Do Christmas festivities still exist in the workplace?

persa

SarEl wrote: »

It would also be sort of interesting to take a straw poll and see how many of these "freebies" are paid for by private sector companies (which I am not complaining about - it's just an observation) and how many have ever been paid for out of "public funds" by public sector employers. because in the latter category, I have never known anything but either the staff paid for it or the Director/boss paid for it.

But as a minor "mention" for anyone who hasn't had the Christmas party yet....anyone want to guess when employment lawyers busiest period is for gross misconduct dismissals? Be warned that "free alcohol" is not the same thing as permission to indulge in "free conduct". The most sensible person I know is my pal (assistant Chief Exec, public sector, shortly to be made redundant - but probably not quite as easily as his employers think!), who is required to show up to half the parties going, and drinks Coca Cola. Until he gets home anyway.

My employer is quite generous - we get a posh meal with booze and a Christmas bonus. But we're a small, private sector services company - so the value of the business is in the employees' expertise. Our clients pay for our knowledge rather than tangible goods, so it's business sense to try and keep a happy ship.

I have a friend who works for the NHS and gets sod all in freebies. The general advice if you're underpaid is to go find another employer, but my friend and her co-workers can't bear to go into the private sector, because they feel responsible for all the patients who can't afford to pay for healthcare. There is a perception that medical staff earn megabucks - but they really don't and I actually find that upsetting. I do perform a skilled job, but the people I know who work in the NHS for less than me perform a far more important job - they genuinely help save lives.

We undervalue medical staff in this country.

sarah_barker

Our company pay for a three course on-site christmas dinner, shopping hours for old-timers and a box of chocs/wine. Each department does a variety of things in the run up - secret santa, 12 days of christmas raffle and buffets. it's lovely really!

prowla

Our works put on a Christmas do last weekend, and also a plated Christmas lunch in the canteen during the week.

SS01

Not a thing from my company.

No bonus, no gift or even a card and no money towards staff dinner.

It's not really about the money for me but we are very busy this time of year and the pressure is on with all the extra customers about and it would be great for the management to show a bit of thanks and gratitude for our efforts.

This year even our opening times have barely changed as we normally would close a bit earlier on Christmas Eve and New Year but the only difference now is an hour earlier on Chritmas Eve, 10PM instaed of 11, and it does affect staff morale a bit as even a few hours home eralier that night can make you feel a little better, especially considering many of my staff will be back in again from 8AM Boxing Day.

Takeaway_Addict

SS01 wrote: »

Not a thing from my company.

No bonus, no gift or even a card and no money towards staff dinner.

It's not really about the money for me but we are very busy this time of year and the pressure is on with all the extra customers about and it would be great for the management to show a bit of thanks and gratitude for our efforts.

This year even our opening times have barely changed as we normally would close a bit earlier on Christmas Eve and New Year but the only difference now is an hour earlier on Chritmas Eve, 10PM instaed of 11, and it does affect staff morale a bit as even a few hours home eralier that night can make you feel a little better, especially considering many of my staff will be back in again from 8AM Boxing Day.

But as someone pointed out, did you thank your bosses for keeping you employed?

EndlessStruggle

I work in a college and we have an office party and a christmas meal for all of the staff with free drinks and they pay for it not us.

sharnad

Christmas meal arty organised paid for ourselves. After work nothing from employer

SS01

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

But as someone pointed out, did you thank your bosses for keeping you employed?

The fact that I turn up on time, or early to be exact, every day, have had sales increase virtually every week this year and generally go about my job in a pleasant manner should indicate I'm fairly happy doing a good job for my employer and thankful for my job.

As I said it's not really about the money just a little bit of gratitude this time of year would go a long way with my staff.

ntb1

We have a meal and drinks paid by the company a bottle of wine. I've been luck as every company I've worked for in the last 20 years has done at least a meal.

angeltreats

We are lucky at my company.

The whole of head office get an all expenses (apart from travel) paid night to a very nice 4* hotel with champagne reception, dinner, live band and free bar until midnight, including our accommodation, and a raffle with some lovely prizes (I managed to win an iPad!).

We also get a lovely hamper from the company, and our managers buy us a bottle of wine.

Then there is always a team lunch which we pay for ourselves (but we get an extended lunch break of two hours and this is when we do a secret santa), and a team night out which we also pay for, but neither of these are compulsory.

Someone actually whinged about the contents of the hamper because he didn't like some of the chocolates/biscuits/whatever, I felt like slapping him. We are better looked after at this company than at any other company I've ever worked for and morale is pretty good as a result, but there's always someone who's never happy.