Christmas Office/Work Party Yea/Nay

saabsaab

What do you feel about the 'Office Party'? There seems to be a big divide haters or lovers..

Atlantic Dawn

If it's on a saturday, doesn't require a similar clothing setup as a wedding, is easy enough commute to get to and from, Yes.

sundodger5

Ask me tomorrow😀

Posy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058274183/christmas-office-work-party-yea-nay

None of the options suit me!

I like it and mainly enjoy it, but love is too strong a word. 😄

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119945381#Comment_119945381

And your answer today?

saabsaab

I'd say the answer is mainly age related. When young you relish the chance to get up to things you mightn't normally. When older you don't want anyone getting up to things. I'm sure most have stories of things getting a but out of hand.

TRS30

Use to go when younger however haven't bothered the last few year (pre COVID). I go to my department one which is usually an early meal and a couple of drinks. I'm old!!

fits

It’s a big effort to go as I live miles away from work. And I really can’t take a lot of alcohol now. But I’ll go anyway and plan to leave early ish.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119945480#Comment_119945480

It's a big deal if you are far away. At least in my case it was walking distance to most of them.

Aisling(",)

Ours are always a lunch then an area booked in a pub. Means if people don't want to go, they can leave after their food and it's normal going home time.

I like them but because they start so early, I'm usually aiming ot be on a bus home at 9 or 10 before there's a risk of anything getting messy.

BK5

Going to the work Christmas party tonight, I'll report any scandal tomorrow 😉😀

Cup

I didn’t vote yet, ‘cause I haven’t decided, but ours is a bit of a pain this year. I live about three hours from my office and only go in once a month, mostly working remotely. This year we have a department dinner on the Thursday evening, and the party on Friday, so I’ll be spending the two nights there. Which is ok.

But I sometimes travel to client sites for work, and, because nobody realised that the end of the year was approaching until just this week, I’m just on my way back from one country and won’t get back until late tonight, and flying again on Monday somewhere else, to fly back to the office location on Thursday, and then won’t be back home until Saturday. So I’ll have to pack for the Christmas party as well as work tomorrow. So I’m a bit disgruntled with all things work-social right now.

But, in fairness, my company puts a lot of effort into the social side, and we’ve a bunch of nice people, and I know I’ll enjoy it when I’m there. So, I guess I can can say that I like it.

I actually feel better after that vent!

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119952285#Comment_119952285

Out od a lifetime of them I can only think of one or two that had things going off the rails.

Barcley

Used to hate them as they were mainly client parties and I had to be on my best behaviour, also felt I had to push the business to senior management, more like work than fun. Fortunately no more work related Christmas parties for me.

dubstepper

I would say that I like them rather than love them. It can depend who you end up sitting beside. If it's someone boring, or someone you may not get on with, it can seem like work itself. One thing I learned from my early days. don't get pissed!

TRS30

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119958171#Comment_119958171

Years ago, I had to literately drag a work colleague away from the MD, as he was trying to tell him everything he was doing wrong! Was an eye-opening moment for me about never drinking too much when out with work.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119958654#Comment_119958654

Probably the reason that a lot of chiefs don't go to them or if they do they leave early.

Rikand

I love them. Always a great night for a knees up. Did some stupid things in my youth. But you learn from these experiences. I'm more sensible now, drink plenty but don't go overboard lol

DvB

I leave after the food is done and leave the serious session to the youngsters.

Posy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119961151#Comment_119961151

That's exactly what I do! 😁

smeal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119952319#Comment_119952319

I am similar to yourself! I live 2 hours away from Dublin now and only commute up the odd time. I’m only in this company since April and with working remotely so much I feel like I need to make a bit of an effort for the xmas parties. I used to love an Xmas party and a good work night out. I’m by no means unsociable- I get on very well with my team and wider dept and I love a good night’s craic as much as the next person- but I’ve come out of Covid life a lot more disinterested in going to things like this.

A client has asked me to a xmas lunch next Wednesday which I know will extend long into the evening, my team dinner and drinks is Thursday and the office wide party is Friday. Then I have an annual meet up with friends on the Saturday. I know I should be grateful for what will be three very generous evenings out in a row fully funded by clients and work. I also won’t be out of pocket for accomm as I’m staying with a friend in Dublin buuuut I’m exhausted at the thought of it and a bit resentful that I know the week will zap my energy ahead of my night out with pals and eat into my peaceful weekday routines! Hmm, defo getting old!

Anyways, I know deep down they’ll all be evenings of good fun.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119961775#Comment_119961775

Yes age takes much of the gloss off these occasions. God be with the days you could do it every night for several days in a row. Now one big night and it takes another day to get yourself normal again.

Tippman24

Used to go to them when i worked in Dublin many years ago. I never minded the walk to Rathmines/Rathgar after the conclusion. After I came down to Tipp I sort of gave up on them. Took heed of the warnings issued by Gardai on possibility of being bagged, so, if i attended, I would usually be gone home early. The thing was/is that in all my time driving home I never met the Gardai at Christmas.

Jude13

Its an stage of who I worked for and with for me. in my early 20's, small firm, I'd go and then sneak of with a pal or two. I had already seen what a load of booze and stressed people can become.

Then I joined a big 4 and it was painfully organised fun, it would be a night away somewhere, but had to be present. My whole team hated it, so we would organise a sneaky session just for us on another day prior to the party. This was by far the worst stage of Christmas parties. The sucking up to partners, then snide comments, always drama about why someone didnt get a promotion, or cheating 'rummours', it was toxic. I would stay for the meal, two drinks and tell someone I trusted to look after a kitty for the team.

Next firm was fine, I was at the perfect level that I would just be in another country or have a pre planned engagement. I would still bring our team out for beers and dinner separately but it was relaxed and no one had to go.

Now I am back in having to attend as we have our own firm. Its a tight rope, I love Christmas. Half the firm, generally the ladies wish to have a sit down meal in a fancy restaurant, so that's what they've booked. I will go, but leave early before everyone gets hammered. I also land back from my holidays at 8am that day so will be rough.

Loughc

I normally enjoy a Christmas party but keep to the golden rule of only enough drink to be merry, where everything is funny but not too drunk that you're the funny.

I usually do the Irish goodbye when I feel the night is stepping up or the shots come out. Won't be going this year as our party is the last Saturday before Christmas and with a big crowd going I'm not going to risk catching something and bringing it down to my parents, planning on having a quiet weekend that weekend before the madness.

saabsaab

I think the key to a great party is knowing when to leave.

miamee

I'm working in a new place since January and there is a Christmas party. It's a lunch in a nice restaurant but I fear from what I have heard that they don't go out early to go home early, it's a longer run at the night. I have said I will go but am in two minds about it. It's across the country for me (I work remotely) so will have to stay over - company will probably cover this but still... I haven't been to a company Christmas party since I don't know when. Probably 2019, eek. I always enjoy the dinner so long as you are sitting beside someone you can chat to, after that I'd be happy to leave 🤣

Anyone else dreading or looking forward to theirs? Anything out of the ordinary planned?

XDivaX

I'm not sure if I will go to my work's wine & cheese evening as it is on 22nd December this year instead of 21st December. It was my first one last year in different building and some people got a bit too messy near the end of it....... I probably will go for a while and then sneak off home early to Christmas movies! :P

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119945480#Comment_119945480

Well I’ve decided not to go to the evening event this year. I’ll go up that day. But I just can’t do the noisy booze evening thing anymore. Just don’t enjoy it. And I really like my colleagues.

BK5

Hands up, I do like to go out and socialise so I'm a bit biased here but anytime I've been at a work do and I meet people who don't usually go out a lot, 9 times out of 10 they are delighted they made the effort to attend and had a great time. You always get talking to a few people who you never even spoke to at work at times and there is a buzz about the place for a few days after an event.

DvB

I still enjoy the office lunch & post lunch drinks when we finish up for Christmas, the mood is good & most folk are relaxed and looking forward to the break. I'm also happy to leave after a few drinks & having gotten a couple of rounds in for my team, the days of a long sesh with work are long gone. Far better to stay sober, keep the team happy & nip out before the heavy drinking begins. My Christmas is all about the family nowadays, I like to socialise & hope to get to a couple of Christmas themed nights out in the run in, but Christmas is for me to spend with my family.

Aisling(",)

Ours is a lunch and then drinks. A lot head off by 5/6 and no one seems to mind. I usually dip out about 9 or 10 but this year we've a good group of 20 something-30 somethings and I think I might end up staying out later especially since I've taken the next day off.

It's all out of everyone's own pocket in my job but everyone goes along for their lunch and seems to be in good form.

Mac-Chops

I'm only in the door with a new job so looking forward to it as a good mix in the team of about 30 or so.

Moved from private to public sector so it's pay as you go but also looking forward to the fact that it's an early enough lunch followed by some early evening drinks rather than the lavish, late night, all you can eat/drink affairs of my younger self's (with no small kids) past.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121348497#Comment_121348497

On the flip side, you get people who don't go out a lot who get absolutely trashed and make a holy show of themselves.

touts

I have to say I'm kind of surprised the Office Christmas Party made a comeback after COVID. One senior HR executive told me that they peaked with the whole Stryker Cork debacle and the legal advice these days to companies was not to have anything to do with them.

Jude13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121356986#Comment_121356986

Ha, remember the Stryker party, that was a different level.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121361183#Comment_121361183

They have denied that it was their party!

bureau2009

Legally speaking, the office Christmas night out is an extension of the workplace.

So you need to behave!

Just sayin'

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

kitten_k

We have our small department one next week and then the larger department one on 8th December. We don’t have a company wide one anymore as the company has gotten too big.