Worst Party Ever
Normally our works do's are pretty good. A decent meal, plenty of free booze and some decent entertainment, but as the company has grown the cost has become higher, and we've wound up doing less of the "Office Christmas" events and more "Hotel, Meal and Disco".

Last years was good, shared with 2 other companies in a big room, with a disco afterwards, a good time was had by all, but this year this was not to be.

For the MD had been to "Fawlty Towers" at a similar do earlier in the year, and decided that this was a lot of fun, and audience participation in the entertainment was key. So he booked us Ted & Co, a Father Ted style group, and a room for a meal at the local hotel.

Now, earlier this month one of our colleagues sadly had a fatal heart attack at work, and his funeral was just 2 days prior. So you can imagine people's reaction when their opening gambit was Father Jack, lying dead on a table in the centre of the room, with the actors encouraging people to go up and "pay their respects".

Needless to say, I'm surprised nobody punched them, I was pretty close until they recognised that I wasn't happy about being included in the entertainment and left me well alone, ditto with a few others.

Luckily the free bar made up for it, and my partner did her best to drink it dry, eventually getting cut off at around 10.45PM and passing out in the lobby as I fetched the car 15mins later... however once the actors were done, they packed up and fucked off, and took their speakers with them! Nobody had thought to organise a bit of music for people to dance to! Worst Party Ever. Dunno what the bar tab was, but the MD didn't look happy as he was paying it!
( Alex Save a Tree, Eat a Beaver!, Tue 23 Dec 2014, 16:37, 13 replies)

You sound like a right bunch of killjoys.
That being said, a Father a Ted tribute act sounds like a right load of old shit.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Tue 23 Dec 2014, 18:12, closed)

"lets punch these people who have absolutely no idea we had a funeral 2 days prior"
who'd be in entertainment?
( ferret -> twitter.com/syfyautocorrect <-, Tue 23 Dec 2014, 22:55, closed)

"Someone I barely knew recently died of a heart attack, you insensitive prick!"

(Plague Hedgehog 'posting crap', Fri 26 Dec 2014, 12:15, closed)

I'd known the chap for the best part of 10 years, alebit with a few years gap when he went to spain. He'll be missed.
( Alex Save a Tree, Eat a Beaver!, Sat 27 Dec 2014, 18:17, closed)

I suspect this was the main reason why they didn't get punched...
( Alex Save a Tree, Eat a Beaver!, Sat 27 Dec 2014, 18:16, closed)

Yep
It was shit.
( Alex Save a Tree, Eat a Beaver!, Sat 27 Dec 2014, 18:16, closed)

There was a punch up at our Xmas do on Friday
I'd already left but I've been told it was a good old-fashioned brawl where the police were called and there were several injuries.
Gotta love Xmas, eh!
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Tue 23 Dec 2014, 18:22, closed)

nice bit of new year sackings for HR to look forward to initiating.

( d.r._and_quinch when will you be famous?, Tue 23 Dec 2014, 19:51, closed)

just off the top of my head, could be an interesting situation if they tried to enforce office protocol regarding an incident out-of-hours in a social event
(Carpe Cyprinidae, Sat 27 Dec 2014, 22:44, closed)

In my days as a shop steward, I once defended some colleagues who had got into a brawl at a 'do'
I asked if they were 'on the clock' and therefore due pay and overtime for the time they were at the function. The answer was an emphatic 'NO'.
I replied 'Well, if you're not paying them, then what they do is fuck-all of your business. Are we done here'?
No further action
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Sat 27 Dec 2014, 23:56, closed)

I'm not sure if this argument holds much water these days
At our Xmas parties we're warned in advance that we are representing the company and anyone being an arse could find them involved in disciplinary proceedings.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Mon 5 Jan 2015, 14:58, closed)

Yeah, I heard that too
However, a friend in the legal profession told his boss that, as the company were supplying the booze for free, the company were responsible for any fuckups.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Mon 5 Jan 2015, 15:44, closed)

I do believe this is why a few members of staff chose not to attend. They knew the probability was after a few drinks they'd probably want a bit of a punchup...
( Alex Save a Tree, Eat a Beaver!, Wed 31 Dec 2014, 12:36, closed)