The 'office' Christmas Party....

sunnyflower

Well I am obviously in the wrong job; nurses get nowt from the NHS, or in my case now, the Prison Service

But wherever I've worked, the christmas 'do' just doesn't 'do' it for me either. Money, see enough of colleagues at work, husband not interested....etc etc.

We are going out for a pub lunch, which is OK, be about £10, and as I'm at work anyway, don't need to worry about what to wear! I'm boycotting the Bran Tub though. Rather spend £10 on my nearest and dearest!

sunnyflower

tudybobs wrote: »

Our christmas party is completely free - there's a free and hot buffet but I'm desperately trying to think of excuses not to go!! Last year I hated it, I get on well with my colleagues at work but my partner and I ended up sat on our own as it's very cliquey at work and IO just don't fall in with any of them!!

Well it's a busy time of year, how about school play / carol service (if not your kids,someone elses!), clashes with husbands work do, relatives birthday. I've always got out of them, in the end they just assume you won't be going and won't bother harrassing you!

jamtart6

we were trying to think how much last years was...and it was £20 and then buy your own drinks which is really reasonable i think. we had a great time too. much better than £50

GreenNinja

I am lucky my boss is very generous, Xmas do includes your partner and costs nothing. Its usually 3 courses with entertainment in a really classy place and my boss pays for all the drink all night.

:T

marvalous

i'm lucky to work at a company where the Xmas do is all free. Last year we had our do at one of the main museums in London with three course dinner, entertainment all night :beer:free drinks and coaches to and from the office and the venue . When we got on the coach, they gave every one a mini bottle of champagne. ! it was fantastic.

Emms

Just thought I would add that my husband doesnt go to his cause hes boring and he hates Christmas boo! His isnt paid for either.

Emma

Kiwi

Well our Christmas party is all free. It is being held in the city 120 miles away, so you have to get down there at your own expense. But the meal, drinks, and motel rooms that night, for those of us who don't live in the city are all paid for. Oh and you can take your partner and kids if you want to.
Trouble is I don't travel well and really don't want to socialise with people I work with. Getting out of it is very difficult though.

prophecy_grrl

I'm so jealous of all the free Chistmas parties! Being a civil servant I don't even get a regular pay rise, nevermind a 'thank you' by way of a party / christmas bonus!

I am going to the do this year tho - it's going to set me back £25 for a 3 course meal, probably £10 for transport and I've budgetted £30 for drinks. I've already worked out how much I'll need for partying / presents / food shopping etc for Christmas and budgetted for it. I love christmas and am looking forward to it

debbiedeejay

I,too,work for the NHS,so no free Crimbo parties for us either,but I wouldn't expect it either.
Could you imagine the outroar if my boss at next years finance meeting asked for £500 extra for the staff Christmas party?
So spare a thought to anyone who works in a job that provides a service you take for granted,those District Nurses,the G.P Receptionists,Hospital Porters,etc etc-and if you have used the Nhs service just even one this year, a little packet of biccies and a card will be gratefully received or even just a thank you Christmas card coz we love it when we get these!


Anyway..........
We have in the past tried lots of different party combinations.Done the local hotel Xmas party packages,the pub ones, got together with the other departments in our building for a DIY buffet type thing.But there is no pressure on anyone if they don't want to come-and a few don't as they live too far away anyway.

We all pay for ourselves,some years OH could come,some years they couldn't.
The most expensive was one of those hotel do's-meal,hats,crackers,band and DJ and I think it was £25 + drinks.

There has always been staff not happy with the choice of venue EVERY year-but tough,we try to accomodate eveyones taste on a night out and I think this year those that want to go are off out for a Christmas Curry -great idea -but now there is argument with some staff as to which restaurant is the best to go to!:rolleyes:

It doesn't bother me -I'll go anywhere thats cheap and chearful -local chippy here I come(now there's an idea!)but to be honest I'm happy sat in the staff room at lunchtime munching on a homemade mince pie made by a thoughtful patient-now thats the true spirit of(MSE) Christmas.

laurajayne

We get a paid for Xmas do - and a couple of free team night outs a year. This is mostly to do with the fact that we all work from home - so I've only met my collegues in the flesh about 3 times

I've had work dos that I've had to pay for, and never gone too...always to skint. The only problem with the staff xmas party here is that it's in London, so I need to fork out for a hotel....but hey, I'm not complaining...I never go out anymore anyway!