Your Christmas Work Party 2017
Discussion
These now seem to fall into 1 of 3 categories.
1) The company books a couple of tables in a local restaurant
2) The company goes to a Golf Club which will have a couple of other local companies at. Smart Casual
3) Big marquee with "acts" and a smart dress code (Often Black Tie, but minimum Suit)
I've done all 3 in the past. Last night was our works one. The marquee type. The entertainment is ALWAYS the bleedin same regardless of events company. And so it was! Last night Gymnasts hanging from a rope/silk/framework. There were some terrible dancers who had 3 routines. One of which was literally waving some sticks on fire about. It's like watching the worst Olympic opening ceremony ever. Who decided that Dodgems is a thing to have at a Xmas party? Who buys those photo booth pics at £30 each?
The food is generally edible, if uninteresting and the green beans were tough as rope!
And of course the deserts are always straight out of the deep freeze!
And then you move to your colleagues. And often their partners!
No one wants to sit with the managers apart from other managers. They also ignore the staff. A quick walk round saying "hi guys" wouldn't go amiss, but seems so absent at many of these parties. There's always someone's wife who sits sour faced, not interacting with the table. There's always someone cracking on to someone else's partner/guest! There's the "secret couple" (everyone knows they are shagging but they wont admit it) that have a minor/major tiff (Last night was one being lambasted for ignoring the other. Looked pretty mutual ignoring tbh! ) Then the food is gone and despite being in a room full of roughly 500 people. People from different companies never acknowledge each other. Why is there always that guy from another company in a weird outfit (Lederhosen I saw!) Shame as some of the girls elsewhere were tidy. 
A "dj" will then f
k up "mixing" music as if they'd never seen the equipment before. I heard 3 tracks I like in 3-4 hours. Several guys will get wasted. Some will have taken some dancing powder (FFS you might not be technically at work, but you still kinda are! Choose your places!) Some will be happy to spunk the GDP of a small country on getting everyone drinks all night. And the Coke will be Pepsi and the Red Bull will be Kick. And the glasses aren't really that clean!
Can't wait to do it all again in 12 months
1) The company books a couple of tables in a local restaurant
2) The company goes to a Golf Club which will have a couple of other local companies at. Smart Casual
3) Big marquee with "acts" and a smart dress code (Often Black Tie, but minimum Suit)
I've done all 3 in the past. Last night was our works one. The marquee type. The entertainment is ALWAYS the bleedin same regardless of events company. And so it was! Last night Gymnasts hanging from a rope/silk/framework. There were some terrible dancers who had 3 routines. One of which was literally waving some sticks on fire about. It's like watching the worst Olympic opening ceremony ever. Who decided that Dodgems is a thing to have at a Xmas party? Who buys those photo booth pics at £30 each?
The food is generally edible, if uninteresting and the green beans were tough as rope!
And of course the deserts are always straight out of the deep freeze!And then you move to your colleagues. And often their partners!
No one wants to sit with the managers apart from other managers. They also ignore the staff. A quick walk round saying "hi guys" wouldn't go amiss, but seems so absent at many of these parties. There's always someone's wife who sits sour faced, not interacting with the table. There's always someone cracking on to someone else's partner/guest! There's the "secret couple" (everyone knows they are shagging but they wont admit it) that have a minor/major tiff (Last night was one being lambasted for ignoring the other. Looked pretty mutual ignoring tbh!
) Then the food is gone and despite being in a room full of roughly 500 people. People from different companies never acknowledge each other. Why is there always that guy from another company in a weird outfit (Lederhosen I saw!) Shame as some of the girls elsewhere were tidy. A "dj" will then fk up "mixing" music as if they'd never seen the equipment before. I heard 3 tracks I like in 3-4 hours. Several guys will get wasted. Some will have taken some dancing powder (FFS you might not be technically at work, but you still kinda are! Choose your places!) Some will be happy to spunk the GDP of a small country on getting everyone drinks all night. And the Coke will be Pepsi and the Red Bull will be Kick. And the glasses aren't really that clean!Can't wait to do it all again in 12 months
Ours is #3 at a relatively high profile gold resort this year - normally it’s at the Docklands Hilton
Open bar, all expensed for employee and partner etc...
Black tie optional (read into that what you will)
Personally I prefer them local, informal and messy ... less food the better (eating is cheating after all!)
Open bar, all expensed for employee and partner etc...
Black tie optional (read into that what you will)
Personally I prefer them local, informal and messy ... less food the better (eating is cheating after all!)
Ours is number 1 but organised by the staff because management say they can't afford to pay for a night out for 2000 staff.
I haven't been for years because after 5 it feels like a bad case of deja vu and you'd swear you already did this recently. I don't really like anyone I work with enough to socialise with them or watch them get drunk and make fools of themselves. Every year I get asked why I'm not going and I used to say I was already booked, now I just tell them it's because I don't like them, they think I'm joking.
I haven't been for years because after 5 it feels like a bad case of deja vu and you'd swear you already did this recently. I don't really like anyone I work with enough to socialise with them or watch them get drunk and make fools of themselves. Every year I get asked why I'm not going and I used to say I was already booked, now I just tell them it's because I don't like them, they think I'm joking.
sc0tt said:
Been a contractor for years so never been invited to xmas parties.
This year is the first as a permie and I told them I am busy as I’d rather circumsize myself with rusty scissors than spend one minute of my free time with them.
I still contract but now and again I get invited to the xmas party.This year is the first as a permie and I told them I am busy as I’d rather circumsize myself with rusty scissors than spend one minute of my free time with them.
To be very honest I would rather slide down a 40 foot rusty razor blade using my balls as brakes than attend.
I'm a one man band until January when things change.
For the past 2 years I have been invited to my largest clients work do. It's a No 3 off the OP's list - but black tie is required. It is a really good night, and I look forward to it. The food is very good considering that it is mass catering.
Last year I skipped the clubs, and will enjoy the same tactics of retiring back to the hotel bar instead this year.
For the past 2 years I have been invited to my largest clients work do. It's a No 3 off the OP's list - but black tie is required. It is a really good night, and I look forward to it. The food is very good considering that it is mass catering.
Last year I skipped the clubs, and will enjoy the same tactics of retiring back to the hotel bar instead this year.
Used to be a middle ground between 2 and 3 for the whole company + partners, I never went as I just don't like "formal do's" or big groups also you were expected to attend and it caused the major arse if you didn't; I want to go somewhere because I want to, not because I'm expected to.
Due to declining numbers a few years ago it was changed to £50 a head for employees only; do what you want to do, whether branch or department, this isn't a strict £50, as long as you don't take the piss.
We had our branch one last night at Las Iguanas, copious booze and good food and more importantly, informal and nice and relaxed.
Due to declining numbers a few years ago it was changed to £50 a head for employees only; do what you want to do, whether branch or department, this isn't a strict £50, as long as you don't take the piss.
We had our branch one last night at Las Iguanas, copious booze and good food and more importantly, informal and nice and relaxed.
360k employees at my firm so we don’t have a Christmas party thank god.
My little slice of the big pie keeps suggesting we do something like every year (lunch on a Thursday then bugger off early) but it’ll be forced fun. Have to go as I’m King (or at least I think of myself as King/insist to be called that) but I’ll scoot at the first opportunity.
My little slice of the big pie keeps suggesting we do something like every year (lunch on a Thursday then bugger off early) but it’ll be forced fun. Have to go as I’m King (or at least I think of myself as King/insist to be called that) but I’ll scoot at the first opportunity.
Our Christmas party is funded off honesty throughout the year. I'm a forklift engineer and along with eleven others on the road we keep the scrap batteries and weigh them in twice a year, once during the summer and the boss divides the money between us. Usually between 600 and a grand in summer.as were all on the road we rarely Cross paths so the Christmas party is a great catch up. This year it's go kart grand prix and a table at a party night in a hotel. Rooms paid for by the boss a decent amount of rounds bought and the Christmas bonus usually makes for a great night
Sort of #1, the company are footing the bill but our department (small in the grand scheme of things, nine people and we all get on very well which helps - no partners at these shindigs by the by) picks the venue and I book and pay for it using a company credit card - we have done the same thing, but at different places, for the last few years, I just submit the receipts and my line manager approves it, hey presto, we really cannot complain
I'm a miserable bd but I really do despise those "bring a party to a party" things, no snobbery involved, I just can't be arsed with other folk
I'm a miserable b
d but I really do despise those "bring a party to a party" things, no snobbery involved, I just can't be arsed with other folkEdited by FN2TypeR on Sunday 3rd December 19:32
Allanv said:
I still contract but now and again I get invited to the xmas party.
To be very honest I would rather slide down a 40 foot rusty razor blade using my balls as brakes than attend.
This !! Mates whom are contractors / permies we like we hold an alternate pi$$ up to the office arranged night which are always torturous affairs.To be very honest I would rather slide down a 40 foot rusty razor blade using my balls as brakes than attend.
3 for me too, been half decent the last few years
Given my entire team is home based it seems these events are "must attends" for PR purposes. Almost enforced, however tend to be a fairly good night which isn't too bad. Cost of hotel etc. these days i have to soak up myself, but at least it means a skilful can be had to endure some of small talk.
Given my entire team is home based it seems these events are "must attends" for PR purposes. Almost enforced, however tend to be a fairly good night which isn't too bad. Cost of hotel etc. these days i have to soak up myself, but at least it means a skilful can be had to endure some of small talk.
Edited by spikedjack on Sunday 3rd December 19:45
My old firm found it was cheaper to have a weekend away (with partners!) than an office party. The Accounts lady would find the cheapest Ryanair flights for the first weekend in December and then find hotels who would offer a good deal for a party of 50 plus. We would fly out early Friday and apart from a get-together in the hotel bar the weekend was our own until we flew back on the Sunday evening.
We got to go to Amsterdam, Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Milan and Hamburg until a takeover by a consolidator put an end to it.
We got to go to Amsterdam, Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Milan and Hamburg until a takeover by a consolidator put an end to it.
I'm only going to one this year, there's at least five arranged in my establishment alone but can only make one.
No subsidy from our employer, we're meeting in a pub at 11am and have all (30 odd of us) separately booked rooms in the local Ibis.
It's looking like it'll be extremely regrettable.
No subsidy from our employer, we're meeting in a pub at 11am and have all (30 odd of us) separately booked rooms in the local Ibis.
It's looking like it'll be extremely regrettable.
Rich_W said:
These now seem to fall into 1 of 3 categories.
1) The company books a couple of tables in a local restaurant
2) The company goes to a Golf Club which will have a couple of other local companies at. Smart Casual
3) Big marquee with "acts" and a smart dress code (Often Black Tie, but minimum Suit)
I've done all 3 in the past. Last night was our works one. The marquee type. The entertainment is ALWAYS the bleedin same regardless of events company. And so it was! Last night Gymnasts hanging from a rope/silk/framework. There were some terrible dancers who had 3 routines. One of which was literally waving some sticks on fire about. It's like watching the worst Olympic opening ceremony ever. Who decided that Dodgems is a thing to have at a Xmas party? Who buys those photo booth pics at £30 each?
The food is generally edible, if uninteresting and the green beans were tough as rope! And of course the deserts are always straight out of the deep freeze!
And then you move to your colleagues. And often their partners!
No one wants to sit with the managers apart from other managers. They also ignore the staff. A quick walk round saying "hi guys" wouldn't go amiss, but seems so absent at many of these parties. There's always someone's wife who sits sour faced, not interacting with the table. There's always someone cracking on to someone else's partner/guest! There's the "secret couple" (everyone knows they are shagging but they wont admit it) that have a minor/major tiff (Last night was one being lambasted for ignoring the other. Looked pretty mutual ignoring tbh! ) Then the food is gone and despite being in a room full of roughly 500 people. People from different companies never acknowledge each other. Why is there always that guy from another company in a weird outfit (Lederhosen I saw!) Shame as some of the girls elsewhere were tidy. A "dj" will then fk up "mixing" music as if they'd never seen the equipment before. I heard 3 tracks I like in 3-4 hours. Several guys will get wasted. Some will have taken some dancing powder (FFS you might not be technically at work, but you still kinda are! Choose your places!) Some will be happy to spunk the GDP of a small country on getting everyone drinks all night. And the Coke will be Pepsi and the Red Bull will be Kick. And the glasses aren't really that clean!
Can't wait to do it all again in 12 months
Was the location Milton Keynes by any chance?1) The company books a couple of tables in a local restaurant
2) The company goes to a Golf Club which will have a couple of other local companies at. Smart Casual
3) Big marquee with "acts" and a smart dress code (Often Black Tie, but minimum Suit)
I've done all 3 in the past. Last night was our works one. The marquee type. The entertainment is ALWAYS the bleedin same regardless of events company. And so it was! Last night Gymnasts hanging from a rope/silk/framework. There were some terrible dancers who had 3 routines. One of which was literally waving some sticks on fire about. It's like watching the worst Olympic opening ceremony ever. Who decided that Dodgems is a thing to have at a Xmas party? Who buys those photo booth pics at £30 each?
The food is generally edible, if uninteresting and the green beans were tough as rope!
And of course the deserts are always straight out of the deep freeze!And then you move to your colleagues. And often their partners!
No one wants to sit with the managers apart from other managers. They also ignore the staff. A quick walk round saying "hi guys" wouldn't go amiss, but seems so absent at many of these parties. There's always someone's wife who sits sour faced, not interacting with the table. There's always someone cracking on to someone else's partner/guest! There's the "secret couple" (everyone knows they are shagging but they wont admit it) that have a minor/major tiff (Last night was one being lambasted for ignoring the other. Looked pretty mutual ignoring tbh!
) Then the food is gone and despite being in a room full of roughly 500 people. People from different companies never acknowledge each other. Why is there always that guy from another company in a weird outfit (Lederhosen I saw!) Shame as some of the girls elsewhere were tidy. A "dj" will then fk up "mixing" music as if they'd never seen the equipment before. I heard 3 tracks I like in 3-4 hours. Several guys will get wasted. Some will have taken some dancing powder (FFS you might not be technically at work, but you still kinda are! Choose your places!) Some will be happy to spunk the GDP of a small country on getting everyone drinks all night. And the Coke will be Pepsi and the Red Bull will be Kick. And the glasses aren't really that clean!Can't wait to do it all again in 12 months
Wow how boring.
Now back when i was a lad!!! 1964 found me a callow youth of 17 years, passed my driving test in May, still learning, and taking advantage of, the joys of motoring. I joined the firm ...no names..no location!! in Feb 1964 and even then 6 weeks after Xmas, the talk was of the party.
The building was wholly occupied by the firm, and had several departments each of whom interacted with each other.Because of this it had been decreed that all departments have the party on the same day, and the Friday nearest Xmas was decided as THE DAY
Come Sept and the party club started, everyone from the boss downwards put in the same amount,. This was in the days well before take aways ( except chippys) and ready made party food.
The women were given extra leave to go and cook up the regulation sausage rolls vol au vents and what else was the normal party fare, as well as trifles and cakes. This was happening in all the other departments
. On the Friday it was business as usual except that about 1 o clock desks started to be moved to the side of the office and a space appeared in the middle. As we were in effect a Govt department we had to keep all phone lines open and believe me they were not quiet at the best of times dealing with the public, so lots were drawn as to who would man the phones for a period of 30 mins. My mate told me to volunteer for the first shift as it was then over and done with. About 6 of us shuffled along with the other volunteers of the other depts off to a room where the swbd were to route all calls ,plus it was quiet! and the only room in the building off limits, except the bosses offices ( Oh Yea!)
When i got back i wasn't expecting the sight that greeted me. Staid unmarried ladies,( well they were in there 40's, but to us they were bloody ancient} who for the rest of the years requested they were to be called MIss xxx ,suddenly had forenames which they insisted we used and were grabbing every guy they could for a dance and the drink was flowing The married woman were just as bad and some couples disappeared for about 20 mins before returning to carry on.. No clandestine affairs here!
The building had two sub level floors level -1 was the canteen, and level -2 was the records storage along with a 'sports section' A dartboard two table tennis tables and three full size snooker tables. It was later found out that the snooker tables were 'fully booked' for that afternoon, and [lplaces were at a pemiumAs a result, although some heavy fondling and groping was occurring in the office well before their allotted time!!! And i might add being totally ignored by everyone
Around four o clock it was announced that Rose would be doing here party piece. Now Rose was a well built woman of about 40 summers, a red haired
southern Irish lass whose voice was so sexy it should have been arrested for verbal rape. All the lads who had joined since the last party were given 'front row seats' The lights dimmed and she came on and did a full monty on us. The rest of the office were egging her on and she didnt hold back One poor chap was sitting there with a boner you couldn't miss and nor did Rose. He as in the old New of the World phrase 'made his excuses and let' .Apparently this was our office 'initiation'.
It was at this party i found out that older women certainly knew what to do and how to do it. No inhibitions at all
At 5pm the office closed to the public and by then every dept was visiting each other. Girls we wouldn't say boo to at any other time were happy to dance and a few regular romances started that way.
It started to wind down about 9 and all the desks were reinstated.and we all went home.
Monday morning was just like any other Monday. General chat as if nothing had happened 48hrs before.But by lunchtime everyone was discussing on who disgraced themselves, and by that, i found out is was the ability to hold the drink..the sex side of it was just one of those things. The really funny part was one of the nice looking spinsters was called by one of the lads she had been in steamy clinches two days earlier, by her first name reprimanded him for using her forename when addressing her. Yet in 12 months time she would be like a kid in a sweetshop.again
I did hear after i left for another office that she was a raging nympho and her and the lad had set up home together, although the 10 months i had been there previous to the party she acted like a nun ,
When i look back it was a different world with different values.No sexual harrassment , no racial problems, we just go on and worked together
But those parties were something else, AND to my everlasting amazement and Joy it was the same in the Peterborough Office of the same firm1
How i wish for a time machine at this time of year
Now back when i was a lad!!! 1964 found me a callow youth of 17 years, passed my driving test in May, still learning, and taking advantage of, the joys of motoring. I joined the firm ...no names..no location!! in Feb 1964 and even then 6 weeks after Xmas, the talk was of the party.
The building was wholly occupied by the firm, and had several departments each of whom interacted with each other.Because of this it had been decreed that all departments have the party on the same day, and the Friday nearest Xmas was decided as THE DAY
Come Sept and the party club started, everyone from the boss downwards put in the same amount,. This was in the days well before take aways ( except chippys) and ready made party food.
The women were given extra leave to go and cook up the regulation sausage rolls vol au vents and what else was the normal party fare, as well as trifles and cakes. This was happening in all the other departments
. On the Friday it was business as usual except that about 1 o clock desks started to be moved to the side of the office and a space appeared in the middle. As we were in effect a Govt department we had to keep all phone lines open and believe me they were not quiet at the best of times dealing with the public, so lots were drawn as to who would man the phones for a period of 30 mins. My mate told me to volunteer for the first shift as it was then over and done with. About 6 of us shuffled along with the other volunteers of the other depts off to a room where the swbd were to route all calls ,plus it was quiet! and the only room in the building off limits, except the bosses offices ( Oh Yea!)
When i got back i wasn't expecting the sight that greeted me. Staid unmarried ladies,( well they were in there 40's, but to us they were bloody ancient} who for the rest of the years requested they were to be called MIss xxx ,suddenly had forenames which they insisted we used and were grabbing every guy they could for a dance and the drink was flowing The married woman were just as bad and some couples disappeared for about 20 mins before returning to carry on.. No clandestine affairs here!
The building had two sub level floors level -1 was the canteen, and level -2 was the records storage along with a 'sports section' A dartboard two table tennis tables and three full size snooker tables. It was later found out that the snooker tables were 'fully booked' for that afternoon, and [lplaces were at a pemiumAs a result, although some heavy fondling and groping was occurring in the office well before their allotted time!!! And i might add being totally ignored by everyone
Around four o clock it was announced that Rose would be doing here party piece. Now Rose was a well built woman of about 40 summers, a red haired
southern Irish lass whose voice was so sexy it should have been arrested for verbal rape. All the lads who had joined since the last party were given 'front row seats' The lights dimmed and she came on and did a full monty on us. The rest of the office were egging her on and she didnt hold back One poor chap was sitting there with a boner you couldn't miss and nor did Rose. He as in the old New of the World phrase 'made his excuses and let' .Apparently this was our office 'initiation'.
It was at this party i found out that older women certainly knew what to do and how to do it. No inhibitions at all
At 5pm the office closed to the public and by then every dept was visiting each other. Girls we wouldn't say boo to at any other time were happy to dance and a few regular romances started that way.
It started to wind down about 9 and all the desks were reinstated.and we all went home.
Monday morning was just like any other Monday. General chat as if nothing had happened 48hrs before.But by lunchtime everyone was discussing on who disgraced themselves, and by that, i found out is was the ability to hold the drink..the sex side of it was just one of those things. The really funny part was one of the nice looking spinsters was called by one of the lads she had been in steamy clinches two days earlier, by her first name reprimanded him for using her forename when addressing her. Yet in 12 months time she would be like a kid in a sweetshop.again
I did hear after i left for another office that she was a raging nympho and her and the lad had set up home together, although the 10 months i had been there previous to the party she acted like a nun ,
When i look back it was a different world with different values.No sexual harrassment , no racial problems, we just go on and worked together
But those parties were something else, AND to my everlasting amazement and Joy it was the same in the Peterborough Office of the same firm1
How i wish for a time machine at this time of year
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff