Christmas lunch / party

CIS

We used to have an office Christmas eve party in the office where the managers bought the drink - now we work in an alcohol free building and mention of a Christmas party would get you sacked for showing some sort of joviality.

angeltreats

I work for a pretty large company in the south west of England. Our Christmas party is on a Saturday night at a very posh hotel in Wales. The company books the whole hotel for the staff plus everyone's partners (I think last year they had to book a second hotel as there were so many people) and we get a four course meal, plus all our drinks paid for. The only expense we have is travel to the hotel (petrol/public transport), plus whatever we're wearing (it's black tie).

Each department also tends to organise its own night out, which we pay for ourselves. Our department is going to a local restaurant for a three course meal which will be about £25 per head. It's not compulsory, but almost everyone goes and we are all looking forward to it. And our head of department buys everyone's drink out of his own pocket.

I don't mind giving up my free time, because I like my workmates and the company does look after us, and the hotel night for the whole company is something we would probably never be able to afford normally.

StaffieTerrier

We have an evening party for the whole department. The lunchtime before the party our section goes for Christmas lunch in the canteen. Both are self funded. Most of the senior staff will buy a round of drinks for their teams. They are also quite reasonable about us wandering late the next day (it's usually a mid-week party), as long as we make up the time over the course of the week.

Deep_In_Debt

Our main one is after work but the team one is usually lunch time and it's classed as company time. We don't have to take a half day or holiday or anything. Plus we have a canteen lunch.

The company pay for the evening one and the team one but the canteen one is self funded but as the canteen is heavily subsidised and the meal is not expensive, I'm happy to pay for that.

arbroath_lass

We only go for lunch. We use an hour of our own time and the rest is paid. We pay for it ourselves although managers will generally buy a drink for their teams. Every year there is a fuss about who is driving and doesn't get "a drink" (I generally drive - it's lunch !!!!!! no-one NEEDS alcohol). We also have to find cover for the phones or we can't all go together.

Pupnik

In my old job we got the time off but had to pay for our meals, and as I was paid by the hour I of course did not get paid for it (but the people with salaries did).

In my present job from what I gather there is some sort of Christmas thing but I haven't been asked to attend, when I find out what day it is I'll probably book it off as holiday as the last time everyone left for lunch without inviting me it was extremely awkward.

LadyMissA

Pupnik wrote: »

In my old job we got the time off but had to pay for our meals, and as I was paid by the hour I of course did not get paid for it (but the people with salaries did).

In my present job from what I gather there is some sort of Christmas thing but I haven't been asked to attend, when I find out what day it is I'll probably book it off as holiday as the last time everyone left for lunch without inviting me it was extremely awkward.

why are you not asked?

Flat_Eric

arbroath_lass wrote: »

We only go for lunch. We use an hour of our own time and the rest is paid. We pay for it ourselves although managers will generally buy a drink for their teams. Every year there is a fuss about who is driving and doesn't get "a drink" (I generally drive - it's lunch !!!!!! no-one NEEDS alcohol). We also have to find cover for the phones or we can't all go together.

Yes its always a faff isn't it. Its rare for our office to be closed over lunch (for example for a leaving do or birthday meal) unless its the xmas one because of cover for phones. Our xmas party hasn't been planned yet (to my knowledge) but I expect there there will probably be the usual argument about what day its going to be and what will suit some will not suit others !!

Torry_Quine

I'm genuinely surprised by how many people get time off from work for a Christmas party!! Even more that some get it paid for by employers. When I worked the night out wasn't in work time or paid for. I certainly wouldn't have expected anything else.

Some people are very well cared for.

Flat_Eric

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I'm genuinely surprised by how many people get time off from work for a Christmas party!! Even more that some get it paid for by employers. When I worked the night out wasn't in work time or paid for. I certainly wouldn't have expected anything else.

Some people are very well cared for.

One of my first xmas work parties I went to was in a big hotel and for some reason the bar staff disappeared so my bosses went behind the bar and started serving the drinks (writing down what drinks were being served). It was a good night !