Would You Go to a Christmas Party under Certain Circumstances

eurofoti on 06/12/2016 - 18:03

Hi guys, I don't know where else to turn to so I thought I should ask the Ozbargain community on this social matter.

I have a Christmas function this year. I was firstly told that it was on Saturday 10th December. I had a date scheduled that day, but I cancelled the date.

A few weeks later I was told "due to unforeseen circumstances", that the date of the Christmas party was moved to Friday the 9th of December. I was upset that I had cancelled my date for nothing but said nothing.

Then, only about two weeks ago, I was told there was a change of venue. Now it is to be held somewhere in the city, and since it is on Friday, there is no way I will drive in the city. As it hits my shift, I would now have to rush home, get changed, and go catch public transport.

An annoying thing we do on these "parties" is the Kris Kringle (yes, it feels like high school). I can't stand it, but everyone at work does it, and I have to be "part of the team". So I picked someone out of a hat and bought a gift.

Today, merely 3 days before the Christmas function, I received a phone call from a coworker, who tells me that the girl who I had picked as my Kris Kringle has been sacked. I should return my present. I told her that the present can't be returned as I had bought A Title of land on Mars (worth about $20) and it has the girl's full name on the Deed, and cannot be changed. So basically it is a present that has to go straight to the bin. I also had bought a fondue set (I can't return this but can gift it to someone else in the future).

I was then told that although that SAME girl had me as a Kris Kringle, someone else would buy me a gift. However, I was told I now have to buy a box of Guylian chocolates for the boss, and they have to be the shell-shaped ones.

It is at this point that I feel like that this is the straw that broke the camels back, and that I am being taken advantage of. I honestly don't feel like attending this party, but in the case of "office politics" and keeping appearances, I am at a loss of what to do.

What would you guys do?

Poll Options expired

  • 3
    Tell everyone you've been treated unfairly and don't go out of principle.
  • 212
    Don't go to the party out of principle, but instead say that "something has come up."
  • 5
    Go to the party but "accidentally" forget to bring chocolates.
  • 22
    Suck it all up, buy some Guylian chocolates, and go to the party.
Education & Work

Comments

  • wkd on 11/12/2016 - 10:18
    +1

    tell them you have diarrhea. no one questions that

  • lostn on 11/12/2016 - 15:53

    This is hilarious.

    Just tell them you went to the KK girl's house and returned the gift to her personally.

    Or just tell them the truth. You can't return the gift because you've already spent it. There's nothing anyone can do about it and to expect such is unreasonable.

    As for the xmas party, I would just not go. They can't force people to go. Yes I'm aware I am late to this post and that it's already gone past. I'm just telling you what I would have done.

    Inconvenient time. You made the effort to go by even canceling a date, but a last minute change of date and venue is unreasonable for you to accede to. If you absolutely need to provide an excuse just tell them celebrating Christmas conflicts with your religious beliefs. For example, Jehova's Witnesses can't celebrate xmas.

    • eurofoti on 12/12/2016 - 20:33

      I agree, I felt the whole thing (including my bizarre KK gift) was getting to the point where it was almost becoming surreal and hilarious, and sharing this with a few friends when it was happening felt like it wasn't enough. Hence posting it on the internet for others to enjoy and offer their opinion.

      However, I know that if such a thing were to happen again in the future, such as a change of date, I would instantly say that it now clashes with something, and that I am sorry but I cannot make it.

  • argamond on 11/12/2016 - 21:46

    I never go out of principle as I don't drink and if I go, I always feel that I am subsidising the drinkers with my own hard earned money

  • nimnomnimy on 12/12/2016 - 00:53

    Go on your date as you had originally planned. Give the boss chocolates another day if at all

  • Phreakuency on 12/12/2016 - 06:27
    +1

    Shitty situation but not worth getting upset over.

    If you like any of your co-workers as friends I'd just suck it up and go, enjoy the night and the company of your friends.

    If you don't really socialise with your workmates then decide whether not going would create tension or unnecessary drama back at work.

    I recently went to two Xmas parties and had fun. Didn't talk work at all, got to talk to some people I like and meet and learn about some new ones.

    Almost all of my friends are people I've met at work over the years.

  • syousef on 12/12/2016 - 07:16

    You paid $20 for a piece of paper that says someone from your work owns a land on Mars. Yes you are being taken advantage of, but not just in this one situation.

    • eurofoti on 12/12/2016 - 20:35

      A $20 lesson for sure. At least I have a PDF template for any future KK gifts ;)

  • salem on 17/12/2016 - 15:13

    How did this end? Did you go? Did you get drunk? Did you hook up with fired KK gift girl? I need closure!

    • McFly on 18/12/2016 - 01:34
      +1

      What you need is to read the OP's post about the night in question…

      • salem on 18/12/2016 - 05:50

        Argh, I made the rookie mistake of only skimming for the update. Found it now. Cheers.

        Still keen to find out what he did with the kk gift and the fired/rehired girl.

        • McFly on 18/12/2016 - 08:44

          I don't think he did anything with either of them. 😉

        • eurofoti on 18/12/2016 - 19:32
          +2

          @McFly: actually during the change in shift yesterday, my KK girl told me she had me as her KK and gave me a box of Favourites. I was unaware I was seeing her that day and I told her I have something for her as well and that I will bring it with me next time. Being an acre of land, it can conveniently be left in my work bag.

  • Repunzal on 23/12/2016 - 14:34

    To be or not to be, that's a question. Life is really full of choices. Each one should shoulder all the results caused by the choice one has made.
    Personally, i really suggest that you can measure the gains and loss of attending and not attending function. If you go, what you will get, if you do not go, what you will loss. Then make you decision.

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