Are work xmas parties (and bonus) dead?

**Juice**

We had a Christmas party that we all paid for and organised ourselves. We also used to get a little voucher for Christmas lunch and some chocolates, then we just got the chocolates and the last few years there hasn't been anything.

I start a new job in January and they have their party in January and have invited me - it's all provided by the company, it's a large local company that are big on staff retention and loyalty.

FBaby

Another public sector worker, so nothing is offered to staff for celebrations, all is organised within the office. I do think that considering how much we pay some people just to attend a meeting, whether they contribute or not, and how much money is wasted in lunches when they are present, a contribution towards a Christmas meal wouldn't be uncalled for, but here it goes. What does annoy me though is that although we have to pay everything, there is an expectation that everyone should go. I refuse to go, don't care what other's say or think, but I know a lot of people go only because they feel they have to. It is a lot of money for many people. I in addition to Christmas have three birthdays to fund between Christmas and return to work, so any pound count. I was offered my job last January when we were going through redundancy and didn't attend last Christmas meal, so think I will stick to Chritmas meal amongst friends!

zagfles

FBaby wrote: »

Another public sector worker, so nothing is offered to staff for celebrations, all is organised within the office. I do think that considering how much we pay some people just to attend a meeting, whether they contribute or not, and how much money is wasted in lunches when they are present, a contribution towards a Christmas meal wouldn't be uncalled for, but here it goes. What does annoy me though is that although we have to pay everything, there is an expectation that everyone should go. I refuse to go, don't care what other's say or think, but I know a lot of people go only because they feel they have to. It is a lot of money for many people. I in addition to Christmas have three birthdays to fund between Christmas and return to work, so any pound count. I was offered my job last January when we were going through redundancy and didn't attend last Christmas meal, so think I will stick to Chritmas meal amongst friends!

Yes some Christmas do venues are very expensive - my wife's was £30 each plus expensive drinks on top, plus a taxi back as it was in the middle of nowhere. Over £50 in total.

But for ours we went for an Indian buffet, £7 a head, then off into town to a few pubs. Total cost was under £20 including enough drink to make me feel very unwell the next morning:o

molerat

My son gets about 3 paid for with overnight stay functions a year, that's the financial services / accountancy sector for you :mad:

jackieb

My OH gets an invite to the do but is usually away so he gets M&S vouchers instead. But I think that's only for those who are joined the social club - that costs £4 a month and for that you get free membership of a gym as well, which OH never uses! At least he gets his money back via the vouchers.

Everyone at my brother's work got a Kindle.

ska_lover

Some one said something earlier about 'excutiating mandatory xmas parties' and sometimes they really are.

At one firm I worked, I had to leave the annual p*ss up early, around 7.30pm (we had been in full swing since 1pm) as I had a previous engagement...but I was the second member of staff to leave.

A couple of months later, after the redundancy notices were handed out to the whole branch, myself and the other lady who had to leave (to pick up kids!) were told by the nasty woman who ran HR single handedly that we had been percieved to be ungrateful - after we had left early. Seeing as we were being made redundant anway, my colleague went bezerk and told this HR witch exactly what she thought of her. HR lady went pale.

967stuart

My work is taking us down the pub for a few beers and we get a couple of bottles of wine and a Christmas cake.
Not too bad.

asparagusnextleft

I'm public sector too so our Christmas party was organised by the department I work in and everyone paid for themselves. It was also in their own time, during an afternoon so everyone had to take time off to go.

I didn't go - I joined the department after it had all been organised and booked (in June!!!) but in any case, I've always found Christmas parties very, very cringeworthy. I'm not a misery guts, I just don't like Christmas office parties so prefer to give them a miss.

I've only had one job (in over 20 years) where the Christmas party (I say party, there were only 5 of us so it was actually a nice meal out followed by drinks, and on work's time too!) was all paid for by the employer.

DCFC79

Current job there was a christmas party but i didnt attend as i didnt like the options for the meal(saw it a waste of money for food i wouldnt enjoy). Previous employer again organised a night out at the local Horse race track but i never attended as I didnt want to end up saying anything i shouldnt say to the owner or anyone else.

First and second job we were given vouchers and a bonus respectively. Id rather organise a night out with people i like so i would enjoy it better.

eamon

I work for a housing association. We get nothing except reminders to forward all gifts except pocket diaries/pens/wall calenders to HQ when they will be raffled. My section organised and paid for its own lunch last Friday. Previous private sector employers were more generous until HMRC decided to become scrooge and class any gift over £10 in value (per financial year) as a a taxable benefit in kind. I don't know if that is still the case. Anyway the logistics involved in organising any company sponsored function (or for that matter any non sponsored function as well) would put of the most battle seasoned party planner. My line manager organised one a few years back, a thankless task and she vowed never again.