When Companies Get It Wrong: Asking Staff to Pay for the Christmas Party
I was dismayed to hear that some companies are asking their staff to pay for their own Christmas party. Yes, you read that right – the company that made a whopping $500 million in the last financial year is expecting its employees to chip in for the festivities. I’m not sure what’s more astonishing, the fact that they’re making such a brazen request or that some people seem to think this is normal.
As someone who’s worked in various roles over the years, I can confidently say that I’ve never encountered this before. Whether it was a small startup or a large corporation, the Christmas party was always something that the company paid for. It was seen as a way to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the staff throughout the year. But I guess times have changed, and some companies are looking for ways to nickel-and-dime their employees.
What’s even more galling is that they’re encouraging staff to bring their partners along, while still expecting employees to foot the bill. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, we want to include your loved ones in the festivities, but you’re going to have to pay for the privilege.” This just doesn’t sit right with me. If a company can’t afford to throw a decent Christmas party for its staff, maybe they should reconsider their priorities.
A friend of mine works for a small business, and their Christmas party is always fully funded by the company. They’ve had lavish spreads, trips to the theatre, and even a weekend getaway to a resort. The staff love it, and it’s something they look forward to all year. But I suppose that’s the difference between a company that truly values its staff and one that just sees them as expenses on the balance sheet.
Another thing that bothers me is that this is coming from a company that’s making hundreds of millions of dollars. You’d think they could spare a bit of change to show their appreciation for their staff. Instead, they’re making their employees pay for their own party. It’s just not right.
A lot of people have been sharing their own experiences online, with some saying that this is the norm in the public sector. But for private companies, it’s just not acceptable. I’ve heard of companies where the staff have had to pay for their own office supplies, let alone the Christmas party. It’s like they’re being treated as freelancers, rather than employees.
I know that some people might say, “Well, it’s just a Christmas party, what’s the big deal?” But the thing is, it’s not just about the party itself. It’s about the principle behind it. If a company is willing to make its staff pay for their own Christmas party, what else will they ask for next? Will they start charging staff for their own training or equipment? Where does it end?
I’m not going to name and shame the company, but I hope that they take a hard look at their priorities and reconsider their stance on this. It’s not too late to change their minds and show their staff that they truly care about them. But if they don’t, I’m sure that there are plenty of other companies out there that would be happy to snap up their employees and treat them with the respect and appreciation they deserve.