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Office Christmas Parties
Comments
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Ours was last week, only a small office (25) so we went downed tools around 4, drinks and a bit of Darts in the office followed by Tayyabs for a curry at 6, back into the City after and a few more beers in a pub - all company funded.
my serious City drinking days are well behind me now and I generally avoid like the plague. Don't mind the odd night (inc Xmas) and luckily all in my office are decent company and a good laugh to have a beer with.2 -
They sound like two good reasons to start goingStuart_the_Red said:I used to go to the office Xmas parties, but stopped for two reasons:
1: they stopped inviting partners and it was purely employees (no fun anymore!),
and
2: they started to be more about which department could drink more and invariably ended up in handbags at dawn. I couldn’t be arsed with that!11 -
100% with you @Carter.Carter said:
Fuck that right offButtleJR said:Glad to see this forums filled with such outgoing, sociable people. Mines today, looking forward to it. Free bar opens at 1pm so could be interesting. A former colleague of mine woke up in France after a Christmas do with no recollection of how she got there (and with no passport) and hasn't touched a drop of alcohol since... Scary
I'm plenty sociable, with my people. I've been around long enough to know nothing good is going to come out of spending free time with people I would avoid if I was unlucky enough to see on a weekend.
What I will say is a lot has happened to make the workplace as difficult as possible to freely socialise.
We get a load of bollocks about bringing your whole self to work. Utter bullshit, if I were to bring my whole self to work as opposed to the overly tolerant, patient, dare I say it, professional version of myself it wouldn't fit with the narrative of platitudes spewed down from above. Nah
I'll be myself around people I trust to be myself around thanks. From over 20 years doing what I do I can count the people I actually get on with away from work on one hand, I like having a drink with them but I'm not wasting life credits on dickheads I have to receive payment to be around
Nowadays, the thought of 'forced socialising' with my team fills me with absolute dread.
It doesn't make me unsociable. I'm very sociable around people i want to spend time with.
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That's it sunshine. Follow in your dad's footsteps. LolButtleJR said:Glad to see this forums filled with such outgoing, sociable people. Mines today, looking forward to it. Free bar opens at 1pm so could be interesting. A former colleague of mine woke up in France after a Christmas do with no recollection of how she got there (and with no passport) and hasn't touched a drop of alcohol since... Scary0 -
I work in the Public Sector so we have to (rightly) pay for ours. London is now a very expensive place to self-fund what could be a hit or miss event. Spending good wedge with my mates is guaranteed fun, and I would rather do that.5
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We wouldn't1905 said:I work in the Public Sector so we have to (rightly) pay for ours. London is now a very expensive place to self-fund what could be a hit or miss event. Spending good wedge with my mates is guaranteed fun, and I would rather do that.6 -
I started work in 1970 and finished in 2013.
In the early days pretty much everyone attended the Christmas do. There was a spirit of camaraderie and in any case Christmas was a time to bury the hatchet, even if it was for those few days.
As time went on people became more insular, more suspicious of colleagues and less willing to socialise - even for a day. I believe that company policy had a bearing on this. Everyone was made aware of duties and responsibilities and had to sign in agreement - or else! Individualism was frowned upon, everyone in effect became robotic, doing the same thing in the same way. Team membership was a joke term used by management imo, as the workers competed against each other for promotion - or more likely - just to retain their present day jobs and positions.
Just before I retired someone called me a dinosaur during a meeting. I believe it was said in jest, but despite this I made an impassioned speech about how the modern day job had been completely stitched up by grovelling yes men who dragged everyone down with them. It was the reason we'd lost so many terms and conditions and maybe if a few more people acted as so called 'dinosaurs' we'd all be better off and more secure. I don't know where my words came from to be honest, but it left my audience in stunned silence.
Oh well, it was time for me to leave the building anyway, I was probably past my sell by date.
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Not a dinosaur mate, just observant, honest and profoundly astute.Raith_C_Chattonell said:I started work in 1970 and finished in 2013.
In the early days pretty much everyone attended the Christmas do. There was a spirit of camaraderie and in any case Christmas was a time to bury the hatchet, even if it was for those few days.
As time went on people became more insular, more suspicious of colleagues and less willing to socialise - even for a day. I believe that company policy had a bearing on this. Everyone was made aware of duties and responsibilities and had to sign in agreement - or else! Individualism was frowned upon, everyone in effect became robotic, doing the same thing in the same way. Team membership was a joke term used by management imo, as the workers competed against each other for promotion - or more likely - just to retain their present day jobs and positions.
Just before I retired someone called me a dinosaur during a meeting. I believe it was said in jest, but despite this I made an impassioned speech about how the modern day job had been completely stitched up by grovelling yes men who dragged everyone down with them. It was the reason we'd lost so many terms and conditions and maybe if a few more people acted as so called 'dinosaurs' we'd all be better off and more secure. I don't know where my words came from to be honest, but it left my audience in stunned silence.
Oh well, it was time for me to leave the building anyway, I was probably past my sell by date.
I blow peoples minds by having zero interest in fanning any of those horrible flames by taking part in that stupid charade of greasy pole climbing. A few people at my place thought I was a manager and when I told them I wasn't they aren't interested in talking to me as I can't give or offer them anything in their eyes. Which is funny
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No mate, it's because you're boringCarter said:
Not a dinosaur mate, just observant, honest and profoundly astute.Raith_C_Chattonell said:I started work in 1970 and finished in 2013.
In the early days pretty much everyone attended the Christmas do. There was a spirit of camaraderie and in any case Christmas was a time to bury the hatchet, even if it was for those few days.
As time went on people became more insular, more suspicious of colleagues and less willing to socialise - even for a day. I believe that company policy had a bearing on this. Everyone was made aware of duties and responsibilities and had to sign in agreement - or else! Individualism was frowned upon, everyone in effect became robotic, doing the same thing in the same way. Team membership was a joke term used by management imo, as the workers competed against each other for promotion - or more likely - just to retain their present day jobs and positions.
Just before I retired someone called me a dinosaur during a meeting. I believe it was said in jest, but despite this I made an impassioned speech about how the modern day job had been completely stitched up by grovelling yes men who dragged everyone down with them. It was the reason we'd lost so many terms and conditions and maybe if a few more people acted as so called 'dinosaurs' we'd all be better off and more secure. I don't know where my words came from to be honest, but it left my audience in stunned silence.
Oh well, it was time for me to leave the building anyway, I was probably past my sell by date.
I blow peoples minds by having zero interest in fanning any of those horrible flames by taking part in that stupid charade of greasy pole climbing. A few people at my place thought I was a manager and when I told them I wasn't they aren't interested in talking to me as I can't give or offer them anything in their eyes. Which is funny4 -
Hawksmoor for dinner. Massive steak sharing feast, second year on the trot. very nice. I strategically had to remove myself from the centre of the table next to the senior partners as I could feel the wheels coming off about 8pm after a couple of their Christmas martinis!After all these years I still haven’t learned!11
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A lot of sense talked here - i've moved to a new company after 30 years at my old one where i literally did and acted how i wanted and had a laugh. I've been to a couple of do's at our new place and unfortunately its a load of platitudinous boredom - nothing wrong with the people but like going to a wedding when you know very few people - i'm at an age where i can't be arsed to 'break new ground' - happier up the local pub with my mates than some swanky do.Carter said:
Fuck that right offButtleJR said:Glad to see this forums filled with such outgoing, sociable people. Mines today, looking forward to it. Free bar opens at 1pm so could be interesting. A former colleague of mine woke up in France after a Christmas do with no recollection of how she got there (and with no passport) and hasn't touched a drop of alcohol since... Scary
I'm plenty sociable, with my people. I've been around long enough to know nothing good is going to come out of spending free time with people I would avoid if I was unlucky enough to see on a weekend.
What I will say is a lot has happened to make the workplace as difficult as possible to freely socialise.
We get a load of bollocks about bringing your whole self to work. Utter bullshit, if I were to bring my whole self to work as opposed to the overly tolerant, patient, dare I say it, professional version of myself it wouldn't fit with the narrative of platitudes spewed down from above. Nah
I'll be myself around people I trust to be myself around thanks. From over 20 years doing what I do I can count the people I actually get on with away from work on one hand, I like having a drink with them but I'm not wasting life credits on dickheads I have to receive payment to be around7 -
Agreed not a dinosaur, just somebody liked to get on with the job without all politics and arse licking that went on, which in the end got to me as well.Carter said:
Not a dinosaur mate, just observant, honest and profoundly astute.Raith_C_Chattonell said:I started work in 1970 and finished in 2013.
In the early days pretty much everyone attended the Christmas do. There was a spirit of camaraderie and in any case Christmas was a time to bury the hatchet, even if it was for those few days.
As time went on people became more insular, more suspicious of colleagues and less willing to socialise - even for a day. I believe that company policy had a bearing on this. Everyone was made aware of duties and responsibilities and had to sign in agreement - or else! Individualism was frowned upon, everyone in effect became robotic, doing the same thing in the same way. Team membership was a joke term used by management imo, as the workers competed against each other for promotion - or more likely - just to retain their present day jobs and positions.
Just before I retired someone called me a dinosaur during a meeting. I believe it was said in jest, but despite this I made an impassioned speech about how the modern day job had been completely stitched up by grovelling yes men who dragged everyone down with them. It was the reason we'd lost so many terms and conditions and maybe if a few more people acted as so called 'dinosaurs' we'd all be better off and more secure. I don't know where my words came from to be honest, but it left my audience in stunned silence.
Oh well, it was time for me to leave the building anyway, I was probably past my sell by date.
I blow peoples minds by having zero interest in fanning any of those horrible flames by taking part in that stupid charade of greasy pole climbing. A few people at my place thought I was a manager and when I told them I wasn't they aren't interested in talking to me as I can't give or offer them anything in their eyes. Which is funny
We sing from the same hymn sheet as we were/are all long term employees of the same company.2 -
For the past two years we've had our Xmas party on a Saturday. Very strange. I would prefer a Friday, so would most of the staff - however, the management seems to like to have it on a Saturday.
Last year was in Tauranga where the Head Office is and this year in Taupo (both 3 hours drive from Auckland).
This year I had to stay kinda sober as I'd promised to do a one-hour DJ set (I took up DJing last year as a hobby).0 -
Well this story goes back about 30 years. Apologies if it’s a bit long winded but I hope it’s worth sticking with through to the end.
I worked for a Civil Engineers & there was a heavy drinking culture & it was almost encouraged by senior management. I loved working there, there was a great camaraderie amongst the staff, everyone got on well. Friday night was always a big night.The company took us out 2/3 times a year, normally greyhound racing where we’d get a meal & as much wine as we could drink & we only had to pay if we wanted beer or spirits.
Our Christmas party was a different level though & this one in particular. I was the Sub Contract accounts manager & about the only person actually working as I had to ensure that all the subbies were paid up as this was our last day of working before Christmas. I got in about 7am & soon people started drifting in just doing last minute things as we always had a couple of weeks off as most of the surveyors, CEO, managers were Irish & went home for Christmas. Fairly soon cans of beer were being cracked open & champagne corks were popped with bacon & sausage sandwiches appearing from the kitchen. Eventually work completed I could relax & drink & soon after midday we headed for an Italian restaurant in Upper Street Islington which our company had hired the entire venue for the day/night. After a great lunch & plenty of booze we went downstairs where there was going to be a disco later but first of all there were to be "speeches" (piss taking) & awards & this is where it went downhill a bit. Everyone got an award from management, just silly things mainly, like I got a football mag of what was probably 1st division teams (it was obviously before the premiership) as I was told that was the nearest I would ever get to seeing top division clubs (they knew that I was Charlton), somebody else was given a toy car after having written off his company car a few weeks previously. Sadly one of the guys who was engaged to a good friend of mine who I shared an office with was given a bag of marshmellows with no explanation. It turns out that he had recently been away with some work mates to Scotland for a pre boys away weekend before his actual stag night. Can’t remember the exact details but it involved a stripper producing marshmellows from her vagina & the prospective groom eating them. Sombody had leaked this info & eventually we all became aware of this including the Bride to be who immediately cancelled the wedding & violently laid into the marshmellow man. Eventually things calmed down, I think one of them left & we all continued to get very drunk. Eventually things wound down & I attempted to get to Angel tube which I managed but have no idea how. Tube arrived & I stumbled on & fell into a seat next to a black woman who fairly quickly started talking to me, now I was only going to London Bridge so it was a pretty quick journey but I asked her if she wanted to come home with me & she said yes !!! How we got to my place I have no idea but in a way I guess she was my guardian angel. Anyway an interesting end to an eventful evening/night but I awoke the next morning (she was in the loo) to find a hairy thing on the pillow next to me, relieved to find it was a wig & I hadn’t scalped her. I now had to find excuses to get rid of her (can’t remember how/what I said) but before she left she asked if I had a drink problem. Given that I was our Sub Contractors point of contact & they used to bring me bottles of booze at Christmas & there were about 20 bottles on my Kitchen worktop I could understand her concern.
Anyway she left & I thought that was the end of that. I went out later but when I returned there was an envelope on my doormat, she had returned !!! Although she had told me that she lived in North London the 6 page letter said that she had "just been passing by" (?) & thought she would just say hello & then went on to talk about alcohol & God etc & to call her. I didn’t !
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Every Xmas party I went to end up in a scrap. Worked for a Ford dealer that had several locations.
Every summer they put on a Seven -a-side football. At a Pub out Dartford way , which was a roaring success. However Xmas was different. Everybody tanked up, Car and Commercial Tech would had a set too. London locations fighting Kent/Sussex sites. (And these weren't handbags at dawn, these were proper fist fights, broken noses and bottling. )
After about the 3rd time of happening the company gave up.
Never really went to any Xmas dos after that.6 -
Which one @Curb_ItCurb_It said:Hawksmoor for dinner. Massive steak sharing feast, second year on the trot. very nice. I strategically had to remove myself from the centre of the table next to the senior partners as I could feel the wheels coming off about 8pm after a couple of their Christmas martinis!After all these years I still haven’t learned!0 -
Guildhall. The room right at the back. V good.0
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Smiths of Wapping for our Xmas lunch today and who knows where afterwards 🍺2
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That is a very nice Xmas lunch venue! Jealous!0
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no christmas party no job0
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pretty sure I've told this story before.
back in the very early 90's I was working for a City firm where we still had a restaurant on the top floor of our building and the xmas parties were laid on there from 5pm onwards - free food/booze/DJ etc.
Parties used to be the Friday night - everyone absolutely battered by around 7/8pm - and end around 11pm for last trains.
I'd only been at the firm since about Oct and had just turned 18. Drank way too much and became very friendly with one of the young ladies from the typing pool - these were the days before computers/phones on every desk and we dictated letters.
cut to the chase and we ended up a couple of floors below where the party was taking place in a nice quiet spot. I'd obviously been spotted and they decided to play a wind up on me come Monday morning.
walk in Monday and the 2 old boys / security who used to sit on reception called me over for a quiet word - claiming everything was on CCTV and they'd do their best to get rid of the evidence that day. Similar convo when I pop out for lunch - they can see I'm crapping it
I spend the whole day shitting myself and waiting for the call into the bosses office for a dressing down. Nothing happened and I leave at 5pm. Get out of the lift on the ground floor and the 2 old boys are pissing themselves laughing.....no CCTV, nothing to worry about, way more going on clearly than just my shenanigans.
Never been so relieved.....7 -
The Friday night aside.Elthamaddick said:pretty sure I've told this story before.
back in the very early 90's I was working for a City firm where we still had a restaurant on the top floor of our building and the xmas parties were laid on there from 5pm onwards - free food/booze/DJ etc.
Parties used to be the Friday night - everyone absolutely battered by around 7/8pm - and end around 11pm for last trains.
I'd only been at the firm since about Oct and had just turned 18. Drank way too much and became very friendly with one of the young ladies from the typing pool - these were the days before computers/phones on every desk and we dictated letters.
cut to the chase and we ended up a couple of floors below where the party was taking place in a nice quiet spot. I'd obviously been spotted and they decided to play a wind up on me come Monday morning.
walk in Monday and the 2 old boys / security who used to sit on reception called me over for a quiet word - claiming everything was on CCTV and they'd do their best to get rid of the evidence that day. Similar convo when I pop out for lunch - they can see I'm crapping it
I spend the whole day shitting myself and waiting for the call into the bosses office for a dressing down. Nothing happened and I leave at 5pm. Get out of the lift on the ground floor and the 2 old boys are pissing themselves laughing.....no CCTV, nothing to worry about, way more going on clearly than just my shenanigans.
Never been so relieved.....
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Doesn’t the whole of Tauranga shut at like 1700 these days?Danepak said:For the past two years we've had our Xmas party on a Saturday. Very strange. I would prefer a Friday, so would most of the staff - however, the management seems to like to have it on a Saturday.
Last year was in Tauranga where the Head Office is and this year in Taupo (both 3 hours drive from Auckland).
This year I had to stay kinda sober as I'd promised to do a one-hour DJ set (I took up DJing last year as a hobby).0 -
Different times
mid 80's
My first work Christmas do at age 18 was all food n drink funded by the bosses, which didn't get as messy as you might imagine, maybe being on our work premises kept everybody's worst excesses in check. I'd only been there about 8 weeks, hadn't really got to know anybody socially and in truth was something of a wallflower. The do was just for employees. With one exception. The top boss's PA lived the furthest away and not wanting a stone cold sober night in order to drive herself home again after, she negotiated for her non-drinking best mate to come along as her designated driver. Top boss fancied his PA something rotten and she usually got what she asked for. PA introduced me to best-mate as 'the new boy, he's a bit shy, make sure none of the pissed up birds here take advantage' or words to that effect, optimist me dared to think that PA might have been referring to herself, a most pleasing prospect.
Best-mate carried out PA's wishes most diligently and no advantage was taken by any woman the worse for free booze. She commented later that my shyness had been reserved for the packed boardroom where everybody was drinking and dancing but evaporated in the otherwise unoccupied small meeting room in which we spent a very festive half hour or so.
Works Christmas parties since have not lived up to that first encounter.
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I missed my work one this year which was devastating as it was held in a leisure centre bar.
Instead I had to go to a customers one instead.0 -
Haven"t been to one in decades but in my youth my Christmas party motto was always "go ugly early to avoid the rush"!7
