Is it common to have to pay to enter company Christmas Party?

Question

I work for a company with offices aound the world.

In order to attend the local office's company Christmas Party, I just found out we are being charged and if we are bringing a guest their ticket is $5.

I've *NEVER* had to contribute to the cost of any company parties at any other company.

Have you ever had to chip in? Is it common to make employees pay to enter parties?

Insulted, I had no intentions of attending. I was just wondering if this was common.

One of my friends is going with her husband. She's very picky. We weren't told what was being served. I think it's unwise of her to pay for a dinner she may not even like!

Lprod just reminded of my niece's daycare. Santa is delivering gifts to the kids. The daycare is providing Santa, but the parents are required to provide a $10 gift for Santa to give the child! Call me crazy, but if the daycare wants to give the child a gift they should have to pay for it!

Answer 1

Who do you work for? The Ebeneezer Scrooge Corp? I would be looking for another job after Jan 1.

Answer 2

I've worked for 3 companies. The 1st 2 generally did not charge for the employee and guest to attend the holiday party. However, there was a dinner cruise once and people had to pay to bring a guest.

The company I work for now no longer has a big holiday party. I think about 1/3 of the employees in the building would actually attend. The problem is that people are scattered in all different directions and lots are parents who need to get home to pick up kids, etc.

The 1st year there, the holiday party was in the building's Atrium and alchohol was served. This made it easy for everyone to attend for at least a brief time since it started at 4PM. However (after I left), there were people who drank to much (in the HR dept no less) and they jumped in the fountain. So, there were liability issues due to the alcohol and fountain. They moved the party to a hotel in New Brunswick, but attendance was low because it was out of the way and the area is not the easiest to drive around. Then, they moved it to a hotel that was closer, but attendance was low overall. About 1/3 of the employees attended and within 2 hours, 1/2 the people were gone. So, on a $ basis, there wasn't much value. The party was no fee for employess - no guests. Everyone who wanted to bring a guest also found it inconvenient to have to go home and come back for the party

Answer 3

Wow this is the first time I've ever heard something like this...!!! I've never had this happen in any of the places I've worked at either..... it's just stupid. In this case I just wouldn't go....... why do I have to pay for a party that I didn't ask for??? It's like the company giving you a Xmas present (most companies I've worked for do this as well, besides of the party) and then substracting X $$ amount from your paycheck because of this.... WTF!!?!??? I think this is very weird........ I can probably understand the $5 for bringing a guest, but definitely NOT that the employees are charged for attending the party.......

Answer 4

If the party is at all fancy, the $5 isn't really to pay for anything, its just a way to be sure people aren't signing up to go "just in case" they might want to, but people who really want to go and are committing to it. Otherwise no-shows are the equivalent of the company throwing money out the window. I personally would love to have a holiday party sponsored by work or any morale booster at all, our Holiday celebration is "brunch" in the cafeteria (Yuck!) and as a reward for our hard work during the year, our end of year "bonus" is that we get to wear jeans the week between Christmas and New Years. Before the lean years, we used to have a lovely holiday party (with dinner, dancing and a gift), in which we were charged a nominal fee, but that paid for itself with one drink from the open bar.

Now if your party is in the office and its punch, stale cookies and store-brand eggnog, you're getting a raw deal.

Answer 5

A company I worked for instituted a nominal fee for guests after employees were bringing four and five of their friends and relatives along. While we always had GREAT FUN at our Christmas Parties... it seems the word got out ... and everyone and their brother wanted to come along!!

If you want to go, and your pretty sure that your going to have a good time... I say $5 is a really cheap night out.... It's that or a Quarter Pounder!!!

Answer 6

Is it common? Unfortunately, yes, more and more companies are asking employees to pitch in to the cost of holiday entertainment. The reasoning, I've heard, is that people are less likely to RSVP and no-show if they have some money invested in it. And, the bigger the company, the more likely you have to pay, because the larger the potential loss due to no-shows.

I, personally, find it tacky, but these days (sadly) a lot of entertaining etiquette is out the window. Maybe if employees at past parties had the etiquette to show up after RSVPing, then companies wouldn't have to resort to such things.

BTW - I have been a corporate event planner for 18 years.

Answer 7

What a fine idea! The company is paying for the party out of your wages, no matter what. People who don't want to go to the damn party shouldn't subsidize it, that's why you pay $5. The party was never paid for by mgmt, it's a cost before profits which explains why you can't get a raise.
I've *NEVER* wanted a company party, I made a boss cry by telling him I'd rather have $75 than to have to eat with him & my co-workers, and I was glad to quit the job.

Answer 8

Yes some offices do require you to pay for your food and such. Our office has a lunch where we are to pay it is not footed by the organization. However the organization does have a Christmas tea where everyone in the building not office specific goes. It's free but not a meal by any meals. Just danities and coffee.

You would think they would host a party to thank their employees not make them pay. That's a little strange.

Answer 9

Honestly this is the first time I heard of this. I never had to pay to enter a Christmas party (or any other party for that matter) with the companies I worked for.

Answer 10

Ridiculous.
Don't go, and if asked why you did not attend, tell them you'd rather cook at home.

That is not common (at least at a company that makes money).

Do not go under any circumstances.

Good luck.