Do you have to pay for xmas party?

grandturistmo · 29-11-2006 9:12pm #1

Reason is we do, we were invited to it by top brass as they say but the catch is everyone has to pay for their own!
We work in private sector..
Is this the norm?! (I hope not!)

humanji · 29-11-2006 9:15pm

My old job we had to pay (about €15, I think), but in the new place it's all free!

c - 13 · 29-11-2006 9:16pm

Free for employees, €60 for partners

Rb · 29-11-2006 9:26pm

Last year the company I was working for didn't put so much as a red cent towards the Christmas Party. We had to pay for literally everything, they booked us some space in a bar in town and that was it.
This was a huge company that I was working for, multi-millions in profit per year and yet they couldn't throw even a few hundred towards our Christmas party...fecking scrooges.

Aidan78 · 29-11-2006 9:30pm

My Section is going for a Christmas lunch around the middle of December and it's €45 - just for the lunch. Drinks afterwards are an extra expense.

The whole organisation has a type of Christmas party in January and that's free. But it's not the same when it's not before Christmas.

In my last job, management coughed up for everything and the whole section often went down the country to a posh hotel for a night of drinking and feasting - all free.

Not now

Mossy Monk · 29-11-2006 9:34pm

no. don't have to pay for it. not that i would anyway. probably wont be able to go anyway

Dutz · 29-11-2006 9:42pm

were going to a 5 star hotel for the night accomodation dinner and drinks all free - - - cant wait

Gaspode · 29-11-2006 9:45pm

grandturistmo wrote:

Reason is we do, we were invited to it by top brass as they say but the catch is everyone has to pay for their own!
We work in private sector..
Is this the norm?! (I hope not!)

Dont think there is any norm really. Some employers are scrooges, others are post-ghost-visit scrooges.
I work in the public sector and have to pay €30 for a (probably dodgy) meal in the Halfway House. I think this is a disgrace - your taxes should be treating me to a good night out, with free beer at least, if not overnight accomodation in a nice hotel, 4-star would do. :mad:

lodgepole · 29-11-2006 9:50pm

We're being brought to Galway (from Dublin) with free booze on our own train carriages, free booze and dinner in the hotel and rooms for night. Same treatment on the way home the next day. Plus they're flying people in from the US, from Australia and from Scotland. Hopefully next years will be in Oz...

Stench Blossoms · 29-11-2006 9:55pm

Nope, all paid for including drink.

leeroybrown · 29-11-2006 10:08pm

Last year mine (12 people) was a good meal out in a decent restaurant with good wine. That was all covered and afterwards we went to a bar and paid for our own drinks. This year will be pretty much the same with a slightly more expensive restaurant.

The year beforehand my previous employer (about 50 people) supplied some beer at work at the end of the day followed by transport to a bar/resturaunt for a good meal and drinks. At the end of the night we were all transported home. All free of charge. It takes a decent chunk of cash to pay for that many people to get very drunk and the look on the financial controllers face when he got the bill the following week was priceless.

I think it's always a good one to spend money on if you value staff morale. Everyone will always point out how good the Christmas party was. I know of one manager who got an ever decreasing staff party allowance from his head office until the point where he was actually joking to them that next year even a trip to MacDonalds would require a staff contribution. It was stupid on behalf of the bean counters in head office because the staff then spend most of December compailning to people they knew/met about the skinflint ba*trds they worked for. Not good if you're a company that needs good image.

Ruu_Old · 29-11-2006 10:49pm

It went from our company paying for all if it, that was 3 years ago. It went to us paying some and then this year there is nothing at all. Suits me fine, I don't go and hope they all choke on their food.:)

Alter-Ego · 29-11-2006 10:57pm

Everything free for me. €50 for partners. Its an all day affair also!!

TerrorFirmer · 29-11-2006 11:13pm

9 Euro. Not so bad.

SoupyNorman · 29-11-2006 11:24pm

Took us to Citiwest last year, fab meal and free booze. More of that this year please.......

constitutionus · 29-11-2006 11:28pm

im seeing this more and more and i think its a ****ing disgrace. the whole point of a crimbo party is its a kickback to the staff for the effort they put in during the year (and ok a chance to shag the girls in head office that you'll never see again

) yet alot of the people ive talked to are asked to pony up cash for their christmas do. i was just talking earlier today with one of the girls who said they have to fork out for their do. personally my company covers the cost and chuck in about 3 free drinks as well for good measure (that said it is an irish multinational which makes millions so its the least the feckers can do

) we used to have free bars but they kinda learned their lesson there a few years back and that was the end of that.

TBH i havent gone the last few years cause the companys got very "corporate" and less staff friendly i.e they sacked half the people i know, and i dont feel like hanging around a bunch of middle managment types. last do i was at was in the conrad. nice place and the food was ok. put plainly though i plan to go this year, mainly cause i may not be in the company next year, i always find myself hmming and hawwing about going right up to and including the night of the do. i mean my job is pretty much a one man show now so i dont really know anyone up in head office anymore. christ even the people that hired me are gone now! still i'll probably go, mainly because in a marvelous fluke of timming my last holiday for the year falls on the day after the party so maybe thats a sign

Collie D · 29-11-2006 11:32pm

Ours is free which is the only reason anyone's going, if we'd to pay I'd prefer a few of us getting together and doing out own ting rather than the place the company have booked, Same as last year, tapas food, no DJ or music so as soon as bar loses we're off

constitutionus · 29-11-2006 11:36pm

Collie D wrote:

Ours is free which is the only reason anyone's going, if we'd to pay I'd prefer a few of us getting together and doing out own ting rather than the place the company have booked, Same as last year, tapas food, no DJ or music so as soon as bar loses we're off

the three years i didnt go to the official do thats exactly what i did. got together with the guys and the manager and had a few jars

anthonymcg · 29-11-2006 11:48pm

Yep we have to pay for it. €130 or thereabouts afaik. Down to a hotel overnight, entertainment etc, staying there and then back the next day.

Travelling down is up to ourselves too.

monkeyfudge · 29-11-2006 11:55pm

We're covering the cost of our Christmas party. It's a function room in a good hotel with a meal to be served and mulled wine for those who arrive early. It's costing us about €35 a head, partners aren't allowed but guests are free to show up after the meal for evening.

Myself and the rest of the management team might go for a meal in a restaurant at some stage too.

super_furry · 30-11-2006 12:00am

anthonymcg wrote:

Yep we have to pay for it. €130 or thereabouts afaik. Down to a hotel overnight, entertainment etc, staying there and then back the next day.

Travelling down is up to ourselves too.

Why would anyone go?

Heyes · 30-11-2006 12:14am

Dutz wrote:

were going to a 5 star hotel for the night accomodation dinner and drinks all free - - - cant wait

and you work where exactly ???

Nope dont have to pay for chrimbo party, if i did i wouldnt be too impressed at all. Its the least a company can do tbh.

nlgbbbblth · 30-11-2006 12:26am

we get €35 towards it which doesn't go very far.
the company I work for is a subsidiary of the fifth biggest bank in the world.

biko · 30-11-2006 1:46am

30 euros, no partners allowed. Grand anyway - just a good drinking session with the work mates. Buffet, live band, the works. One year we had Macnas showing up.

admiralofthefleet · 30-11-2006 7:10am

we are giving the staff in my work a meal and 5 free drinks in town, which is fair, would love to have macnas

Stephen · 30-11-2006 9:47am

We pay a tenner but we get a 5 course meal in a good hotel with band & disco and a couple of free drinks and some spot prizes (that's what the tenner's for).

petes · 30-11-2006 9:58am

Free here. Meal then pub. Still end up spending a few quid.

godtabh · 30-11-2006 10:02am

Ours is free.

Used to be a hotel down to country with our other office. One is based in Dublin one in Waterford and used to travel the same distance to some place so it was fair.

Dont do that any more. A meal, drinks in the pub and then entry into a niteclub. Last year it was good. The directors put their hands in their pockets alot so fair play.

I think this year its just a meal and then the pub. I'm happy enough with that!

ScumLord · 30-11-2006 1:28pm

We pay €20 a head towards it and get free drink and transport.

Sleepy · 30-11-2006 1:36pm

I would raise hell if asked to pay for the office Christmas party. Well, not hell exactly, just not go and be *very* vocal as to the reason, then arrange an 'unofficial' night for myself and the gang I work with.

seamus · 30-11-2006 2:01pm

Free here, but they don't massively splash the cash. Maybe about €1.5k on a department of 30.

The last two years were communal affairs where loads of companies book a couple of tables, and you've got 200 people enjoying dinner and entertainment. Pretty good food, but it all has a bit of a wedding-afters feel to it.

This year we're going to a restaurant across the road, with a nightclub above it.

The good thing is that although they never spend too much on the food and booking part of the night, we all usually end up langers on the company credit card.

John Mason · 30-11-2006 2:19pm

Our company pays for half it but we dont even get one free drink. And this year its is in Athlone, so we have to pay for our train there and back or else petrol .............then you have to pay for the hotel and the then your dinner and drinks .........its €70 and no partners are allowed .....hardly anyone is going, so my department have organised our own seperate night out in dublin which obviously we have to pay for ourselves and we are not allowed mention the companies name when booking the food !!!!!!!!!!!!! tight fisted bastards and now they are arguing with me over my overtime which is another matter entirely but....:mad:

kizzyr · 30-11-2006 2:35pm

Work in public sector now and nothing is paid for. This year we are going for a late lunch at one of the Lemongrass restaurants so thats ok. Previously worked in the private sector and for year 1) everything was paid for, drinks before dinner, dinner, copious amounts of drinks afterward and a bus was arranged to take us all home to wherever we lived. Year 2) it was dinner and drinks and again a bus to take us all home to wherever. Year 3) they tried to get us all of pay towards the cost of the night out at there was uproar so the powers that be backed down and drinks before dinner, dinner and drinks afterward were paid for but we had to make our own way home. Year 4) one of the banks bought the comapny over and the Christmas party took place in January and we had to pay €70.00 toward the cost and for that we got a crappy meal, two drinks, zero atmosphere and it was sh**e.

professore · 30-11-2006 2:41pm

Why don't you boycott it if you have to pay ????? Especially at the prices some of you are quoting - have a good pissup instead !!!!

jaggeh · 30-11-2006 2:44pm

im only getting 3 free christmas parties this year

last year there was 4.

the team
the company
the client
the clients contractor (gone now)

Gone West · 30-11-2006 3:36pm

I work for/with a few departments and one of them wants me to pay 60 bills for the party...

fock that

Degsy · 30-11-2006 3:37pm

Our party is 20 quid a head for dinner and dance and spot prizes which isnt bad value.However if we cant get 80 people they're gonna cancel it,which is a bit of a pain in the arse for those of us that want to go.Its usually the younger crowd here that never go to anything then they whinge that they dont know anybody.If we had the thing for free and had free drink all night,people would still be moaning,it pisses me off.

Nightwish · 30-11-2006 10:25pm

We get it partly subsidised by the company. It usually works out at €35 quid a head, but this year, the morale is so low, no-one wants a christmas party except for management, so they're getting it all paid for. I think that was their plan all along.

bottlerocket · 01-12-2006 12:07am

Work for the health board, we pay absolutely everything and organise it ourselves. Also no christmas bonus, nothing, not even one of those crappy hampers with sh1t wine and 'luxury' chocolates.

nervous_twitch · 01-12-2006 2:01am

God, I work in a small business (part-time), and I'm gettin a slap up meal then a night on the piss, all expenses covered!!

5starpool · 01-12-2006 6:41am

The company I work for made STG£8 billion (yep, thats right) profit last year, and we have to pay €25 per head for a 5 course meal thingy with band etc in the Gresham.

A place I worked for before in Limerick gave us free nights out in Dromoland castle (5 star) with Champagne reception the works, and for the Millenium Christmas flew us all to Paris for a night with a cruise up the Seine, 5 course meal, Chanpagne, the works. That was classy. They are bust now though

hunnymonster · 01-12-2006 8:01am

My Boss takes us out for lunch and a few drinks but he pays for it out of his own pocket.

Hail 2 Da Chimp · 01-12-2006 9:16am

I work for the biggest company ever invented and we have to pay a tenner for our party, not sure what that even includes as its my first year but we get 2 free drinks. Pretty sh!tty alright!

Villaricos · 01-12-2006 7:30pm

nervous_twitch wrote:

God, I work in a small business (part-time), and I'm gettin a slap up meal then a night on the piss, all expenses covered!!

I was pretty much the same, twas a special christmas party thingy in a hotel, boss paid for it, we got a meal and a few bottles of wine per table, all we'd to pay for was any extra drink we wanted ourselves, after the wine ran out the boss ordered more! (she was pissed at this stage) all I paid for was a taxi home! only way it should be done!

jdivision · 01-12-2006 7:32pm

We get a meal, a large drink tab and a DJ or whatever. Sounds like we're fairly lucky

Katykaboom · 01-12-2006 7:47pm

Man !Paying for your own christmas do... Thats just plain scabby. I work for a company who is contracted by a semi state owned company.

The semi state company are : having the usual christmas party with free drink and a three course meal etc etc

they are also bringing our sector out for a swanky meal, last year it was in Fitzers.

then my own company, are a bit more scabby, they rent some place and give us 5 drink tokens (still brilliant not complaining)

so tiz the season to be jolly for moi!

Idgeitman · 02-12-2006 1:20am

our place, mulled wine reception, 5 course meal & ABBA tribute band....grand if your over 40, but 99% of us ain't and we gotta pay €60 a pop for it,

And no free drinks!

~ Idgeitman

Black Swan · 02-12-2006 5:00am

No.

paconnors · 02-12-2006 5:17am

Taxi Office i work in,

Party starts at 3PM
collection by taxi - free
meal - free
a few drinks - free
a pub crawl - free
nite club - free
taxi home - free

Skittlebrau · 02-12-2006 5:57am

I had mine last night in the Telstra Dome stadium in Melbourne. Started at 6.30 with a pitchside drinks reception then up to a fancy function room. Glass walled with a view of the pitch on one side and the city on the other. Good meal. Free bar til 1am. Didn't spend a penny.

Hungover to bits now though

seabee · 02-12-2006 11:36am

I work for a company with 300+ employees. We get 2 christmas parties, one is a drinks thing with a "finger buffet", the other is a four-course meal with a band afterwards. Food, drink & mini-bus home is all paid for.

Do you have to pay for xmas party?

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