Christmas lunch / party

RuthnJasper

Ours are as Tiddly says in the OP, up to the managers' discretion. Am public sector, so many changes of late. Previous manager used to pay for the works from his own pocket and we'd have it during work-time. Nothing like that since he left, but we organised our own at the local last year, had a Secret Santa at work and the shindig in the evening - all at our own expense but still fun.

However, one member of the team, who manages two other members, always buys them a crate of beer each and takes them for a pub lunch on the last working day, out of his own pocket.

Not necessarily because it ought to be a corporate responsibility, a managerial obligation, or a business expense - but because it's the decent thing to do.

Intoodeep

At our Company we knock off at 12.30'ish on the final days work before Christmas go to local pub, free 4 course meal, free bar and everybody gets paid until 5pm.

Tiddlywinks

Thanks all - keep them coming as I'm really interested to see what other organisations are offering - it's the "managers discretion" that is the issue where I work. Some are giving time, some not. Some are OK with last day mince pies and music and some not...


As to this:

SarEl wrote: »

Christmas parties - the biggest cause of disciplinaries and dismissals after Facebook! It's amazing what people will say/do after a drink or two. You have been warned...

I had a chap who worked for me - he was in his early 60s and a lovely, friendly chap who took an interest in everyone. One year, he asked one of the young casual workers for a kiss under the mistletoe (after he'd come back from the christmas lunch and was on his way to the pub) - she started to cry and said he made a grab for her and frightened her. She said she thought he was going to assault her.

The whole thing turned into a nightmare for all of us. We had to have an official investigation, he was disciplined and only just held onto his job, his wife was none too happy with him and it made my life a living hell for months as I had to manage the fall-out from the team.

He was "old-school" where asking for a kiss would have been a joke, she was new to work and a bit naive about how to handle drunks and the attention of work colleagues.

Ultimately, there are no excuses - being drunk does not allow you to go overboard as you will still be held to account.

LadyMissA

Intoodeep wrote: »

At our Company we knock off at 12.30'ish on the final days work before Christmas go to local pub, free 4 course meal, free bar and everybody gets paid until 5pm.

is that optional? Can you just go home at 12.30?

burnoutbabe

agrinnall wrote: »

I could be wrong (haven't worked for the last 3 years so my Christmas party knowledge is a bit rusty) but I seem to remember that for a company to subsidise their employees that has to be offered to ALL employees, not just a subset. Somebody else may be able to confirm or contradict this, but if it is the case then I would get back on to head office and point it out to them.

it does have to be all employees for it to be allowable as a some tax deduction - as long as under £75 per head (or was a while ago).

its some tax thing anyway, maybe its actually the employer NI aspect on employee benefits/entertaining.

Callie22

We get two hours flexi-time to go for a Christmas lunch or meal. Nothing is organised by the company and going out for a meal tends to be organised on a departmental basis - some departments do, some don't. If you do go out, then you pay for yourself.

RuthnJasper

Not sure if anyone's seen this - one of those "round robin" smiles that was passed about a while ago. It was sent to me, somewhat ironically, by my former manager (the one who used to pay for our Chrimble do each year)!

CHRISTMAS PARTY
> FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
> TO: All Employees
> DATE: 1st November 2005
> RE: Christmas Party
> I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take
> place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function
> room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of
> drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...please
> feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if the MD shows up
> dres sed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1.00p.m.
> Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however,
> no gift should be over £10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for
> everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! The MD
> will make a special announcement at the Party.
> Merry Christmas to you and your Family.
> Pauline
>

---

>

---

> FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
> TO: All Employees
> DATE: 2nd November 2005
> RE: Holiday Party
> In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish
> employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which
> often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year.
> However, from now on we're calling it our 'Holiday Party'. The same
> policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians. There
> will be no Christmas tree or Christmas carols sung. We will have
> other types of music for your enjoyment.
> Happy now?
> Happy Holidays to you and your family.
> Pauline.
>

---

>

---

> FROM; Pauline, Human Resources Director
> TO: All Employees
> DATE: 6th November 2005
> RE: Holiday Party
> Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous
> requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm
> happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table
> that reads, 'AA Only', you wouldn't be anonymous anymore!!!! How am
> I supposed to handle this? Somebody? Forget about the gift exchange,
> no gift exchange allowed now since the Union Officials feel that
> £10.00 is too much money and Management believe £10.00 is a little
> cheap. NO GIFT EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.
> Pauline.
>

---

>

---

> FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
> TO: All Employees
> DATE: 7th November 2005
> RE: Holiday Party
> What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins
> the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking
> during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can
> appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate
> our Muslim employees' beliefs, perhaps the Grill House can hold off
> on serving your meal until the end of the party - or else package
> everything up for you to take home in a little foil doggy bag. Will
> that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Wa tchers
> to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get
> the table closest to the toilets, Gays are allowed to sit with each
> other, Lesbians do not have to sit with gay men, each will have
> their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangements for the gay
> men's table too. To the person asking permission to cross dress - no
> cross dressing allowed. We will have booster seats for short people.
> Low fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot
> control the salt used in the food we suggest those people with high
> blood pressure taste the food first. There will be fresh fruits as
> dessert for Diabetics; the restaurant cannot supply 'No Sugar'
> desserts. Sorry! Did I miss anything?!?!?!?!?!
> Pauline.
>

---

>

---

> FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
> TO: All F****** Employees
> DATE: 8 November 2005
> RE: The F******* Holiday Party.
> Vegetarian pricks I've had it with you people !!! We're going to
> keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so
> you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the 'grill of death',
> as you so quaintly put it, you'll get your f****** salad bar,
> including organic tomatoes, But you know tomatoes have feelings20too,
> They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing
> the scream right NOW!!
> I hope you all have a rotten holiday, drink drive and die.
> The !!!!! from HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>

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>

---

> FROM: John, Acting Human Resources Director
> TO: All Employees
> DATE: 9th November 2005
> RE: Pauline Lewis and Holiday Party
> I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pauline a speedy recovery,
> and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, the
> Management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and instead, give
> everyone the afternoon of the 23rd December off with full pay.
> John

:D x

moneypuddle

Wow my boss seems pretty generous with xmas. Ours party is on the evening of Monday 19th Dec this year so we have the Monday off (full pay), party in the evening then a recovery day on the Tuesday (second paid day off on full pay), and then return to work for wed and thurs before finishing for xmas. The days off don't have to come out of our holiday allocation - they are just given to us as freebies, and its been like this for the last 5 years

[Deleted User]

There are only 14 of us where I work, we just decide Year to Year. Last Year we went to the Pantomime at 2pm then to Chinese Buffet, so was part work time and part own time. It's not forced, usually 1 or 2 don't come. When I worked in recruitment we didn't have a Christmas Party due to different relgions, we had an "End of Year" Party. This took place in January (probably cheaper) and was a Very Grand Affair. They paid for staff plus partners to have a night in a hotel usually in the Countryside. Location varied North, South, Midlands and it was a black tie event. They paid for hotel, meal and wine on table, you had to get yourself there and got no time off but it was such a treat you wouldnt consider it, despite that fact it was a whole weekend... Happy Days!
:beer::beer::beer:

Flat_Eric

Where I work now (and where I used to work) had the party at lunchtime - so its go into work for the morning - knock off for an early lunch and don't go back until the next day / after the weekend. Typically the morning is spent only doing essential items / mixed with getting ready for the party _party_