Is it right to pay for work social?

[Gistbury]

In a nutshell- I work for a small company that is doing very well. 3 owners/bosses take home 500k a year each and take multiple holidays, company doing well etc. I'm a lowly employee so obviously not taking home the big bucks. Anyway, they are organising a work social but not footing the bill, is that acceptable? Trying to gauge whether I'm just being resentful or if it is wrong that they expect attendance but not paying?

Is it in work time and/or optional?

Of course it’s acceptable to expect you to pay. They can’t make you attend, though.

Team drinks in the pub or a meal out together, I have always had to pay.

What kind of social event is it?

No they should not expect you to pay for anything if during work time.

If outwith work time, it should be optional to attend.

Perfectly fine to organise and not pay for. Not fine to expect compulsory attendance. You don’t go to work to earn money to pay for work. At least I don’t.

How much the managers earn is irrelevant.

If it's compulsory and/ or in work time, they should pay.

If it's in your own time and non-compulsory, it's ok for you to pay.

In work time or after work?

It is and you sound incredibly resentful.

Surprised at the responses so far. An official work social at a private company doing well? I'd expect the company to pay. The company I work for now pays for all socials, as did my last.

What you expect isn't relevant.

Our socials aren't required attendance. We pay for ourselves if we choose to go.

The question was about the company expecting the employee to pay. So my expectations in the same situation was relevant in giving my answer to the question.

Of course the company can do what they want, it's more about perceived fairness. You're happy to pay, good for you.

In my experience the occasional work social is free, but almost all of them are optional, and you pay if you want to attend

One where the big bosses are involved....I'd expect it would be paid for by the company. One that was organised by and for colleagues, I'd expect to pay.

Large company employees paid for themselves.
Small place I am at now they pay for Christmas and one summer event, all others is pay for yourself if you are attending.

If attendance is expected and being organised by high level management - they pay. Anything remotely described as recognition, team building, networking they pay . Not my idea of fun being expected to give up my evening to hang with bosses and do stuff that will help the bottom line - they want me there, they pay

purely optional, being organised by peers or immediate boss, for social gathering within a team or department- I pay. That’s cover birthdays, leaving dos, haven’t been out in a while dos, fancy a drink dos etc

This

If compulsory they should pay. If just a fun evening out then them buying a round of drinks is nice but not essential.

Dp's company pays for everything even taxis. Partners get invited too