What I want to know is that the confronted employee said? Was there something in the invite that implied that she could bring everyone and her brother? That’s just really bizzare. Even if I didn’t get a formal invite with an RSVP, I wouldn’t dream of bringing anyone other than my spouse to a work party. An afternoon picnic, possibly, but an evening work party? Who would you even bring?
I can’t fathom a company party not my own or my spouse’s that I could possibly find interesting enough to go to.
The bar is going to be a big part of the cost - liquor is expensive. Give everybody two tickets for free drinks at the door and everything past that is cash. Emphasize that, since alcohol is being served, children are not allowed. I’ll bet a number of “guests” are children of employees who don’t want to pay for a sitter.
As Dinsdale said earlier, send out a blanket email that says something like: “I apologize for any confusion, but due to space and budget considerations, each employee attending the party may only bring one guest. Please RSVP by (short deadline) whether you will attend and whether you will be bringing a guest.”
I’ll bet you are right about the children, but she can’t depend on that. And I don’t think it’s a good idea to limit the bar if the employees are used to an open bar being provided…sounds like they are the kind of crowd who would bitch and moan, and then all the money Foxy does spend will be for naught, because all they will remember is that they couldn’t get loaded for free. I think Dinsdale and Missy2U’s suggestions are best…they may be irritated now, but if the party is fun, they will forget about that part.
And put a reminder that next year’s invitation state "“You and one guest are cordially invited…”
Most of you are nicer than me. I’m one who doesn’t like the parties, but I also know that there are a good number of people who look forward to them (like Stanley looks forward to free pretzel day). Giving $160 would be a big letdown. I also know they are good networking opportunities for some, and drag myself to a couple because it is the right thing to do.
What I would like to do in this situation (until someone smarter and nicer than me took it over) would be treat every employee who responded more than one the same way you treated your assistant, only through written communication. Those that get offended and don’t come - good riddance. They were probably the boors that get far too drunk and make it uncomfortable for everyone else anyway.
Foxy, have you given thought if some of these tacky employees approach other employees (who are going solo) and get them to make their “one guest” one of the tacky employees extra guests?. Are you cool with that, or how will you approach that subject?
I wouldn’t have made that mistake. The invite specifically says ‘guest’.
Just say you are sorry for the confusion but the invite specifically said ‘guest’. You’d like to invite anyone you can but the max budget is 2x the number of employees and the event costs the employer $80 per person.
Most reasonable people will understand.
Be aware though, that a work event on a Saturday could be a hardship on couples with kids. However, if you were my employer and blowing $160 on a good meal/drinks for me and my wife…I’d be there.
I have a strict “no attend” rule when it comes to after hours work parties but I did used to sit near a woman who was on the Party Planning Committee. She was a very nice lady who did a great job. There were stories like this every year. People never cease to disappoint me in their self entitlement and idiocy.
One year the company picnic came very close to being canceled because so many people were being such assholes about it. The bitched and whined (when they should have been working) but, of course, never volunteered to help.
If one employee turns in their RSVP for 4 people, and is not promptly told “Sorry, 2 max!” then it’s quite reasonable that word would get around that kids are in fact invited to the Christmas party. Which doesn’t change the fact that people were rude, but sometimes people are rude by mistake and not because they are freeloaders.
*We apologize for any confusion, but due to budget limitations, the company will pick up the holiday party tab for each employee and one guest. Employees are welcome to bring more than one guest, but the employee will be expected to cover the cost of any additional guests. We won’t know the exact per-person cost until we are billed, but we estimate that it will come to about $___ per person. Please RSVP by (short deadline) whether you will attend and how many guests will be coming with you. *
It is nice of you to throw the party. “You and a guest” is pretty explicit and the employees should respect that. I run a small business and usually let employees know directly whether or not I am inviting spouses to various functions. I would not be interested in having a third wheel. Functions are for the employees and bonding, and not to entertain outsiders. For those who don’t like attending company functions, maybe you have never been thrown a good one.
We had an employee who brought no fewer than nine guests to the Christmas party. It was very clearly stated that only employees’ and their partners’ costs would be covered but it seems that she (and she alone of seventy employees) was blinded by the chance of free food and drink and overlooked the fine print. She brought her MIL, SIL, three daughters, assorted daughters’ bf’s and an assorted daughter’s bf’s sister. So on the night, they are asked for the $$ for the meal and drinks. Two of the daughters got up and left. Employee then loudly complained that the meal offered wasn’t worth $33 and presented herself at the kitchen to make demands for different, “better” meals for herself and the remaining family members (never mind that her and her husband’s meal were being provided by the employer - the free meals weren’t good enough either, how rude).
Fast forward a few months to a good sacking and a letter reminding her that the workplace is private property on which she is no longer welcome. exhale
I don’t think it was Foxy40’s mistake, though. She (?) made it quite clear what the rules were, and though a lesser manager may have made the mistake, Foxy40 covered everything she needed it.
Still think too many of you are being far too nice to the obtuse, though I recognize the necessity. I can’t see me apologizing, except maybe for not being selective enough in screening potential employees. My message would be much terser, to those who RSVP’ed more than one: *This affair is only for the employee and a single guest. Please RSVP if you will still be attending by (time)." I wouldn’t mention budget, space, or any other excuses. I hate apologizing for others stupidity. Then I would find someone nicer from me to try to soften my words, because my shooting from the lip isn’t always the best way to handle things.
bathsheba, that employee should have had a reprimand waiting the very next morning. Want to make sure you well document the impending sacking - employees like that have sleazy lawyers on speed-dial.
I have always been honest that my employees LOVE working for me and we have a very happy company. My opinions of their behavior does not effect my treatment of them or the fact that my employees tend to be “lifers”. Someone said above that I could give the $160 as a Christmas bonus. If my employees ever got such a stingy bonus, they would come to me and wonder what they did wrong. The minimum I give is $1500 for a fulltime employee that has worked over a year.
You can have any opinion of me that you want but the bottom line is I run a successful company with happy workers that I indulge so much they tend to push the limits a bit which is why I sometimes complain. However, I am well aware that my employees are the companies number one resource and I treat them as such. (Which is probably why I seldom have openings but still file away 10 plus applications per week by word of mouth alone.)
So are you the only one? Perhaps not if others have reading comprehension difficulty such as you seem to have.
