Office hoilday party costs?

[lspst8]

I was just wondering what your office's holiday party cost to attend?

My office planned a party for this Friday night, and it is $45 per person to attend. Plus, a cash bar! That seems really expensive to me .... $90 plus drinks for DH and me to go. It is at a local hotel with a buffet and DJ. We are not going.

My DH's office sold 50/50 tickets, so the party is free to everyone. They just rented a firehall and will have a buffet, beer, and a DJ. You can BYOB if you want. We will be going to this party.

We both work for different government offices. My office has about 50 people, and his has about 150.

 

[happygirl]

I have never been to a company Christmas party that I have had to pay to attend

 

[Darsa]

Huh, I've never paid to attend either. In fact this year we're doing a potluck because we can't afford to have a "thing" somewhere.

 

[SaraJayne]

My DH's company's Christmas party is a very elegant affair. The company views it as a way to give back to all the employees for working so hard for them throughout the year.

We've never had to pay for any event the company has held (Christmas party, family picnic, retirement parties, etc).

 

[nutterbutter2010]

Paying for a holiday party? That sound like fun!!! Lets also chip in on our holiday bonus as well!!!!

 

[maslex]

We just had our Christmas party this past Saturday night. Both my DH and I went and it was $25 per person plus a cash bar (I had two malibu/pineapple drinks, oh so yummy!!!) It was a buffet (It was good but I wouldn't say it was worth that much) We did have a DJ (which I'm sure some of the money went to pay for).

My DH's party in on the 19th. That is $10 per person, DJ, a sit down meal and INCLUDES 2 drink tickets per person. If that isn't enough, when you show up to the party....you get your $10 back... I guess it's basically like a "refundable deposit". Hey, now that works for me!!!

We go to his for the free night out and we go to mine just for the entertainment. LOL It's worth the $25 per person. Get a bunch of school bus drivers together with some alcohol and it's a good time.

 

[lewdyan1]

My DH's company's Christmas party is a very elegant affair. The company views it as a way to give back to all the employees for working so hard for them throughout the year.

We've never had to pay for any event the company has held (Christmas party, family picnic, retirement parties, etc).

Ditto!

 

[lspst8]

Paying for a holiday party? That sound like fun!!! Lets also chip in on our holiday bonus as well!!!!

That's why I mentioned that we work for the government (I'm federal and he's state) ..... unless, you would prefer your tax dollars go to fund holiday parties

 

[disney1990]

I think, with the economy the way that it is, they should have found a less expensive way to celebrate the holidays.

I can understand that there is a cost because you work for the federal and state governments. However, when I worked for the federal government, we did a party where everybody brought something to defray the costs.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Free. Formal event with open bar.

However, my floor is hosting a small in-office party. The cost is $5 or a dish to pass.

 

[Angelhalo]

Both of our parties are free. DH's was last night at a ritzy italian place. it was beautiful and delicious with 3 course and an open bar until 9pm.

 

[RUDisney]

When I started working in 1988, the bank had a Christmas party at the country club. It was paid for by the bank. It was lovely, but the sr. managers hated it because the board was there. So, as the bank grew, this party was stopped.

A few years later, they changed it to a pay for it yourself party at a local restaurant. The feeling was that the bank wouldn't be liable if you drank and killed someone (luckily that never happened) if you paid for it yourself. However, this party was horrible. Everyone was told how to dress and everyone still had to be on their best behavior. This lasted maybe 4 years before the majority ruled to cancel it.

A few years later, the president of the bank decided to have a party at his favorite country club for the officers and the board. The first ones were held on Sunday night with work the next day. There was a DJ but no one danced. They all wanted to get home to get ready for work the next day.

When they changed it to Saturday night, everyone was happier. But, the president decided to assign seats so that you can meet new people. This went over like a lead balloon. We liked our table because we sat with DH's uncle who was on the board, DH's boss, and some other officers who were our friends with their wives. Our table seating never changed because that is what DH's uncle wanted for his table. Everyone else was mad. Imagine going to a party and not being able to sit with your friends... especially if you are shy to begin with.

Luckily, this year the party was cancelled because the bank is taking hits on a lot of loans and it's saving its money. Attendance was mandatory and those who didn't attend had to have a very good excuse or their salary increases would reflect their non-attendance.

Yeah, the bank has control issues and I'm glad I'm not there anymore. Too bad DH still is.

 

[MerMom60_94]

Some companies still have Christmas parties??? Wow, wait 'til I tell my coworkers. Go figure.

 

[pearlieq]

That's why I mentioned that we work for the government (I'm federal and he's state) ..... unless, you would prefer your tax dollars go to fund holiday parties

That was the case when DH worked in government as well. They either had to pay for their parties or had to fundraise.

Personally, I don't object to my tax dollars going to a modest, appropriate party for government workers, but I know no one there wanted to touch it with a 10 foot pole!

Very few people wound up going to the "pay" party in the evening. Most of the departments just threw a potluck over lunch one day.

At my company, the company party was always free for employees. Whether your plus one was free as well depended on company fortunes that year. We didn't have any party at all last year, so I don't know what this year will bring.

 

[Pakey]

Ours is free for the 500 or so employees who are working in December (we have a much larger seasonal workforce). Also, every employee gets a bonus, a gift certificate to pay for their Christmas meal at home, a gift pack of food items plus some wrapped gift, usually an article of clothing (this year it's T-shirts and lunch totes).

The food is catered but management does the serving and hands out the gifts as our way of saying thank you to our production employees who work so hard. No alcohol is allowed.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

My DH's are always free. A nice dinner and the owner of the company provides each employee and their date with 3 free drinks each...anything past that you do pay for on your own, but otherwise it is of no cost to anyone but the owner.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

That's why I mentioned that we work for the government (I'm federal and he's state) ..... unless, you would prefer your tax dollars go to fund holiday parties

Oh I must have missed that part!! Though where I'm from, I wouldn't be suprised if some of my tax money went to parties!!! LOL

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

We had hubbie's company party last night: 4 course meal at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse... open bar with top shelf liquor and as much wine as you could want... Probably for about 40 employees and their spouses.

I used to teach at a Catholic/ private school and our teacher's party was usually a pot luck type thing (in the school cafeteria) with spouses...

 

[dalt01]

always free.........one at the country club mid december and one in each building on x-mas eve or thereabouts. the booze is free also and they will pour you into a cab if needed. at the one at the country club, the sales dept gets pulls off a board for cash. there is 30,000 dollars up there and it all goes. my dept has a contest also i usually get about 1,200 bucks for that and then at the dept partys everyone gets a x-mas card with 100 dollar bill in it. if i had to pay to go to a party i would pass.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

always free.........one at the country club mid december and one in each building on x-mas eve or thereabouts. the booze is free also and they will pour you into a cab if needed. at the one at the country club, the sales dept gets pulls off a board for cash. there is 30,000 dollars up there and it all goes. my dept has a contest also i usually get about 1,200 bucks for that and then at the dept partys everyone gets a x-mas card with 100 dollar bill in it. if i had to pay to go to a party i would pass.

I want to go to your Christmas party!!! DH's company doesn't do one, and the yearly bonus (hefty - makes up for the low salaries) has been cut to $0 and I wonder if we will still even get the $35 gift card to the local grocery store?

to address the OP's question - no, I've never paid to attend a Christmas/holiday party anywhere DH or I has ever worked. $100 plus a babysitter to go to a work function? no thanks!!!!