It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

minimacka

I am really lucky where i work because i am the only girl :j so we dont have many wip rounds, the last one was for a collegue who had a baby girl so i left a box with a slot in the top on the desk and if anyone wanted to contrubte they could if not then no-one noticed anyway. We are all either friends or family so we all get on really well. Our bosses always pay for our Christmas do and our drinks and so everyone is looking forward to it. I used to think working with all men was a bit of a pain when all they talk about is football but they arnt bit£hy and are a right laugh so i think i have the perfect job. They are also so moneysaving we all have access to computers and tell each other what bargains/deals are to be had which is fab so we never miss out.

They are also very greatfull for the cupcakes and biscuits that i bring in for them and never complain that they cant fit into there clothes :rotfl:

Patchwork_Quilt

I feel very sorry that people have been made to feel awkward about contributions and meals out. I really think some people have no idea how hard it is. Our problem is always booze. We're not big drinkers and it seems such a waste to spend so much money on alcohol we're not having. A friend of ours always orders a big jug of tap water for the whole table and takes one glass of water inbetween her glasses of wine. We've started doing that too and it does cut the cost down.

Bargain_Rzl

minimacka wrote: »

I am really lucky where i work because i am the only girl :j so we dont have many wip rounds, the last one was for a collegue who had a baby girl so i left a box with a slot in the top on the desk and if anyone wanted to contrubte they could if not then no-one noticed anyway. We are all either friends or family so we all get on really well. Our bosses always pay for our Christmas do and our drinks and so everyone is looking forward to it. I used to think working with all men was a bit of a pain when all they talk about is football but they arnt bit£hy and are a right laugh so i think i have the perfect job.

Will probably get flamed for this as it isn't very feminist, but another advantage of working for a male-dominated company (engineering, in my case) is that the men, especially the older and better-paid ones, tend to offer to buy the drinks once the company tab runs out :whistle:

charlies-aunt

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

Will probably get flamed for this as it isn't very feminist, but another advantage of working for a male-dominated company (engineering, in my case) is that the men, especially the older and better-paid ones, tend to offer to buy the drinks once the company tab runs out :whistle:

:rotfl: Quite right - so they should ! :rotfl:

:beer:
These colleagues will get a lot of pleasure in being allowed to treat their younger not-so-well paid lady colleagues to a drink or two now and again.
:beer:

pagangirl

Have to share this - the Christmas night out has now been called off as more people have said it was too expensive etc. etc.

It has now been downgraded to a lunch at the local pub that does turkey & stuffing baguettes - seems like everyone will enjoy pub better than expensive night out.:D

We have also had the e-mail round asking to put money in instead of buying/sending Christmas Cards. (Allydowd - do you work for the NHS? Just wondering coz we got similar e-mail round the same time):rolleyes:

BigMummaF

Yeah! Let's hear it for People Power
Now to get it working on the banks, insurance companies, government, shops......

Austin_Allegro

allydowd wrote: »

I have finally learned to say 'no' to these collections. I was tired of being pressurised into parting with 'only a tenner' every week for various collections and being called names if I so much as hesitated to contribute. I only earn £110 a week. A tenner is a lot of money. The the final straw was being asked to give a tenner to a good cause in place of giving 20 Christmas cards to colleagues as an "environmental measure". I would have spent less than a pound on these 20 cards, so there was no way I could afford a ten pound note!

So now I have a reputations as a 'tight wad' and I don't care! I just say 'no', hold my head up, and walk off. My family need to eat and be warm, and that comes first.

Good for you. This ridiculous 'wealthier than thou' attitude and people spending what they don't have is largely to blame for our entire economy reaching the brink of collapse.

Hardup_Hester

On the subject of Christmas Do's, the work do was last Friday, £30 a head, venue was freezing, not enough food, dj useless, everyone's complaining, I'm so glad I said no!
Hester

Primrose

On the topic of agreeing policies relating to work related Christmas parties/celebrations, maybe the best time to address this is early in the New Year, when people are hard up and there and there is no immediate pressure on anybody to say Yes or No to attendance. Many people will be belt-tightening anyway so it's possible a little more honesty and less hypocracy will enter into the discussion about what to do in future years.
Hester - bet some of your colleagues are now wishing they'd had your courage and stayed home!

Rummer

Good Evening. Looks like I will be joining the people who's families have been affected by redundancy. My OH got a call today to say that they are closing his workplace down and that there will be a meeting about it later. We are clinging on as it is, this may be the last straw.