pathfinder Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Following the Team meeting last week you will remember that *top brass* told us that due to the financial downturn there will unfortunately be no company money made available for the Christmas Lunch. I am of the opinion that the majority will still wish to have a Christmas lunch and so we have kept our booking for this year. The difference is that we will all have to pay for our own food and drink this year. With this in mind, please see the attached menu for the *overpriced dump* (where we had the Christmas lunch last year). For those of you that came last year you will remember that it was good food, drink and company and a great venue for a get together. It is £29.95 each for a three course meal. Glad im contract, most people dont want to rock the boat ... anyone else getting this . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldberry Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Mate of mine said that last week all the staff got called into a meeting. Got the usual credit crunch/business downturn shpeel. Shortly afterward on the same day they made 5 people redundant (10% of workforce) then cancelled the chrimbo night out. They didnt keep the booking......... nor was anyone in the mood for xmas at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinksunksank Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 (edited) Well, we never had that kind of problem in my office as every year the staff pays for their own Christmas Lunch with the managers contributing to a couple of rounds at the bar, that's it. So, it's Christmas as usual over here. Edited October 30, 2008 by sinksunksank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hostman Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 My misses works for the local council and so is used to paying for Christmas meals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compton_mo'fo Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Christmas is always cancelled if you work for the ambulance service!! Still, I knew that when I signed up so I'm not moaning in any way. I do though feel sorry for the prat at the uni open day who asked 'do you have to work weekends and evenings as a paramedic?'. Course leaders look was totally priceless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkers Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Bring it on, I loathe office Christmas lunches! Few drinks with friends at work does me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadoube Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Mate of mine said that last week all the staff got called into a meeting. Got the usual credit crunch/business downturn shpeel. Shortly afterward on the same day they made 5 people redundant (10% of workforce) then cancelled the chrimbo night out. They didnt keep the booking......... nor was anyone in the mood for xmas at that point. Where was this? Sounds like you mate works for my place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvenal Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Anyone know what Foxtons have planned as Xmas celebrations for staff this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBdamo Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Yep, my 'multi billion dollar' American firm have also cancelled christmas. Wish I could name and shame but wont. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applesauce Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 How can a 30 quid a head xmas dinner be an expense that a company employing people can't stretch to? Things must be tight to the point of mismanaged at these companies. Either that or it's any excuse to save a few bob and sod the employees, in which case maybe you're better off working elsewhere anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pie Eater Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Compton mo' fo' my hubbie is a paramedic, it's quite annoying having to plan Xmas around his shifts!! Meanwhile I work for a really big defence company, but we always pay for (and arrange) our Xmas do - maybe I should have a word!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldberry Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Where was this? Sounds like you mate works for my place. Small hydraulic engineering company in Fife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiceWorld! Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Christmas is always cancelled if you work for the ambulance service!! Still, I knew thatwhen I signed up so I'm not moaning in any way. I do though feel sorry for the prat at the uni open day who asked 'do you have to work weekends and evenings as a paramedic?'. Course leaders look was totally priceless. Great name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tbatst2000 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 How can a 30 quid a head xmas dinner be an expense that a company employing people can't stretch to? Speaking from experience here, it's not the price per head that gets discussed, it's the total price. The argument usually comes down to 'but it's only 30 quid per person', followed by, 'that's 30*500, who shall we sack to pay for it?'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkers Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Yep, my 'multi billion dollar' American firm have also cancelled christmas. Wish I could name and shame but wont. McDonalds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casehog Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 EDS cancelled Christmas years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tbatst2000 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 EDS cancelled Christmas years ago I assume that's more a dispositional thing than a lack of cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applesauce Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Speaking from experience here, it's not the price per head that gets discussed, it's the total price. The argument usually comes down to 'but it's only 30 quid per person', followed by, 'that's 30*500, who shall we sack to pay for it?'. Yes but the number of likely attendees indicates the size of the organisation. A 10 man company should be able to blow a poxy 300 quid once a year, and larger organisations should also have the money to spend in proportion to their size, it really should be a trivial amount that won't require anyone to be sacked! If it's not then I would fear for the future of such a company! It's being tight for the sake of it, and what is the cost of low morale in comparison anyway? Who can afford not to? It's small minded tight fistedness for it's own sake. No excuse for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tbatst2000 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Yes but the number of likely attendees indicates the size of the organisation. A 10 man company should be able to blow a poxy 300 quid once a year, and larger organisations should also have the money to spend in proportion to their size, it really should be a trivial amount that won't require anyone to be sacked! If it's not then I would fear for the future of such a company!It's being tight for the sake of it, and what is the cost of low morale in comparison anyway? Who can afford not to? It's small minded tight fistedness for it's own sake. No excuse for it. I merely report from personal experience, I'm not making any moral judgement. Every time I've been in the situation where a firm is losing money, the conversations have basically been the same: what costs can we cut before we start having to cut people. Myself, I'd rather work for a firm that did it that way around than the other, but each to their own I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cells Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Yes but the number of likely attendees indicates the size of the organisation. A 10 man company should be able to blow a poxy 300 quid once a year, and larger organisations should also have the money to spend in proportion to their size, it really should be a trivial amount that won't require anyone to be sacked! If it's not then I would fear for the future of such a company!It's being tight for the sake of it, and what is the cost of low morale in comparison anyway? Who can afford not to? It's small minded tight fistedness for it's own sake. No excuse for it. it is retarded middle management we had an email from CEO asking everyone to submit ideas to save costs or improve products. middle management where suggesting ******** like printing on both sides of paper and turning lights off and paying for your own meals on company days out. if they think that is going to save them, god help us all. a few of the smarter engineers, myself inc, suggested various ideas that would save 0.5-1.0m each. yet some dumb asses think turning the lights off is going to somehow help via the £2.67p yearly electric saving. I suppose it is middle managements idea of doing something, anything. They clearly don't have any skills or understanding of the process which is why in a company of 3000 workers they come up with turning the f.lights off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftiebeard Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 it is retarded middle managementwe had an email from CEO asking everyone to submit ideas to save costs or improve products. middle management where suggesting ******** like printing on both sides of paper and turning lights off and paying for your own meals on company days out. if they think that is going to save them, god help us all. a few of the smarter engineers, myself inc, suggested various ideas that would save 0.5-1.0m each. yet some dumb asses think turning the lights off is going to somehow help via the £2.67p yearly electric saving. I suppose it is middle managements idea of doing something, anything. They clearly don't have any skills or understanding of the process which is why in a company of 3000 workers they come up with turning the f.lights off. I agree - see this all the time. All the focus on cutting costs is about dropping down a hotel class or two, travelling off-peak, all that guff. The idiots should be challenging production methods, sales processes etc. Stupid clots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cells Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I agree - see this all the time. All the focus on cutting costs is about dropping down a hotel class or two, travelling off-peak, all that guff. The idiots should be challenging production methods, sales processes etc. Stupid clots. Yep sadly our lot are as you describe I think directors and upper management intentionally put stupid people into middle management positions to make themselves look a bit better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compton_mo'fo Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 (edited) I agree - see this all the time. All the focus on cutting costs is about dropping down a hotel class or two, travelling off-peak, all that guff. The idiots should be challenging production methods, sales processes etc. Stupid clots. At my old work, they decided to install motion sensors on every 16W light in every cupboard, stairwell and WC.... £45ish each x 34 units (I saw the invoice) plus 2-3 days installation costs. Hmmm, that should pay for itself within about 15 years then... They never listen to their own employees but sucker for every leaflet / spam email / mass mailing that lands on the desk! Oh, and the building was in use 24/7 364 days of the year.... Edited November 4, 2008 by compton_mo'fo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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