Work xmas party non-attendance

[stinkwheel]

1) I can't be arsed.
2) I see these people most of my waking time, why would I want to spend my free time with them?
3) It is usually shit anyway.
4) No good ever comes of it.

Generally I feel that with my moderately high disposable income, I could go for a distinctly average, mass-produced meal in a middle of the road hotel in the company of people I don't normally socialise with any time I want. If feel my time would be more fruitfully spent, for example, sorting my large tub of spare nuts and bolts into four smaller tubs: M6, M8, "Smaller than M6" and "Larger than M8"

I am also getting grief for non-attendace of the other halfs work christmas party on the basis that I will have a drink then gift certain members of the staff with the benefit of my oppinions on their personality and working practices. I have said I'll meet up with them after the party when they go out on the town

So. Eminently sensible or unreasonable, antisocial bastard?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[stinkwheel]

The only way my career would get "up the ladder" is if I either left and worked somewhere else or went back to school.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[stinkwheel]

More to see if anyone fancied a rant/discussion/recounting of anecdotes about works xmas parties. Particularly if they justify my decision not to go to them.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MarJay]

Its a problem for me:

I don't drink alchohol, so invariably by about 8pm everybody is still able to converse with one another, albeit drunkenly. Except me. Its not fun. I'm going this year but haven't been for the last two years. I couldn't really think of a viable excuse this year to be honest.

I'm going to drive there so I can slope off as soon as people fail to understand me/I fail to understand them. Shame really as there are some pretty attractive women working for my company.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Flip]

[D O G]

Go, why not? You might work with these people all the time, but you don't work with them when they're pissed.

Yes the food will be shite, the wine will be bad, but you build comeraderie with your colleages when you attend social events with them. Plus, someone will invariably do something stupid, like, ooh, shag a secretary on a pool table in an adjoining room, which will be amusing.

If you don't go, your colleagues will think you don't like them, as people, which will give them an reason not to like you.

[GhostRider]

I'm not going to my xmas party this year. I was considering it, however my circumstance pan out as so:

There's about 7 of us in my group - we work at a different site to the rest of the company, so I know a handful of people at the other site, but only enough to say hello to, any other conversation is going to be forced on both parts.

One of the women in my group worked for 10 years with another group before joining ours, as such, every xmas do she sits on their table.

One guy has been there 20+ years and doesn't bother going to them anymore as he's done it all before and it's not really his thing.

The new girl has just transferred departments in the last few weeks. As such, she is already on the table with her old department.

One of the other guys lives in the city, meaning he is 10 mins walk away from the venue. He has said he;s coming for the food then fucking off (last year he mysteriously disappeared after a few pints at the bar. Turns out he'd gone to this club cuz he wanted a piece of the shots-girls' ass, so unbeknowest to him, we decided we'd all go an check this girl out, so we turn up, much to his surprise, and basically fuck up his chances of getting any poon. Thats what you get for being a sneaky bastard). So anyway, he will disappear as soon as the dessert has been consumed.

Leaving me with one other colleague and her husband, and my manager placed onto a table of people I barely know for an evening of false conversation where you know damn well the person asking you random questions actually doesn't give a shit but is just trying to hurry the minutes along until the turkey dinner arrives.

Hardly a party atmosphere, so this year I said bollocks, I'll save money by not paying the ridiculous bar prices they charge there anyway.

We do have our own private kind of do, which generally involves eating wherever then getting pissed at the German Market that is currently in town. I wouldn;t be arsed if I didnt go to that either, but thought I better make an effort, plus it's a day out the office I suppose.

I couldn't give a shit whether they think I'm a miserable bastard or not, they're colleagues, if I want to have fun and a good yarn mixed with drinks I go out with my mates.

GhostRider
____________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[Phoenix]

For me the deciding factors would be:

1. Does it offer any good incentives at the expense of the company

2. Do I actually get on with anyone going.

I went to a couple at my last workplace, the first one was good, free bar all night (made the most of that one), small contribution required to the meal and I got on with plenty of the people going.

I went the second year too, less people went but still those I got on with and there was still a free bar.....although it closed earlier than expected without warning. Thankfully it was't my turn to get the free round, the guy ordering nearly had a heart attack when the barmaid said the tab had finished after he ordered about 8 drinks We also got a free hotel room for the night as the parties were hosted at our head office up north.

Since those I've not bothered as they've either been wanting you to pay lots to go, no free drinks or with the company i'm with now they either have it on a random day which i'm working on or don't have one at all like the last 2 years, not that i'd go anyway.

[tribal_tiger]

I can't really get away with not going as it's sort of turned out to be my leaving do as well as I've just quit!

The old company I worked for a few years back had the best Xmas parties. You always had a whole stack of stuff including

Belly Dancers
8 lane Scalextrix
a Ghost house
Snake Charmers
Fire breathers
A Gladiators style duel thing with the massive cotton buds to hit each other with

But the best 2 things

Free Bar

Bumper Cars


It's the only place I've been where you can take your pint with you on the bumper cars! Love it! All Xmas parties since have seemed shit.
____________________
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could Chuck Norris?

All of it.

[D O G]

[LustyLew]

This year I'm not attending my work xmas do. They still insist on it being 'black tie'. Bunch of stuck up recruitment consultants off their faces on booze and coke. Sounds wonderful. Funny how were cutting back on spending, yet we can afford to fly the MD over from Singapore for it...

Instead I'll be working out on the Booze Tent at Liverpool St station dealing with the fucked up drunks who always over-do it at their work do!

Had to deal with some drunk bird last year. Had only been in the job 6 weeks so no one really knew her. Got completely trashed and puked down her bosses trousers. He was paranoid that she'd accuse him of something as he was the only one who stayed to help her. Classy....
____________________
Like a Yorkie - I'm not for the girls

[Feasty]

I don't do work official xmas parties as only management generally attend and then ignore you all night anyway whilst they lick arse with whichever executive they want to impress at that time.

My team have previously booked our own xmas party which is a 'bit' more fun, and then been complained about for being antisocial! I generally don't attend these either though as there's no fit girls to chat up on my floor (or indeed any girls being an IT company with an HR department at the other side of the country), and I waste enough time listening to my colleague all day anyway. I have a couple of mates at work and we just go out and have a laugh every now and again...

This year however I will be attending the team xmas night out as half the team are being made redundant and this will be the celebration goodbye and good riddance party!
____________________
Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[BigAndy1979]

I go for the free food and drink, when that runs out so do I.

[Andy C]

Had an all expenses paid dinner and then free bar for work last night, got wasted on the company, felt I got to know the people I have to work with better and came to work this morning still quite drunk, as were a lot of other people.

Maybe it was because I wasnt expecting much but the xmas work dos (been 2) have been great!
____________________
99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[cvntdude]

Last one i went to we got bladdered, knocked out the team leaders, and a bird got decked, then we were arrested and locked up and then weeks later fired for it ... .......

sure your be fine though ...
____________________
We all choose what to think about ...

[kate t]

[G]

I'm going to have to be getting paid a hell of a lot more than I am now to turn down a free meal.

To be fair, the last company party did result in some photos* if nothing else.

*The ones towards the end, of course, not /that/ exciting.

[WildGoose]

Not keen really, as is my general opinion of christmas, if anyone gave that much of a fuck then they would make the effort the rest of the year.

Current place is only small, 10 of us, so I get on quite well with all of them. It's fairly noticeable though if you don't show, so I will do my bit to keep the morale at a reasonable level.

If people suddenly didn't give a fuck, given the physical nature of the job, it would make it a lot more unpleasant. An afternoon of hard labour is much easier to face if you are with someone who sees things similarly to you and can laugh their arse off about how shit everything is generally, but still dig out and get the job done.

Last year I watched the boss get pathetically drunk, and then try to pretend he was 15 years younger by being vulgar in order to relate to the schoolgirls who sit on the till and giggle incessantly all night. This year I will pick a better seat.
____________________
So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[Harold_Shand]

[steppen22]

I don't really have a choice, as it would involve staying in the office by myself - I'd look a right tard.

I've been thinking of ways of getting out of it, but to no avail.

I feel the same though.
____________________
no regrets, no retreat, no apology.
I've made mistakes in the past, and I apologise for FUCK ALL.

[Vincent]

Drop an "E" - might make it a bit less painful Or even better, drop a few in the punch bowl

[chris-red]

I like the people I work with so it is usually a really good crack. It is good to meet new people too. Last year I ended up sitting with one of the directors and we had a great laugh and now he knows my name and says hello whenever we see each other, that can only be good for my carreer.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[hellkat]

Yeah, I have two on the same day

I've not often had the chance to go to paid-for (or even subsidised, for that matter) Xmas dinners for quite some time. Knocking shops tend not to cater for that sort of malarkey.

So now I'm back in the NHS, and Prof is paying for us to go to a nice Italian restaurant (whose only apparent nod towards a Xmas menu is calling the minestrone "di natale") , so I will have lunch there and then forward myself on to the subsidised Respiratory Directorate Dinner.

Problem with that is, I will probably be gently wankered from lunchtime. Luckily its only round the corner from the other one (and even more luckily only a taxi ride away from mr hellkat's house - he has been warned) ...

But somehow I might have made a remark in the office that I was tempted to sit on the knee of one of the more scientificky type Profs, to see if I can get him to mellow out a bit (he's enormously shy in that geeky physics-student type of way) ... and now I'm worried all my secretarial colleagues will hold me to it, LOL.

They do see me as kind of "out there" in terms of behaviour and personality already. I think they expect I really will. Sadly, I'm all mouth and no trousers. If I do outrageous things (and I have been known to do some fairly outrageous things in my time) its usually on the spur of the moment. Anything planned, I just back off and go all shy and don't do them at the last minute

But ... I might be pissed from lunchtime, so who knows what will happen.

I was thinkin' of looking for a new job, anyway, haha.
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Wilson123]

[manuka]

In my opinion (one p, not two): Eminently sensible choice not to attend stinkwheel, given your proffered views of work christmas parties.

So to offer my insight for discussion; I work for a reasonable sized private business (approx 200 staff). There has always been a works' christmas do, fully paid for including alcohol, to which both Staff and their partners are invited. I assume this is strongly beneficial for tax reasons, and not just a philanthropic gesture by the bosses. It is a benefit the staff are entitled to, in addition to their christmas box of wine, an annual bonus at the end of the tax year and a staff discount.

I like some of my colleagues, but not all of them. Its always been a pleasant evening, and I particularly enjoy meeting folk who work at other sites that I would not normally have contact with in my routine day.
I have attended every year as its been a good craic, and I will continue to attend in the absence of anything else to do (my nuts and bolts are already happily organised by size).

I would invite my partner out of a sense of respect and obligation as he has been invited too, his decision wether or not to accompany me is his choice. I would enjoy his company, equally his absece would not affect my night out.
The evening is provided to celebrate christmas with work colleagues and a small thankyou from bosses to their staff, and as all girls know it's a damm good excuse to buy a new dress! I wear very practical clothes for work, people will be shocked to see my feminine side.

On a side-note, not exactly a rant, but you must bear in mind the following about a standard works' christmas do: this is a mass catering event, bonvie is more important than the food, you are not going to get gourmet cooking. Having your meal and then diasppearing off clubbing into town with your mates without even a thankyou is a good way to lose favour with the bosses who have paid for your night out.
____________________
"ouch!" said Mr Bump