I worked for a city law firm a few years back and the Christmas party scene was a joke. It started with teams having Xmas dinner in the in house restaurant with wine. Then there was party no 1. This was no partners (husbands / wives, not firm partners), the reason being so the naughty lawyers can shag their PAs. Us IT plebs were not invited either. Then the main party for everyone, in the City obscenely expensive, free bar, vodka fountain the usual.
Then there would be the client events. We had a massive aitrium and reception area and that would get turned into a casino or other such bollocks, outside catering, loads of booze, again IT plebs not welcome.
In between various departments, especially the rainmaker departments would have massive boozy lunches at some local expensive joint.
That would all be followed by an email saying not done so great this so no bonus for you fucking shitbags. Senior partner meanwhile gets a new Aston
We have an annual Xmas studio members show. The few that turn up can have whatever they want - lemonade, Tennents lager … some skanky Aldi buffet snacks …
Twenty years ago it was a bit more fun. These days the mood is somber… a huddle of middle aged artists musing over whether it has all really been worth it.
Counter to all this, I’m really looking forward to our Xmas party. Black tie dinner, overnight stay, partners included. I took the kids last year and got a room big enough for us all. Though they demanded to use the hotel pool the day after and I was majorly hanging.
Originally they suggested it was going to be a meal at a nice venue. Now it’s a pub for a buffet.
I would go for a nice meal, as I normally do, and then leave. What they’re organising is basically a piss up. Not great for someone that has issues with alcohol.
I think Poet said it well, not terribly inclusive.
One year at Voda we had a mid year party. I was a stand up buffet and everyone got two drink tokens (beer, wine or soft drink) after that, pay for your own. It worked pretty well.
I had one soft drink and gave my other to a mate. It was actually one of the better parties really. No sit down time, the food came it in waves, so there was no gannet type scrum.
My view on this chimes with most of the posts above. I think it’s reasonable for a company to spend money on socialising event as you could reason this has an overall benefit to the company. If you don’t want to be social then thats your choice, dont expect to be compensated for not attending as providing that would undermine the success of the event.
It’s not so much the social side. I’d be happy to go for a meal and then go. It’s the fact that the really good meal at a great venue is now a buffet at a pub.
Not conducive to someone that may have issues around alcohol as it’s basically just a piss up. As Poet said, diversity and inclusion.
I’ve decided not speak up, based on some of the responses above. I don’t want marked as that guy.
I would suggest not making a big issue and asking for an alternative, but make it clear why you are deciding it’s best for you not to go. Hopefully it’ll be taken on board for any future events.
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