Dreading the Xmas office party?

ted1

UCDVet wrote: »

But all things are never equal.

It's rarely ever the case that a company says, 'Well, we have a successful business and 50 employees, but we really only can afford 49. Let's fire the guy with the least amount of persona relationships....'

Either someone is under-performing and will be let go, regardless....or, more likely, the company as a whole is under-performing or making a strategic realignment or whatever and entire teams/offices all get let go.

Get rid of the bad apple who doesn't interact with the group. Don't promote the loner, promote the guy you have a good working relationship with.
You sound like a nightmare to work with.

UCDVet

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

You sound like a real barrel of laughs. I'll bet no one is hoping you come to the Xmas party this year.

That's not very nice. I could just as easily make fun of the people who have no 'real friends' and think a night out with the coworkers is a real party....but I'm a nice guy.

Believe it or not, I get along quite well with my coworkers. I just don't feel the need to hang out with them after work as part of a semi-mandatory company sponsored event. I have, especially when I was younger, made personal friends with a few co-workers and we did hang out, outside of work. But that was of our own accord, when we felt like doing so.

boobar

I don't normally attend work events, but this year I'm going to.

I've a family get together the same night that I'm trying to avoid.

UCDVet

ted1 wrote: »

Get rid of the bad apple who doesn't interact with the group. Don't promote the loner, promote the guy you have a good working relationship with.
You sound like a nightmare to work with.

I'd disagree. The people who are the hardest to work with are inevitably the ones who tried and failed to form meaningful connections. Like the guy who got too drunk and made a pass at his co-worker during the office party....or the girl who pretends to be really nice, but immediately complains about being forced to spend time with someone she doesn't like.

I interact fine with my co-workers and I have very good *WORKING* relationships with them. A chat about the weekend on Monday is fine enough, I don't need to be out for drinks on the weekend with my workers to feel like I fit in.

Remmy

I have one coming up soon. I don't drink anymore except for the odd glass of wine with meals. I'm going to have to figure out how to look like I have a drink in my hand the whole night without actually drinking.

Well now!

I'll have a boozy work lunch with my department, the sports and social night out, and a party night with my work friends. I'll enjoy all of them because I love where I work, and I love [most of] the people I work with.

The boozy lunch won't be more than a couple of pints for me, and I'll likely not drink at the others because I'm not drinking all that much these days generally.

Tbh, I'd go to the opening of an envelope

Tell me how

Yellowblackbird wrote: »

Can't argue with free healthy nutrition.
Beets are a unique source of phytonutrients called betalains. Betanin and vulgaxanthin are the two best-studied betalains from beets, and both have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support.

Yellowblackbird = Dwight Schrute

Aglomerado

I used to love them, when I worked with a bigger team. We always had the craic. For the last 3 years I've been working in a very small area and the Christmas party is now a lunch - back to work afterwards (I usually have a couple of the strongest beers they serve regardless).

Because there are so few of us now, the risk of sitting near the boring / smelly/ bragging colleagues for the lunch is high. I'm hoping another unit we work closely with will ask us to join them this year because there are a lot more of them and some of them are great fun.

dundalkfc10

Remmy wrote: »

I have one coming up soon. I don't drink anymore except for the odd glass of wine with meals. I'm going to have to figure out how to look like I have a drink in my hand the whole night without actually drinking.

Are you a child FFS? Just tell them you dont drink much/arenot having any that night

Skerries

Titzon Toast wrote: »

I'm self employed these days, I haven't thrown myself a Christmas party yet.
Maybe this year I'll head into town, get pissed, and feel myself up on the way home.

I know a self employed plumber who once a year at xmas puts on a suit and goes to his local and has his work party

RayCon

Used to go to them , haven't been to one in the last 10yrs - haven't missed them.

Larbre34

Christmas parties used to be far more craic before political correctness and austerity. It was usually free bar and debauchery. Good times.

Now youre lucky if you dont have to pay yourself to endure the contrived bullsh1t that goes along with it. Worse still, you get types in offices going "oh but you're expected to attend"

If you generally get on with people in work, then grand, go for a pint with them. If you are being herded into a giant conference room full of fake smile christmas nonsense then just give it a pass...

rainbow kirby

Feck it, it's 4 hours in a fancyarse restaurant with everything paid for. Not too much to complain about there apart from the fact that I'm the only one on my team who drinks...

sh1tstirrer

punisher5112 wrote: »

Free beet and food go if not nah

Nothing like a good feed of sugar beet.

anncoates

Haven't went for a year or two but might go this year. Usually would rather use my sparse free time to meet friends at Christmas.

Work do is a free bar and it's nice being in town at Christmas time so unless you're working with a bunch of twats I don't see the issue. Just don't go if you don't like it.

eamonnq

tomwaterford wrote: »

I actually get along right well with work colleagues..touch wood...there sound outlike...but come half five I dont to hear sight nor sound of them until the next day....like I wouldn't give any of them my work number/be friends on Facebook etc with them....i would be pretty sure they prob feel the same like!!

Like I left a job before after working for three years day in day out with people and getting on well with them...and never spoke another word to most of them again...I've no reason to like!!

How many LIKES did you get ?

tomwaterford

tomwaterford wrote: »

your are lucky so...its just the people I work with...ive little or nothing in common with them
there all like married with kids etc...jesus even the two lads my age have kids....there none of them have any real interests outside of work....all they talk about is how much they hate there parthners and how boring there lives are etc and who they are doing the dirt on therparthners with (well admittedly that's just one lad...and I think its prue bull tbh)

I've always appeared to work people who are very sociable and are all up for going out on the beer regularly etc and also places that organise social events regularly so the Christmas night out is just one of many throughout the year.

When I have started in a new place though I would go in with the aim of making friends with people and any hint of a Friday night out or event I would go immediately and start getting to know people outside of work. There is no doubt I have made lifelong friends in my current place, I'm here a good few years are there are a group of us who are damn near as close as friends you would have grown up with.

Wabbit Ears

Basically an entire department of women havent spoken to me since last years Christmas party.

Party On Garth!!

I'm so not drinking at this years party...Such a spachild when drunk I am.

anncoates

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

Basically an entire department of women havent spoken to me since last years Christmas party..

Go you.

Neyite

I dont drink much so usually stay sober-ish and I have witnessed some wild behaviour at Christmas parties.

Married people copping off with each other, staff doing drugs, puking into pintglasses and handbags, drunk juniors telling senior bosses exactly why they are such gobsh!tes. Staff stripping off, lapdancing on their supervisors, Fights. The best one though was the office 'david brent' chatting up a lesbian (who brought her partner) colleague all night and being entirely mystified that he didnt pull.

I'm looking forward to the next one - better than Corrie or Eastenders any day.

wrote:

<snip>

That sort of thing annoys me. Places I've worked have always paid you and not expected you to take time off for work social events during working hours. Even the day after the Christmas party is a working day that people are not really expected to be seen or not seen until the afternoon at the earliest.

Peist2007

Have noticed this elsewhere but there is a whiff of it also on this thread. People really do treat work like school. See it all the time in my job where the day is time oriented rather than task oriented ie "once half five comes i am gone"
Something i have noticed since i started in the workplace and getting it here now while reading the thread.

mikemac1

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Feck it, it's 4 hours in a fancyarse restaurant with everything paid for.

Not for all. Some of us have to pay for our own party

Not a cent of it is subsidised

nocoverart

UCDVet wrote: »

I like to keep my work separate from everything else. Work is a business transaction, I give them hours of my time, they give me money. If you complicate it with personal attachments, it just gets messy. I've known so many people who stay in a crappy job or deal with a crappy boss because they feel a personal attachment to some co-workers or some boss or the owner or the customers.

In fact, companies spend a lot of money to try and artificially promote bonds between co-workers for exactly this reason. Team outings, summer parties, bring you children days, Christmas parties....it's all meant to make you feel like you are 'part of something'.

Naturally, the flip-side doesn't hold. When it's time to fire people to improve the bottom line; the soulless company will be happy to let you go.

It happens all the time. So and so worked his or her ass off for years, always helping out, pitching in, going above and beyond and feeling like he or she was apart of the company. And then the company fires them or shuts down their office because the handful of rich people running it can afford a 4th summer home by offshoring the jobs somewhere else.

Screw Christmas parties.
I have friends and family that I'll party with.

Overthink things much? something tells me you won't be missed.

Frigga_92

Peist2007 wrote: »

Have noticed this elsewhere but there is a whiff of it also on this thread. People really do treat work like school. See it all the time in my job where the day is time oriented rather than task oriented ie "once half five comes i am gone"
Something i have noticed since i started in the workplace and getting it here now while reading the thread.

And how do you feel about Christmas parties?

Peist2007

Peist2007 wrote: »

Have noticed this elsewhere but there is a whiff of it also on this thread. People really do treat work like school. See it all the time in my job where the day is time oriented rather than task oriented ie "once half five comes i am gone"
Something i have noticed since i started in the workplace and getting it here now while reading the thread.

I dont really notice it in this thread. Why do you have an issue with it anyway?

AndonHandon

Gannon Flat Crayon wrote: »

I dont really notice it in this thread. Why do you have an issue with it anyway?

I would have an issue with someone who thought so rigidly about their work; the area I am in involves a massive degree of job satisfaction with the money being incidental. As a result of this, fellow employees are not just colleagues but are teammates. What is good for the team is good for the company and the individual. Therefore, it is important to understand, trust and be comfortable with your colleagues. Out of the office social occasions help in breaking down some barriers and assist in getting to know the people you work with which in turn leads to healthier working relationships. It also helps in weeding out those who are not fully committed to the company. And I am not talking solely about alcohol incorporated social events.

Wabbit Ears

I love my work, Id absolutely hate to ever be in a situation where I was watching the clock for home time to escape the people and place I spend a good portion of my waking hours!!

AndonHandon

AndonHandon wrote: »

I would have an issue with someone who thought so rigidly about their work; the area I am in involves a massive degree of job satisfaction with the money being incidental. As a result of this, fellow employees are not just colleagues but are teammates. What is good for the team is good for the company and the individual. Therefore, it is important to understand, trust and be comfortable with your colleagues. Out of the office social occasions help in breaking down some barriers and assist in getting to know the people you work with which in turn leads to healthier working relationships. It also helps in weeding out those who are not fully committed to the company. And I am not talking solely about alcohol incorporated social events.

I agree with all the above and have been very much on the side of making friends with people you work with and attending work events.

The poster I replied to suggested that people are time driven, I took this as meaning their work day revolves around the clock and for many jobs this is the case and not something to have a problem with. Other jobs are task driven, i.e. you keep working until the job is done or you have a deadline to meet and once you meet he deadline nobody is bothered about what hours you work etc.

I very much fall into the second category btw, if I'm busy I work long hours and could be at work when a lot of people are getting into their beds but on the other hand a quiet times I can come in late, head off to do bits and pieces during the day if needs be, take an unofficial half day etc. In general I prefer a task driven role as it give you much more freedom though at times I would love to be able to be guaranteed to finish at 5:30 everyday and not feel like I should be still working.

swimming in a sea

AndonHandon wrote: »

I would have an issue with someone who thought so rigidly about their work; the area I am in involves a massive degree of job satisfaction with the money being incidental. As a result of this, fellow employees are not just colleagues but are teammates. What is good for the team is good for the company and the individual. Therefore, it is important to understand, trust and be comfortable with your colleagues. Out of the office social occasions help in breaking down some barriers and assist in getting to know the people you work with which in turn leads to healthier working relationships. It also helps in weeding out those who are not fully committed to the company. And I am not talking solely about alcohol incorporated social events.

And you get free food in Google...

Fat Christy

I love the office Christmas party. \o/

IrishAlice

UCDVet
I've known so many people who stay in a crappy job or deal with a crappy boss because they feel a personal attachment to some co-workers or some boss or the owner or the customers.

I myself was guilty of this in a previous job. Absolutely hated it there, used to cry every Monday morning on the way to work and on Friday I would dread the next week.

I'm not saying the friends I made are the reason I stayed but I do think had I not made any friends there I would have left a lot sooner.

In my current role, I get on well with the people on my team, we go for lunch everyday together and I go to the Christmas party each year.

Outside of that I have no interactions with anyone from work outside of working hours and the only social event I attend is the Christmas party.

Galwayguy35

I used to always go, free dinner and beer but we haven't had a party for a few years now, last year it was just a night in the pub and we had to pay for the drinks ourselves.

not yet

The good aul xmas knees up knickers off party whaa..

Wompa1

Yellowblackbird wrote: »

Can't argue with free healthy nutrition.
Beets are a unique source of phytonutrients called betalains. Betanin and vulgaxanthin are the two best-studied betalains from beets, and both have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support.

"Natures candy, don't ya know"

pauliebdub

I always go, it's looks good to senior management and helps networking and bonding with colleagues, though I often find it quite dull. At least in my last job there were a few characters, nowadays it's a 20 min conversation about mince pies.

The_Valeyard

I don't dread the office party,


I do dread work the following Monday,apologies, and meeting with HR :P

not yet

The_Valeyard wrote: »

I don't dread the office party,


I do dread work the following Monday,apologies, and meeting with HR :P

You wouldn't be the rapey type by any chance..?

6781

Bad enough spending 50 or so hours a week with some of the cnuts I work with, without taking having to spend more time with them. No thanks.

The_Valeyard

not yet wrote: »

You wouldn't be the rapey type by any chance..?

Ewwwwwww. No. I'm just very honest when drunk.

dd972

Good luck with your dilemma bud !


Un-em-ployed !! Ha Ha :pac:

Areyouwell

Specialun wrote: »

Not going to bother with mine

The biatches be all over me and they would jst look desperate...doing them afavour

First time I ever heard of a Christmas party down in the dog kennels.

branie2

I've been to an office Christmas meal

crybaby

I have always dreaded those work type of events but found they can be endured once alcohol is available

Luckily children are a great excuse to get out of almost anything in life

AndonHandon

swimming in a sea wrote: »

And you get free food in Google...

The same Google that doesn't pay tax to the Irish state and whose employees are the single biggest factor in driving up rents in Dublin City?

liz lemoncello

Remmy wrote: »

I have one coming up soon. I don't drink anymore except for the odd glass of wine with meals. I'm going to have to figure out how to look like I have a drink in my hand the whole night without actually drinking.

Could you not drink a non-alcoholic drink?

A friend posted pics on facebook from her workplace holiday party; it took place last weekend. :eek:

I used to work at a big company that had big Christmas parties, lost of free booze and decent food, everyone dressed up. There was always stuff going on. Once I turned the wrong corner on the way back from the ladies room and found my supervisor in an embrace with her supervisor. They left their spouses and married.

Nagin

I'm going to go to mine and get absolutely mouldy, as I do at every party.

B.A._Baracus

Work Christmas parties are fakery (if thats a word)
Like let's all be honest here... You are in a venue with people who aren't your friends. In fact, all too often these are the people who would step over you, not to mention said job would run you down the road if business takes a dip. It's just all so fake.

Odyssey 2005

Nagin wrote: »

I'm going to go to mine and get absolutely mouldy, as I do at every party.

By name and nature so. Carry on.....

Teyla Emmagan

Ours is a drinks and nibbles thing that starts in the afternoon. So no being stuck at a table all night with someone awful. Instead I will be making career compromising moves by trying to drop a tipsy hand on one of my colleagues at about 6pm. Looking forward to it!