Our company is quite big but the company does not subsidise the xmas dinner nor the drinks.
Its public sector and me first year at getting an xmas dinner with the team we are a team of 6 so can get quite costly.
Should we reciprocate or at least by them a drink as thanks or would that look bad not getting others.
23 comments
It’s probably a hidden gift to the manager to get a round in. I wouldn’t worry
“Hey cheers for that”.
I guarantee you they are making a multiple of what you make so I certainly wouldn’t worry about the cost.
Is the manager part of the team of 6? If so just get a round each?
First thing I’d do is open a tab on the company credit card. but I’m not public sector, so maybe hope they all drink soft drinks.
They’ll be claiming it back on expenses. Just say thanks and enjoy it.
If the other members of the team start buying rounds then you might want to as well (although it’s your first year, I’m sure they’ll understand if you don’t). If no one else buys a round then don’t, it was the manager’s gift and doesn’t need to be reciprocated.
So if your manager buys you a drink, give him a big kiss. If it’s a her a firm hand shake.
Yeah. Can be awkward. Was out the other night and 3 senior members got a round it. Then that was it. Time to go for dinner which is table orders so no rounds.
If there is an opportunity you offer to get them one in return at some point. Fact is if they get a 13 person round in they can’t expect 13 drinks back 😂
Don’t be there in the first place.
Most places I’ve worked, the manager buys a round on their company credit card and then claims it as expenses (this isn’t a criticism at all). It’s not often me or the teams I’ve worked with have received a tangible gesture for the work we’ve put in so I just say thanks very much and that’s about it!
Usually have the ‘company credit card’ and it’s put on the companies tax return as a ‘hospitality expense’ 😉
Generic answer.
Most companies will pick up the tab for at least the first couple of drinks on such occasions, but I get that’s not how the public sector works. Just saying so you know if you work elsewhere in future.
Separately in my experience most small teams have a decent idea where each other are in life. If you’re early career, or just had twins, or looking to buy a house then quite often someone will step in to get a round when you offer, or they’ll just say they’re fine, so it’s a cheaper round. Often those with more disposable income will proactively pick up a bigger share on a night out. It’s all a bit unwritten convention and of course your colleagues may not act like this.
Also get their hotel room number and put everything on there room too
Or when you see a director heading for the bar stand next to them engage in conversation and watch them buy your drinks
I’ve been the manager in this situation. I made sure I left about 20 minutes later to avoid awkwardness and just let people let their hair down. My bit was done and I just needed to sod off.
Bottle of champagne, fuck you manager
I wouldn’t be expected to buy your boss a drink back
In our team if we all (9 of us) go out for Christmas lunch or dinner we all pay for our own meal plus tip, and our manager normally says she’s covering the drinks we’ve ordered with the meal. We all say thank you and sit awkwardly for a moment until someone breaks the ice.
From my experience it’s fairly standard etiquette in the public sector for the boss to buy the first round of drinks. It’s a nice gesture and personally I wouldn’t feel the pressure to reciprocate (I certainly wouldn’t expect it as a manager)
A few people have mentioned that it’s probably subsidised by the organisation – certainly where I work it will be their own money (when you’re making cuts everywhere to balance the budget it’s hard to justify, not a good look and definitely not worth the FOI faff for the taxpayer to effectively pay for your drinks)
If I know they are claiming it back, I just say thanks. If it is coming out of their pocket (particularly if a larger team), then buying them one later in the night is appreciated. Generally others weren’t buying full rounds so it was easy enough to add one in.
You buy your manager six drinks and shout “Chug chug chug” until they’ve downed each drink and then you leave them lying outside in the snow without a jacket on.
Manager here. I stopped going out with my team as there was always pressure on me to buy the drinks. Yes I was earning 10-15k more than the others but I also had crippling child maintenance payments and other high outgoings. Don’t assume that your manager has more disposable income than you do!!
If your boss buys a drink you take that drink and drink it and don’t think about it any more.
As a public sector manager I’ll get the first round in, unless my boss gets there first in which case “I’ll have a pint please boss’ is my response. I’ll get the second round in. No need to recipricate for me, although if I buy a second round then I assume we are in a rounds system.