Office Christmas lunch

Gavin83

codemonkey wrote: »

just be honest about it. I'm not going to our office Christmas lunch this year, partly because I have no money, and partly cause the last one I went to was so dire I ended up just getting drunk.

Anyway, I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings or take the day off so this is what I said

"Sorry, I'd love to come but I have loads of Christmas presents to buy and a wedding to pay for, and sadly, I just can't afford it this year."

Nobody has started treating me like a pauper yet.

isn't getting drunk the point of the Christmas party?

I really don't see what the big deal is, if you can't afford to go or even if you don't want to go, just tell them. I don't see the need for all these excuses.

Anyway we always have to pay our way here and I don't think There is going to be a large Christmas party. I am going out this Saturday with my team instead but I like them all so I'm happy to do this.

esmf73

Have to second Tealady's idea - offer to man the phones etc instead. Or just say that you have an appointment that you can't get out of - the Dentist one was great - go for a drink and then peel off after one drink.

Think that very few companies will be offering the open bar as they might have done in previous years.

londoner1998

Thank you all for your replies- it does make me feel better to know I am not alone! To top it up, I got an email last night before going home- Christmas Lunch with a Disapora Society I am a member of (I emigrated to the UK 12 years ago)- this is 15 quid and free drinks, music and a few people I know and like a lot, apart from the fact that it is a celebration of my roots as well- my OH loves this (and the food! he is always volunteering to help the Society) and there will be also a photograpic exhibition, that incidentally, ties in with my studies (working and studying at the moment). That one I would really like to attend- it is on Saturday and OH will come too...his 12 year old daughter can come to the meal for free. I can afford 15 but not 40 pounds!
I am uncomfortable with the idea of lying at work but I don't want to explain myself either- I already intimated to my manager earlier this morning that I might need to take a couple of days off that week (which I was already planning to do, to catch up with my studies), so I think I will have a NSD that day by staying at home and catching up with my reading...

Thank you all- every year I dread this type of events- it is never ending, and particularly in my office, I already had to pass a couple of lunches in the past few weeks... this is starting to be a weekly occurrance (either brugers on Friday or drinks... anytime) and I really am much more frugal than that, and keep my outings to my free and personal time...

Ax

Gavin83

Well don't lie then if you don't like the idea of it. Why can't you just say you haven't got the money available?

londoner1998

Gavin 83

Becasue as I said, I don't want to justify myself- period. Do I have to? I have already mentioned it twice that I thought it was quite expensive, but the culture in my office is just like this- they like it flashy and bringing food in (which I have done before in others jobs, even within the same company) just doesn't go down well here.

My bosses are lovely people and I really don't want them to change it for me-one of them is already going around in circles trying to pick a restaurant that keeps everyone happy. The rest of the office (in particular, a couple of individuals, or rather, one individual) are the problem.

I have done it before, and believe me, it doesn’t go down well. Not that I care, but I want to make my time here as easy as possible. So for me, following a plan that was half-baked in mind before this whole thing Christmas lunch is the best option given the fact I have a lot on in mhy personal live. I see what you mean about being completely honest, but with age, I have also learnt to pick my battles and I really don’t want to have to explain myself to a certain individual. As I said, I have already declined a number of lunches and I don’t feel like doing it again- should I be ashamed of trying to be tactful?

FatVonD

I loathe and detest work lunches, I paid my £5 deposit but sadly was ill this year so couldn't go

I feel the same about secret Santa, it's not that I begrudge the fiver (I'd happily donate it to charity if that's what everyone decided to do) but it seems a shameful waste for lots of people to each spend a fiver on tat that nobody would have bought for themselves.

For many years I'd track down who had my name and then tell them what I wanted, (being another of advancing years ) this year I just said I didn't want to take part but was more than happy for them to.

*Bah humbug*

diable

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

Your post made me laugh, Diable, but if you're a newbie in the office you don't want to give all your secrets away .

Until you mentioned the baby I thought phwoarhhhhhh ;o)))


only kidding.......

Starrystarrynight

I told my work that my OH's do was the same night and we'd already paid to go to that LOL The place they booked does all fancy stuff. I know I wouldn't eat most of it, being very fussy, and it was nearly £30 so there was just no chance I'd go.

Savvy_Sue

donquine wrote: »

If anyone has a good way to get out of Christmas lunch, please let me know and I'll use it next year!

see tealady's suggestion ...

tealady wrote: »

When the peeps in my ofice suggested lunch I said as I was the newbie I would cover the phones and forego lunch, people seemed happy with that.
Though how I'm going to get out of next years I don't know, at least iIwill have 12 months to think of an excuse!

they may still be glad of your offer, if the office HAS to stay open!

the only place I've ever worked which did a big freebie (including free bar until meal served), the whole office was closed from 11.30 am. if you weren't going, you had to book leave. my problem was that we all got taken and brought back by coach, and there was no way I was doing THAT! 1 year I had to get back early for a carol concert, the next I offered to take a colleague home who lived out in the sticks and couldn't have gone without a lift home.

we also used to do team lunches, but my team couldn't all go unless we got someone to cover switchboard - not easy! however one of the team never went out for meals, and always offered to cover: I just made sure she knew that a) I really appreciated the offer and b) if she ever changed her mind I would do the phones myself!

londoner1998 wrote: »

Becasue as I said, I don't want to justify myself- period. Do I have to? I have already mentioned it twice that I thought it was quite expensive, but the culture in my office is just like this- they like it flashy and bringing food in (which I have done before in others jobs, even within the same company) just doesn't go down well here.

My bosses are lovely people and I really don't want them to change it for me-one of them is already going around in circles trying to pick a restaurant that keeps everyone happy. The rest of the office (in particular, a couple of individuals, or rather, one individual) are the problem.

I have done it before, and believe me, it doesn’t go down well. Not that I care, but I want to make my time here as easy as possible. So for me, following a plan that was half-baked in mind before this whole thing Christmas lunch is the best option given the fact I have a lot on in mhy personal live. I see what you mean about being completely honest, but with age, I have also learnt to pick my battles and I really don’t want to have to explain myself to a certain individual. As I said, I have already declined a number of lunches and I don’t feel like doing it again- should I be ashamed of trying to be tactful?

well, sometimes tact is over-rated, IMO. :rotfl: but no, you don't have to justify yourself. and good luck to your boss ... trying to please everyone! :rotfl:

glad you've thought of a good solution.

tara747

OP, I feel your pain!!! Thankfully our place has started to avail of the cheaper work do options the last 2 years... when it used to be £25 a head I refused to go two years running (made up an excuse lol). As one of the higher paid staff, I am also expected to cough up £20 for the drinks kitty. :eek:

This year, we're going £10 a head, much better imho. Still have to pay £20 towards kitty I think... actually maybe not, as it's BYO. Must check!

Good luck to all of you xoxo