really fussed about seeing sounds like hard work lol. I should say our team get on well, morale is good, we have three virtual catch ups a week.

I’m not going to either of mine - I have absolutely no desire to catch covid before Christmas so I’m not prepared to take any chances. If others want to put themselves in that situation that their choice.

We're having a zoom one.
I don't know when it is and haven't been assed to find out.

No, I wouldn’t.

Its not really an issue as I am part of a dispersed team and the furthest away from our office but even if it were local, anything in the couple of weeks before Christmas would be a flat no so I didn’t compromise any family gatherings by getting ill.

I'm not going because I have come back of mat leave to join a new team who I've never met in person and can't be arsed with it (wow liked an out of work gathering with previous team who I knew well).

Also don't want covid before Xmas. This will be my official excuse.

I’d be relieved, oh how I used to hate work do’s

I'm not going to ours. It's just way too much hassle! For me it means 10mins drive to train station (then my car is stuck there) 35 mins train ride and either a taxi or a 15-20mins walk to the venue. Same on way bk or more likely a taxi home from city centre. My recent experience with getting a taxi was awful. We cldnt get a taxi took well over an hour to get one and it was £18 to go 6miles just after midnight. From city centre I'd be minimum £35-£40 but chances of getting a taxi slim to none (they don't want to go so far out).

Then I've bn on mat leave since before covid and loads of my gd friends have now moved on to other companies or different roles. I don't really know some of my team that much and the ones I do know are quite boring 😂

Then there's the cost £30 for a lunch (I don't like Xmas dinner) drinks, trains and taxis. I cld easily spend £100 for something I'm not going to enjoy that much. So I decided I'd just not bother and spend the money doing something nice with my family.

There are only four of us in our store so we are having a night out with a meal and drinks all paid for. Normally there is a massive company wide piss up over a couple of days but this is cancelled again this year. And rightly so

Non of my team are going to the company one. Its a bit of a shit show. We have offices all over the UK and you aren't allowed to sit with anyone you know. Its all very awkward.

Then the the few people who get emabrssingly drunk make it more awkward. It's in a city quite thats quite a trek for most of us and head office. They pay for hotels for people who live far away from head office, but not if you live near head office. Bit have the party nowhere near head office. So costs quite a bit of money in taxis and/or minibuses. And if you go in the mini buse with other people you can only leave at a certain time.

Its basically, just a bit of a Ball ache. Expensive and I am not risking catching covid so close to Christmas, for something thats shit.

I wouldn't want to run the risk of having to isolate over Christmas!