Christmas Work Parties

[Warpaint]

Do you enjoy them or avoid them at all costs? Have they gone dramatically wrong or just plain boring? I've never encountered one where anyone has been sacked but you always hear all the stories

A few years ago I used to love them, but my team changed, my hours changed and now I just couldn't be arsed. Plus are work doesn't pay for them so it always ends up pricey. And don't get me started at diving the bill at the end of the meal! Absolute carnage where you always feel ripped off

 

[pinkmug]

I can't be arsed with any work related socialising. I'm not particularly close with anyone, we've very few in common. I do attend the sort-of-obligatory gatherings just to show up but it's tedious. Seeing colleagues drunk makes me cringe and frankly, I'd rather be doing anything else.

 

[TheSlayer]

Hated them all with a passion after the wife of a collegue many many years ago, decided to attack me verbally at a christmas event because I was vegetarian and she, being a scientist, thought it was pathetic.

It affected no one else but me and I have NEVER made an issue of it..

Not one other collegue stuck up for me, including the owners.

I never spoke to that colleague again until he left 2 years later!

Avoid all company events since or slide off early if obligatory.

 

[jackolantern]

Could think of few things I'd rather do. The dentist would be more preferable. Forced socialising with colleagues after work when all I want to do is go home. Noooooooope.

 

[Ndrangheta]

Do you do secret santa?

 

[bcfc999]

Hate them. Moving jobs a couple of weeks before Christmas and trying to figure out how to tell my current colleagues that no, actually, I won't be coming to the Christmas meal anymore because I didn't want to go even when I worked there!

 

[Warpaint]

Do you do secret santa?

Some years we have, but normally someone will send an email about it and it will be largely ignored

 

[Rosie glow]

Hate them with a passion luckily I don't have them in my work place anymore a few of them have their own night out which I avoid like the plague.
I used to get dragged along to my husbands Xmas parties god that was tedious it was basically watching a bunch of people I don't know getting twatted and we had to pay for our own meals he's left that job now thank god

 

[Suzesnooze]

I loved them when I was younger and I worked for a company where everyone was relatively young. Everyone copping off etc (even the married ones!) but nowadays I can't be arsed with them. I went to about 2 in 6 years in my last job (but made excuses to leave early!) and my job I'm in now, I don't bother.

I also HATE secret santa but feel forced into it or they all think you're a miserable sod!

 

[ElektraWintour]

I do agree with the sentiment that your colleagues aren’t your friends but I’ll be the first one to say I am going to my Christmas do this year (& have been previously). I’m cheap and will turn up for a free 3 course meal and a couple of drinks

 

[AshMay]

I don't mind a do depending how close I am with colleagues but I hate secret santa and other forced fun!!

 

[StrangeBadger]

I go to our work one, it's alright but mostly people get too drunk and it's weird at work afterwards.

I've been interviewing for new jobs and one company asked me if I drink and like going out. Pretty big red flag there for me, its got me thinking that's not the place for me!

 

[givepeasachance]

I haven't joined in Secret Santa for a few years now due to the absolute shite I have received in the past! Don't need any more tat in my life.

We have a team meal, which is a massive effort, and utterly exhausting. I'm hugely uncomfortable in groups, and don't enjoy it but made a pact with myself that it's the one thing I make myself do.

There's also an evening do which I avoid - there is so much gossip the morning after, ripping people to shreds for what they were wearing, who they were talking to, how they were behaving etc, even if it was harmless. I wouldn't feel comfortable going, feeling that everything I did or said was being noted.

I don't do Christmas cards either.

Fully aware that I come across as a miserable sod, but the older I get the less I give a tit.

 

[Milktray]

I hate work Christmas parties, hate them!
Not because I'm anti-social but because I'd rather spend my money on a meal that I like with people who I enjoy being with.

Christmas party - Urgh. Always at the local village hotel. With a set 3 course meal, mediocre at best...but Gobby Gaby doesn't give a tit as she announces 'as long as I can get pissed, who gives a shite about the meal?'.
'I do Gaby, I do'...

I'd happily reject. I very quickly say 'I'll let you know' but I know that I'll be forced into it by Shithead Shell. 'come on don't be a bore'.

8 hours later, I'm demented. Anything for a quiet life.

I know I'm paying £40 to either make my excuses on the night 'I can't go, I've got vertigo'....or say, 'I can only stay for the meal'.

Never ends up just being the meal. Before I know it, I'm on the table, spinning my bra around my head. I've made a complete tit of myself and I caught a glimpse of Shithead Shell's vagina. Who doesn't shut the toilet door?!

No...work christmas parties are the worst. I hate them.

 

[Web30]

I have enjoyed the few we have had, not had one since covid hit and the guy that organised them has now left so i cant see anymore happning.

 

[Warpaint]

I have enjoyed the few we have had, not had one since covid hit and the guy that organised them has now left so i cant see anymore happning.

I used to be a bit of an organizer with another colleague but once they left it kind of fizzled out as I didn't want the hassle of getting everyone together on my own. You'd send an email and the replies were like:

'Can't do this date, can we make it 15th'

'Can't do 15th, how about we make it 18th'

'18th no good, 15th would be fine for me though'

And it goes round in circles for weeks on end

 

[no-no]

Not my thing but have one this year 300 miles away and don’t want to go Hoping the trains strike or something. I hate “going out” full stop but the faff of travel and getting ready in a hotel is

 

[Mamacita]

I'm lucky and I've always had decent people I worked with so enjoy Xmas parties. I don't go to wider company ones though, we usually tend to have smaller ones with people we work closely with.

 

[svdwoodsen]

Do you enjoy them or avoid them at all costs? Have they gone dramatically wrong or just plain boring? I've never encountered one where anyone has been sacked but you always hear all the stories

A few years ago I used to love them, but my team changed, my hours changed and now I just couldn't be arsed. Plus are work doesn't pay for them so it always ends up pricey. And don't get me started at diving the bill at the end of the meal! Absolute carnage where you always feel ripped off

If a workplace insists on holding a mandatory social event, the company should always pay and it should mostly be during or close to work hours. I have no interest in paying money to spend time with a ton of people I barely tolerate in the name of "socializing" and I definitely don't want to do it on my own time. It's criminal that your company doesn't at least pay for dinner and drinks!

I do enjoy smaller get-togethers with select work friends and we are all happy to split the bill in those situations.

 

[MrsBsDayOff]

I don't like my colleagues so hate the Christmas party.
In 15 years since I got a job from uni, I've only ever enjoyed the Christmas party twice I think, that was when I worked with my old colleagues who I liked and am still friends with outside work.
I'm considering skipping this years party. I just couldn't give a toss about socialising after 5pm with people I don't like, and I know I can give a convincing excuse.
I tolerate them in working hours and that's it.