The Work Christmas Party 2023
Discussion
Any of you going to one?
Our office Christmas do is a few drinks at a nearby pub in the afternoon. I won't be going as there are a couple of people who I just don't trust, the type who report you to the boss the follow day cus you said something they didn't like etc. Smiling assassins. Add beer into the mix and it's easy to say the wrong thing where they then claim to be offended. I don't like socialising in that environment as I wouldn't be able to relax and it's just not worth the risk.
They are being allowed to finish at midday and head off to the pub, the rest have to remain at work until 5pm. I get the logic in that, but it also wiffs of being unfair. I'm out with pals that same day after work, but to join them early I'd have to take a few hours off work. Seems unfair as office staff finish early to go to the pub together, but I'd have to take leave to finish early. I've considered going for just one drink just to get the early finish, but really can't be bothered. So I'll probably be sat at my desk pretending to do work!!
Our office Christmas do is a few drinks at a nearby pub in the afternoon. I won't be going as there are a couple of people who I just don't trust, the type who report you to the boss the follow day cus you said something they didn't like etc. Smiling assassins. Add beer into the mix and it's easy to say the wrong thing where they then claim to be offended. I don't like socialising in that environment as I wouldn't be able to relax and it's just not worth the risk.
They are being allowed to finish at midday and head off to the pub, the rest have to remain at work until 5pm. I get the logic in that, but it also wiffs of being unfair. I'm out with pals that same day after work, but to join them early I'd have to take a few hours off work. Seems unfair as office staff finish early to go to the pub together, but I'd have to take leave to finish early. I've considered going for just one drink just to get the early finish, but really can't be bothered. So I'll probably be sat at my desk pretending to do work!!
Edited by The Gauge on Monday 4th December 18:27
Tigerj said:
I wish.
Public sector. So we don’t get to have one, unless we pay for it ourselves.
Our team are going to go get lunch at a local pub.
We are having our usual management meeting, but with forced festivities (jumpers etc) and the need to bring food for a shared lunch.Public sector. So we don’t get to have one, unless we pay for it ourselves.
Our team are going to go get lunch at a local pub.
It's stuff like this that makes me dislike Christmas more and more every year.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
First Xmas party, some t
t got high and punched the MD.
Second Xmas party, we saw another guy fked on god knows what go up to the MD if another company and try to start a fight.
A mate dated a girl from other department. Two fake pregnancies, accusations of abuse and other stuff. All lies. From then on I don’t trust any one.
It’s just not worth the hassle!
First Xmas party, some t
t got high and punched the MD.Second Xmas party, we saw another guy f
ked on god knows what go up to the MD if another company and try to start a fight. A mate dated a girl from other department. Two fake pregnancies, accusations of abuse and other stuff. All lies. From then on I don’t trust any one.
It’s just not worth the hassle!
My employer announced far too late that it was up to individual departments to sort out and the company would pay some costs. Of course by then everywhere decent was already booked. My department settled on a local pub Xmas meal. Was going to go, until I discovered it was outside in the beer garden with a handful of patio heaters on the coldest night of the year so far! 
Another department went to a local hotel for their thing. Seeing a load of "older women" getting blind drunk and making arses of themselves was pretty pathetic too.
Cant think of a Christmas do in decades, over multiple employers, that was actually good. In my younger days I would only ever go in the hope of getting familiar with a specific co worker
It never worked out that way. So I stopped going to most of them years ago
1 year my very good friend that Id know for donkeys years got utterly plastered and kept running up and kissing me on the cheek then bolting, only to rinse repeat about 8 times!
I imagine his non attending wife would have found it funny too tbf. I've also (more than once) been the sober guy outside with a mate trying to console him and stop him from going back in and starting a fight with another company at the same venue.
Another department went to a local hotel for their thing. Seeing a load of "older women" getting blind drunk and making arses of themselves was pretty pathetic too.
Cant think of a Christmas do in decades, over multiple employers, that was actually good. In my younger days I would only ever go in the hope of getting familiar with a specific co worker
It never worked out that way. So I stopped going to most of them years ago1 year my very good friend that Id know for donkeys years got utterly plastered and kept running up and kissing me on the cheek then bolting, only to rinse repeat about 8 times!
I imagine his non attending wife would have found it funny too tbf. I've also (more than once) been the sober guy outside with a mate trying to console him and stop him from going back in and starting a fight with another company at the same venue. Yep. Ours is at a local Casino. Live band, sit down dinner, tables and a dance type thing. Company is paying for it.
With all these things it's best to appreciate it, but not over indulge - I've witnessed quite a few complete car crashes over the years where people have offended directors(or directors OHs), piled under a sink plastered in vomit, fallen off chairs, soiled themselves, split up with partners etc.
There's a time and a place and a work party is NOT it, although at times it can be quite amusing
(One such incident included a strap on hidden beneath a party frock)
With all these things it's best to appreciate it, but not over indulge - I've witnessed quite a few complete car crashes over the years where people have offended directors(or directors OHs), piled under a sink plastered in vomit, fallen off chairs, soiled themselves, split up with partners etc.
There's a time and a place and a work party is NOT it, although at times it can be quite amusing
(One such incident included a strap on hidden beneath a party frock)
Times are hard at my place. Last year Xmas party was a sitdown 3 course meal in a swanky London hotel. Plus everyone got sent a hamper, although that was crap.
This year the party is reduced to drinks and canapés in some bar, and hampers only going to those who didn't go to the party.
I didnt go, couldn't be arsed. Look forward to receiving my ste hamper
This year the party is reduced to drinks and canapés in some bar, and hampers only going to those who didn't go to the party.
I didnt go, couldn't be arsed. Look forward to receiving my s
te hamperNothing for me again this year, I've been given a 100 quid bonus (Before tax) to "do as we wish" which is more for call centre to go out with than other grades of employee.
WFH is tough as nuts this time of year as you feel like you are missing out on decent skirt to chat up, free booze and euphoria on the dance floor but the reality is it's none of that is it!
WFH is tough as nuts this time of year as you feel like you are missing out on decent skirt to chat up, free booze and euphoria on the dance floor but the reality is it's none of that is it!
Being self-employed with no colleagues. What do I do for a Christmas doo?
Get drunk in my office alone?
Maybe hold a party for one in a Flat Roofed pub with an indifferent buffet - for one? (Flat roofed pub booked by a PA I don’t have with no clue about pubs and who doesn’t actually turn up to the party)
Scan my nethers on my scanner?
Make inappropriate comments to myself ending the night with a scuffle with myself in the car park of the aforementioned pitchless-roofed boozer?
Maybe then I email myself an official reprimand/final warning to be brought up in a review meeting sometime in April?
It’s tough running your own business.
Get drunk in my office alone?
Maybe hold a party for one in a Flat Roofed pub with an indifferent buffet - for one? (Flat roofed pub booked by a PA I don’t have with no clue about pubs and who doesn’t actually turn up to the party)
Scan my nethers on my scanner?
Make inappropriate comments to myself ending the night with a scuffle with myself in the car park of the aforementioned pitchless-roofed boozer?
Maybe then I email myself an official reprimand/final warning to be brought up in a review meeting sometime in April?
It’s tough running your own business.
extraT said:
Nope. Nope. Nope.
First Xmas party, some tt got high and punched the MD.
Second Xmas party, we saw another guy fked on god knows what go up to the MD if another company and try to start a fight.
A mate dated a girl from other department. Two fake pregnancies, accusations of abuse and other stuff. All lies. From then on I don’t trust any one.
It’s just not worth the hassle!
They're the best ones! First Xmas party, some t
t got high and punched the MD.Second Xmas party, we saw another guy f
ked on god knows what go up to the MD if another company and try to start a fight. A mate dated a girl from other department. Two fake pregnancies, accusations of abuse and other stuff. All lies. From then on I don’t trust any one.
It’s just not worth the hassle!
extraT said:
Nope. Nope. Nope.
First Xmas party, some tt got high and punched the MD.
Second Xmas party, we saw another guy fked on god knows what go up to the MD if another company and try to start a fight.
A mate dated a girl from other department. Two fake pregnancies, accusations of abuse and other stuff. All lies. From then on I don’t trust any one.
It’s just not worth the hassle!
Jesus Christ so you work in a Job Centre? And invite the clientele along?First Xmas party, some t
t got high and punched the MD.Second Xmas party, we saw another guy f
ked on god knows what go up to the MD if another company and try to start a fight. A mate dated a girl from other department. Two fake pregnancies, accusations of abuse and other stuff. All lies. From then on I don’t trust any one.
It’s just not worth the hassle!
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