Year End Functions

I generally leave as soon as we have finished eating because people start getting stupid.

2012 - A client allowed us to use their bar/braai facilities. One dude got so poep dronk he told the area manager that he (area manager) will drive him (dronky) home and proceeded to rant about how useless his colleagues were at their jobs and how underpaid he was.

2013 - Same client. Same situation. Same drunkard got out of hand, went back to our on-site offices and p*ssed all over the place. Lady who ran the helpdesk had to be physically held back after hitting him. He later told the area manager how sh*t he was as a boss. I always leave early but apparently people left the facilities in a mess.

2014 - Same client. This time they allowed us to use one of their facilities at a smaller site because of the mess we made. Same drunkard caused trouble again. This time a couple of guys had to be restrained from hitting him. Client told us to leave early because ''you have broken every rule we have''. The client informed us that we will never again be allowed to use their facilities.

2015 - Management said we have repeatedly behaved like sh*t, so no functions on their tab. Some staff took the day off to go to Zoo Lake, rest of us just worked as if it was a normal day.

2016 - Rented out a hall. It was horribly run down. Food was only served at 3pm. DJ was crap. 2/10 did not enjoy. Lone positive was no more drunkard causing a scene.

2017 - National HO invited the whole branch to join them at an eco-hotel. Fancy dress, whole bunch of awards. I left early again, but apparently it turned in to a full-on party late on and a few office romances popped their cherries. Lots of office gossip about who slept with who.

2018 - Again with the branch and national HO at another eco-hotel. Fancy dress, people ended up hoarding alcohol, causing arguments as some people had warm drinks/no drinks while others were sitting outside, p*ssed out of their minds with surplus alcohol strewn around.

2019 - Another event with the branch and HO, this time at a golf course. Token system was implemented to try and distribute alcohol fairly. Of course those that don't drink literally sold their tokens to drinkers who pooled their tokens and once again hoarded alcohol, leaving the fridges empty for those that may have wanted a second beer. More arguments. Branch administrator confiscated alcohol from hoarders. Still more arguing. Some of our drunk staff gate-crashed another year-end function at the same venue and vice-versa. My manager asked for a chainsaw when he tried to cut a piece of meat and it shot off his plate. Another manager allegedly shagged someone from the helpdesk, more gossiping.

2020 - Covid. Each person was allowed to order a takeaway meal to the value of R100. I had a shawarma and chips, it was pretty good.

2021 - Covid again? We were going to have a low-key braai at the branch but now it sounds like takeaways again. I would quite happily settle for a shawarma.
 
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Ours have been cancelled because they're not inclusive.

We were given 4.5 days in 2021 (9 x half day Fridays) as a "thank you" for working through COVID in 2020. This is now continued in 2022 in lieu of losing the Christmas party. Not gonna complain!
 
I enjoy them but didn't go last year because I stopped drinking (and you know temptation) but can't make it this year because its my friends 30th.
 
thestaggy said:
2012 - A client allowed us to use their bar/braai facilities. One dude got so poep dronk he told the area manager that he (area manager) will drive him (dronky) home and proceeded to rant about how useless his colleagues were at their jobs and how underpaid he was.

2013 - Same client. Same situation. Same drunkard got out of hand, went back to our on-site offices and p*ssed all over the place. Lady who ran the helpdesk had to be physically held back after hitting him. He later told the are manager how sh*t he was as a boss. I always leave early but apparently people left the facilities in a mess.

2014 - Same client. This time they allowed us to use one of their facilities at a smaller site because of the mess we made. Same drunkard caused trouble again. This time a couple of guys had to be restrained from hitting him. Client told us to leave early because ''you have broken every rule we have''. The client informed us that we will never again be allowed to use their facilities.
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Some people never learn…
 
Some companies do learn. Apparently before I joined in 2013 they used to have wild year ends with out of control people and no limits on anything. Then it all changed the year I joined.

2013 - Madam Zingara VA Waterfront, booze on your account so we had none, too pricey. Excellent show though.

2014 - Moyo at Kirstenbos, very nice, had one beer, booze too pricey.

2015 - Beerfest at Newlands brewery. Holly s...t Batman, for a place that is supposed to be about booze this was helluva expensive. Food was poor. Crappy event.

2016 - Lagoon Beach Hotel Milnerton. Tiny bits of food in this buffet style deal with pricey booze. Had two beers. One guy fell into the pool.

2017 - Pigalles - excellent food, same deal on the booze though. I had none.

2018 - In this quarry hole near Durbanville. Way too packed but each table did have a bottle of wine. Ended up going to McDonalds afterwards.

2019 - Two Oceans Aquarium. Food was platters, not enough. Booze was pricey so we left early.

2020 & 2021 - Online zoom call. Booze is unlimited but still out of your own pocket. Food will probably come out of a can or something. Maybe tuna and peas. Maybe my wife will actually make something nice?
 
What did you guys talk about with these online Christmas parties?
 
Well for us it is basically just the December version of the normal monthly company wide comms session. So about 200 people, heads of departments reflect on what was done and is coming. Only add-ons in the "Year end edition" is awards, these are pulled out of the arse of someone who found them apt, also long time service awards for 5, 10, 20 and what other years of service there is. The last part they have some entertainer, I think last year was Mark Lottering but I left before then. I stick around to make sure our department wins as little as possible.
 
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We had ours last week, and it was a casual event. Mostly outside, we grabbed wine/beer/cider, had snacks coming around, mingled as we wanted, and later, had a buffet dinner. I think some people stayed later for music and dancing, but it was a pleasant event. I hate these formal things, or events in an environment where you can't hear anyone.
 
Claymore said:
We had ours last week, and it was a casual event. Mostly outside, we grabbed wine/beer/cider, had snacks coming around, mingled as we wanted, and later, had a buffet dinner. I think some people stayed later for music and dancing, but it was a pleasant event. I hate these formal things, or events in an environment where you can't hear anyone.
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Tell me your company didn't give increases this year, without telling me your company didn't give increases this year.
 
GhostSixFour said:
Tell me your company didn't give increases this year, without telling me your company didn't give increases this year.
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Ours was cancelled last year due to COVID. Instead of spreading a little Christmas cheer and giving us a tiny bonus, they donated the £200 per head to some charity.
 
Crayons said:
What excuse can I use to get out of our dumbass year end function?
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Sorry, I have the 'vid.

No, wait, they can check that too easily.

"Sorry, I have had contact with someone who has the 'vid, so leave me alone, I mean, I have to self isolate."
 
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