Are you going to your work Christmas party?

ancapailldorcha

FTA69 wrote: »

Yeah I don't get this hatred of coworkers, it seems to be more common amongst tension-ridden white collar office environments with a lot of competitiveness etc. When I worked on site or in a hotel we used to always go on the lash or for a game of football or something, same with my current job we'd often go for a drink or even an event if something was on. One lad I work with lives close to me and we'll often pop into each other's gaff on the way home for a brew.

There was always a lot more camaraderie in blue collar type jobs I found.

Depends. Both my current job and the one preceding my last one were with Universities. There was a strong sense of cliquishness in both due to the fact that multiple groups were working in each University. Neither of them were welcoming at all so I just didn't bother, especially since the former employer didn't take us out. We booked something ourselves but to please the miserly staff, we went to the cheapest dump in town where I ate a meal I could have cooked better myself.

My last job was with a biotech company which had expanded rapidly in the last year so there were always new people which made things easier. I couldn't put my finger on it but I'm not sure these sorts of competitive work environments suit me.

Sue Pa Key Pa

I work for a great boss, have lovely work mates who all get along (usually). However, I would never dream of going to any social function connected with work. Can only ever end bad IMO.

Benildus

Company one - No
Department one - No
Team one - Yes

Lia_lia

Not sure really. Last years one wasn't great. Not sure what the story with this years one is yet. Nice excuse to get dressed up anyway...

c68zapdsm5i1ru

Sue Pa Key Pa wrote: »

I work for a great boss, have lovely work mates who all get along (usually). However, I would never dream of going to any social function connected with work. Can only ever end bad IMO.

I've been to lots of social events connected with work. They've rarely ended badly.

Icsics

The newly established 'social committee' are organising ours...hear talks of a bus..wouldn't go to anything involving a bus!

Toots

I always went in my last job because the branch only had a small number of staff and we were quite close knit, so it was basically just a night out with your mates. When the company stopped paying for the parties we organised a night out on the cheap, so nobody was under pressure to attend.

My husband's company throws a massive company-wide party (they booked out the convention centre last year) and spouses/partners are invited, so I might head along this year depending on where it is. If it's somewhere that's short on seating I'll be giving it a miss, don't fancy being massively preggers and standing around for hours while my feet and ankles balloon :pac:

Sir Oxman

I'd rather watch Fair City on loop from the start, forever.

No. I wouldn't waste one second of my free time!

whisky_galore

I'm my old company, management and the boss types didn't go, which was fine. In this place the boss/management want to "get down with the proles" for Xmas food and drinks and the enforced fun for pizza and beer at other times so that's a big fat nope from me.

Tbh I'd rather a raise instead of this shyte.

budsalt

Used to do them years ago but they don't have the appeal for me anymore.

ArnoldJRimmer

Christmas party in my department is finger food in a rented out part of a bar and people look after themselves for drinks. Usually senior management will show and buy a few rounds too.

I attend most work nights out, its nice having the craic outside of work and talking to people I wouldn't normally socialise with. Obviously some are painful to listen to, but they're in the minority. But as soon as I feel like I'm getting a little drunk, I'm straight out the door and into a cab. I've seen some serious casualties at these events before and its never a good idea to be hammered in front of co-workers

James 007

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

.................was a strong sense of cliquishness in both ........

My last job was with a biotech company which had expanded rapidly in the last year so there were always new people which made things easier. I couldn't put my finger on it but I'm not sure these sorts of competitive work environments suit me.

I used to work in a consulting engineering small practice where there seems to be a very strong sense of professionalism and a great approach to learning. Ever since I changed to a pharma company I have experienced this 'cliquishness' to high degree that it reminds me of when I was in school and everyone was in groups, its pure childish antics.......like you have pointed out everything is about competitiveness and culture this and that. I have had more respect from construction staff on a building site than some of the so called professionals working in this industry, so to answer the OPs question, am I going to the xmas party?

Hell yes, to stick it up there arses, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of not going:)

Rubberchikken

God no.

eh i dunno

Spend time with colleagues and not be getting paid. No thanks

Galwayguy35

Think I'll go this year, get the dinner and a few free pints off them.

branie2

When I was working, we didn't have Christmas parties, just Christmas meals for the company I was working with.

the_syco

Cocktail, meal, and drinking. Although this is Canada, so most of the crowds "heavy drinking" would probably be classed as "tee teetotaler" in Ireland :pac:

EPAndlee

I've never gone and don't plan on going mainly because most of the people I work with are so boring and unbearable

branie2

When I was doing a course for a couple of years, our Christmas meals was given to us by our tutors

posturingpat

What's that?

r93kaey5p2izun

God no. It's far too expensive anyway.

Anesthetize

I always enjoy going to our department Christmas parties. It usually starts off with a meal paid by the company in a hotel or restaurant, the drinks you can buy yourself there.

Then afterwards off to a craft beer pub, where our managers will give us free drink tokens. A bit of craic to be had there especially when people get tipsier. We get some finger food to keep us going as well.

As the night goes on people will either stay in the pub, go to a club or late bar, or go home. I usually end up in a club and come to regret it the following morning.

Feisar

Definitely going.

Good feed and put up for the night in a nice hotel, partners also invited.

People I work with are sound, the owners are A1. It'll be a great night if last years was anything to go by.

EIREDriver

Was working for a large multinational with office in Dublin with around 40 employees last year.

Christmas party was organised by the social committee - we didn't know they had a budget at the time. Free meal, unlimited (we thought) drinks from a fairly limited bar. Ended up drinking double whiskeys and coke after the meal as they hadn't a great beer choice. After our 5th or 6th drink the barman declares that there's no more doubles/triples. Perplexed, us young naive drinkers started ordering 2 drinks each go to make up for this.

It was only afterwards that we learned that the social committee realised that they had quickly reached the tab they had paid and knew they'd need to stop the expensive orders. Tbf to them they increased it continually over the night, so everyone apart from them just assumed it was unlimited.

My nights out with this company (leaving dos, social events etc) have been by the far the messiest nights I've had. Always ended up in some seedy looking late bar. Would usually be outside my comfort zone but find it hard to say no to free drink. :rolleyes:

hot buttered scones

Yes. I'll spend the first half of the night avoiding my managers and the second half of the night stalking them. Then the next six months avoiding eye contact with the last three people I spoke too before going home. I love Christmas.

Anesthetize

hot buttered scones wrote: »

Yes. I'll spend the first half of the night avoiding my managers and the second half of the night stalking them. Then the next six months avoiding eye contact with the last three people I spoke too before going home. I love Christmas.

I also do this.

hot buttered scones

Anesthetize wrote:

I also do this.

We may work together. Don't look at me.

MadDog76

Hector Savage wrote: »

Eh mine is the same night as the Star Wars premiere .... so I know where I'll be ... and it won't be at a poxy false Christmas party ...

I've never been more embarrassed for a poster upon reading his post than I am for you right now ........... you really should get out more.

Paying for it, so might as well turn up. Small office, will be 5 of us there, but we're all very close anyway so will be like a meal with friends.

When I had a good social life used to leave them at it - 4 others all women - and regarded it as a waste of a wild night out as they'd be more...conservative. Alas, now baby landed in it's one of my only reasons to get out...

andekwarhola

Don't often go but might go this year as I've skipped the last two. I like my colleagues a lot but as you get older, you get a bit more wary of getting drunk with workmates plus with kids and work, you don't get to see your friends as much so a work party in December is a bit of a waste of a weekend night you could meet up with friends.

OldMrBrennan83

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moonlighting

how do people figure out transport for thies events. cant drink and drive so i never bothered.

Anesthetize

moonlighting wrote: »

how do people figure out transport for thies events. cant drink and drive so i never bothered.

Taxi

jonon9

I'm self employed so I guess I be having a Xmas party by myself.

OldMrBrennan83

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Richard Hillman

I work often on the weekends so it depends if I am working the next day. Won't go if I am working the next day, won't go if the weather is bad or if it's not in a convenient location. So generally, unlikely.

moonlighting

Patww79 wrote: »

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exactly my problem also the cost for a taxi for a single person out to the country.

NickNickleby

FTA69 wrote: »

Yeah I don't get this hatred of coworkers, it seems to be more common amongst tension-ridden white collar office environments with a lot of competitiveness etc. When I worked on site or in a hotel we used to always go on the lash or for a game of football or something, same with my current job we'd often go for a drink or even an event if something was on. One lad I work with lives close to me and we'll often pop into each other's gaff on the way home for a brew.

There was always a lot more camaraderie in blue collar type jobs I found.

I worked on my tools for a few years, then in an IT department with a lot of shirt and tie people (myself included - I already had them, though ).

I really enjoyed both working environments. The lads on the tools had to organise their own Christmas Party and we usually hired a hotel room or upstairs in a pub and brought the girlfriends as well. We started paying into the fund from about September so it didn't break the bank in December.And we ALWAYS enjoyed ourselves, no killjoys, perhaps one or two of the older guys wouldn't go.
In the office environment, it was your typical stressed out place, long hours with no o/t payments, always under the cosh. However, the department arranged Christmas lunch every year, which always went well. And everyone, lads and girls attended and went to the pub after. There was no nastiness or antagonism (except towards the management!). The stress and pressure actually served to make the groups more cohesive, common enemy and all that, I suppose. Even after I retired, they still email me and I go (but it s pay for yourself , these days).

JimPa

So many people dread the thoughts of it!?

I know the few who won't turn up to ours and while they'd be very welcome, to be honest they won't be missed at all. I'm sure they'll sit at home and grumble. The vast majority of the office will show up and make a good time of it. All good, normal people. Mostly. :pac:

Brego888

Of course. Who else is gonna make an arse of themselves.

Sir Oxman

JimPa wrote: »

So many people dread the thoughts of it!?

I know the few who won't turn up to ours and while they'd be very welcome, to be honest they won't be missed at all. I'm sure they'll sit at home and grumble. The vast majority of the office will show up and make a good time of it. All good, normal people. Mostly. :pac:

Eh, i'm sure they won't. Believe me.

NewbridgeIR

I go to mine every year. Large company (I'm there 20+ years); the department I'm in has about 30 staff - most people will attend. I usually enjoy it and really don't get this hatred of co-workers. Some are pricks, some are sound, others have become friends. I'd never automatically not be friendly or sociable with somebody just because I work with them.

JimPa

Sir Oxman wrote: »

Eh, i'm sure they won't. Believe me.

Believe you why? I know offices and I know the types.

People who work in 20, 30 or 40+ groups and call them all odd! Eh, right yeah. It's all of them.

Wanderer2010

Not a chance. Its incredibly awkward and false to be spending hours necking drinks and making small talk with people you dont even like. I went for the first few years just for show until i made the decision not to go purely for my own comfort.
Ive never ever understood the need to mix work and pleasure. I mean, on a dancefloor with your fcuking boss?? Having to watch what you say all night because you cant cut loose. Workmates are not your mates. I seem to be in the minority when i say its weird to mix with your boss but that remains my view.

picturehangup

No. Quite like most of my colleagues, but see more than enough of them, all year round.

Chancer3001

I am going to go. Take 2 grams of coke. Stay up til 8am and try it on with the best looking girl in the office.

It's a tradition

Anesthetize

Patww79 wrote: »

A lot of places on the greater outskirts of Dublin go into the city for their party, and you can't get a taxi at the weekend for love nor money in December.

That's Dublin though.

Tom Mann Centuria

They normally schedule our Christmas party for when I'm working nights, so no, I don't go.

But to be fair to them, I never went anyway, and wouldn't go, so it's better that I be on nights than someone who might not be antisocial and want to attend.

gammygils

Nope. Last time I went was 15 years ago. I live 20 miles away so it'll mean €70 or more on Taxis or an overnighter & risk getting breathalysed in the morning. But I could drive & drink minerals or whatever while everyone else gets plssed! Hmmmmmm Don't think so :rolleyes:

OldMrBrennan83

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