[Misc] Work’s Christmas Do’s

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timbha

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
10,515
Sussex
It’s that time. Who’s having one? Excuses for not going? Party games? Secret Santa? Will Crisps make an appearance? Drunken stories?

“Stand up if you hate HR” still makes me smile

Let’s hear your stories.
 
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Superphil

Dismember
Jul 7, 2003
25,679
In a pile of football shirts
Do firms do this any more? The last one I went to was in 2009, in Ipswich. Neither of the last 2 firms I've worked for since 2010 have done them.
 


Paulie Gualtieri

Bada Bing
NSC Patron
May 8, 2018
10,639
Mines started 22 minutes ago in central London

I am WFH today and haven’t been there long enough to know many people without being a burden on the coattails of those that I do know.

Having a Chinese tonight with actual local fwends. Look forward to the team afternoon call tomorrow about who’s acted like a **** standard stuff
 


Dave the OAP

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
46,762
at home
Being retired i am hoping there will be a reunion of all our old colleagues in London
 


Happy Exile

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Apr 19, 2018
2,135
It's generally my least favourite work-related activity but this year my team has called it right I think. With a nod to cost of living crisis and the fact we're mostly remote workers who rarely get together but actually mostly quite like each other's company it's an afternoon in the office together watching films, playing games (console and board) and generally "doing Christmas" as a team, but no obligation to go. Everyone is bringing a food item to share, capped at £5 spend each. It's the first work Christmas gathering I'm looking forward to in absolutely years. In fact it's the first I'm going to in absolutely years because normally I take time off to avoid it. Be nice to see people though, and the fact it's all very relaxed bodes well and when the people who want to slope off down the boozer at 5pm I'll just come home. Perfect.
 




Simonf93

Well-known member
Apr 25, 2012
398
my company have paid for us to hit the amex one night, should be a laugh
 


Cornwallboy

Well-known member
Oct 13, 2022
531
It's generally my least favourite work-related activity but this year my team has called it right I think. With a nod to cost of living crisis and the fact we're mostly remote workers who rarely get together but actually mostly quite like each other's company it's an afternoon in the office together watching films, playing games (console and board) and generally "doing Christmas" as a team, but no obligation to go. Everyone is bringing a food item to share, capped at £5 spend each. It's the first work Christmas gathering I'm looking forward to in absolutely years. In fact it's the first I'm going to in absolutely years because normally I take time off to avoid it. Be nice to see people though, and the fact it's all very relaxed bodes well and when the people who want to slope off down the boozer at 5pm I'll just come home. Perfect.
Love the work xmas do, always great fun, good to see workmates away from the work environment. Each to their own but I've never understood the 'I spend all week with them at work and that's enough so I won't be going.' I think they act as a really good team builder.
 


Questions

Habitual User
Oct 18, 2006
25,513
Worthing
The last ‘proper’ firms do I went to was in 1978 and I fell into the DJ fellow after being sick…. 1st and last.
 






Paulie Gualtieri

Bada Bing
NSC Patron
May 8, 2018
10,639
I recall my first ever Financial Services Xmas do, free bar and paid for overnight rooms at the hotel for all staff.

Never happened again, hotel threatened to sue them for damages and we had to sign two NDA’s, the early noughties, gawd bless em.
 






cheshunt seagull

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
2,595
I retired in Jan this year and have been invited to the do at O'Neills in Euston Rd tomorrow. It's a good chance to catch-up and I always liked the people I worked with. Thankfully it is a set price for everyone and you buy your own drinks at the bar so there shouldn't be any longwinded debate over the bill which has put me off these things in the past.
 








Sid and the Sharknados

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 4, 2022
5,720
Darlington
It's generally my least favourite work-related activity but this year my team has called it right I think. With a nod to cost of living crisis and the fact we're mostly remote workers who rarely get together but actually mostly quite like each other's company it's an afternoon in the office together watching films, playing games (console and board) and generally "doing Christmas" as a team, but no obligation to go. Everyone is bringing a food item to share, capped at £5 spend each. It's the first work Christmas gathering I'm looking forward to in absolutely years. In fact it's the first I'm going to in absolutely years because normally I take time off to avoid it. Be nice to see people though, and the fact it's all very relaxed bodes well and when the people who want to slope off down the boozer at 5pm I'll just come home. Perfect.
I think the key with all work social events is to not make them compulsory, because that just makes it feel like more work even if you actually like your colleagues.
That said, what your work is doing sounds absolutely horrendous. Playing board games with my colleagues sounds almost as bad as working with them.
 




Happy Exile

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Apr 19, 2018
2,135
Love the work xmas do, always great fun, good to see workmates away from the work environment. Each to their own but I've never understood the 'I spend all week with them at work and that's enough so I won't be going.' I think they act as a really good team builder.
I think a lot depends on your colleagues. In the days I worked for a recruitment firm the Christmas do was like an exhibition of competitive bellendery. All the most annoying traits of Apprentice wannabes amplified a million times over by alcohol. The year it spilt over into fist fights and someone got bottled was the last year they had it, and I don't think anyone was really that upset.
 


Badger

NOT the Honey Badger
NSC Patron
May 8, 2007
13,108
Toronto
My company appear to have binned off Christmas parties. I can't say I'm too disappointed.
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,185
Faversham
The most over-the-top one I went to was in 1980 when we ( a publishing company for whom I worked while between degrees) had the ball room at the Grosvenor Hotel in Park Lane. Very 1950s. There was an open bar. At one point I asked for a Tia Maria (I was dead classy back then) and the barman gave me half a pint. No idea how we got back home (to Crawley, at that time).

The worst was when I was a student in Canada in 1982. Someone put on a Crimbo partry round their flat. Arrival time 5.30 pm. BYOB. I was waiting for the hifi to be switched on so we could boogie to Echo and the Bunnymen but, instead, someone pulled out an acoustic guitar and started singing 'Coming round the mountain'. The party ended around 8. Vancouver had a great night life (as I discovered only weeks later) but it had completely passed these students by. f***ing weirdos.
 




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