Do you go to the Christmas work ‘do’ ?

[GalaxyGoal]

The email is out and I can see it’s at a pub in our local city. It’s a nice enough menu but I’m really not bothered about going. I know it sounds miserable but socialising with people I either don’t know/don’t like stresses me.
Are you going to yours this year?

No i've not gone for the last 6 years, and when asked why I tell them that I spend 35 hours a week with them and my weekends are for my family, I usually say it with laughter in my voice so that it's not taken any other way.

But in all honesty a day time team event like bowling then a few drinks, meal and then more drinks when its cold, damp, wet or snowing is not my idea of a good time.

Do you want to go to yours or is the thought of it stressing you out ?

No, I do join in the mince pie thing in the office but 'unfortunately can't make the evening thing'.

Yes, forming closer relationships with coworkers is beneficial. So while I’d rather not go, I always make the effort.

I used to go when I worked FT but I do PT now and I’m not going to this years, I’m the same as you - just not bothered. I’m sociable and do love to go out for a meal/drinks but my company is small and they aren’t the type of people I’d choose to hang around with which is perfectly fine.

I generally don't like socialising and sometimes get quite anxious about it but in my current job I do make the effort to go to the Christmas meal. I'm good friends with a few of my colleagues so I just try and make sure I am sitting next to one of them.

In the 80s omg the tales i could tell. Before I retired: no. Been there, done that. Let the youngsters have their turn

I ve ducked out of my Xmas do - I only joined in the summer and was asked to commit to a Xmas meal in September. Just don’t feel Id found my group at that point. For me it’s just a job and I make an effort to be friendly at work of course - I’ve got several Xmas meals etc with friends who I choose to spend time with.

I try to go to one Christmas do, yes. Tbh these days it’s a bit of a gritted teeth thing for me but I aim to have the kind of conversation there isn’t time for in the working day with at least two people, and to find out more about them as people. I also try to walk that tightrope of influencing what event we have without actually having to organise it, but it means the event itself is more to my taste - I like an afternoon tea straight after work, or tbh just a trip to a decent pub. Obviously it’s too late for that now. I just think if it as part of work rather than something I’m supposed to enjoy.

Absolutely not. Never have and never will.

I give up enough of my time and headspace to my job and my colleagues. You can get fucked to the back end of next April if you think work will wrestle any more of my precious time on Earth from me.

Last year our Christmas "do" was during work hours so everyone went - was a Christmas lunch at the nearby restaurant then back to work to listen to our boss tell us how great the company is doing.
I also went to the Christmas party my previous workplace was throwing I love parties, the previous year at my old workplace we had a brainstorming morning at a sauna cottage, Christmas lunch at a restaurant, then back to the cottage for sauna and bingo and much much drinking. Was a brilliant night.

Don't know what this year's do will be, probably something very small like last year as we just had a massive party for the 20th anniversary.

No, I spend enough time with them in the working week, I keep colleagues at arms length in my private life, I give 100% when I'm at work so I'd rather go out with people I choose to spend my time with. That said I do join in the Christmas fun when I'm at work such as Secret Santa etc, but once I've left the building that's it.

I usually go but didn’t bother last year as it was held in the arse end of nowhere.

It’s in London this year so it will be far better attended.

Yes but I really like my job and colleagues and it is relatively local so the only reason I wouldn't go is a prior commitment.

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

No I never go. I’m good friends with 2 people at work and get on with most of them but I hate things like that. Also I’d have to drive so can’t have a drink.

We normally put on a Christmas do. This year we're not because we can't really afford to and nobody likes them anyway. The number of conversations I've overheard which sound like what's written upthread made that clear. I'm happy because I don't like them much either. I think most people go because they think they should. Funnily enough there was a bit of grumbling when we said there isn't going to be a do, but they will get a Christmas bonus as usual so it's not all bad!

We don’t have one thankfully. In my previous job Christmas do’s were excruciating, held at head office (I had to drive) included all of the company directors one of whom sat on each of the tables. Just a really uncomfortable atmosphere with everyone on their best behavior.
All this having spent the whole day at work, an hour driving to head office and an hour and a half home only to be back at work a few hours later…shudder…

no my time is my own

I do as our Christmas party is during the working day, so if you don’t attend then you have to continue working. If it was outside of work I wouldn’t go, but I also don’t want to stay behind during work hours for the sake of it

Never. I hate them.

I used to tell my colleagues - "I see you five days a week. I don't need to see you drunk on my own time"

I'd never go to any company event when my husband was working, either. Spending an evening with people I don't know, listening to in-jokes and "do you remember when"s is not my idea of a fun occasion.

Oh, that's a no for me. I like my work colleagues. I dislike forced socialisation and that's what it would feel like.

The best thing about retirement is not having to go to the work Christmas parties. Warm wine and cold sausage rolls, ew!

I have never gone to a Christmas do since an RAF one in 1989

I do. It's great fun! Nice to spend time with colleagues in a relaxed setting. I drank too much last year and decided to leave before I made an arse of myself. I won't do that this year. We book out a posh London bar for the evening, so i'm looking forward to it!

Hell no. I’m not even doing the social groups I belong to Xmas dos.