AIB and BoI cancel Christmas staff parties

D

DerKaiser

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http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/aib-and-boi-cancel-christmas-staff-parties-1937641.html

I have to say that this is something I don't really understand.

The 3% pay raise probably costs over €1000 p.a. for the average employee whilst a Christmas party could cost as little as €30-40 per head for a decent venue with a few drinks and some buffet food.

Do all principles of staff morale go out the window in a recession?

Most employees recognise that wage costs, etc need to be contained. Cancelling a christmas party is something that saves very little money and has a huge negative impact on staff morale.

I know it's illogical but I'd certainly feel more appreciated by an employer if pay rises were postponed but small occasional efforts, like having a christmas Party, were made to remind employees that their work is appreciated. This is espcially the case with all the negativity around at the moment.
 
I'd say it's for the optics more than anything. Imagine the papers if they heard that, on top of a pay rise, bank staff were also being wined and dined for free.
 
The stupid thing is that in this economic environment, pubs and restaurants need all the help they can get. Companies should be encouraged to spend money in the local economy instead of worrying about optics. It's only a few drinks for God's sake. And before people from the public sector come on saying they never get anything, I would have no problem with them enjoying a few drinks at Xmas time.

I remember the good old days of working in investment banking in London and having Kylie sing at our party. I miss those days! Shame we didn't have clue about actual investment banking!
 
Sunny said:
I remember the good old days of working in investment banking in London and having Kylie sing at our party. I miss those days! Shame we didn't have clue about actual investment banking!
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:D Excellent!
 
There's a huge knock on effect with cancelling these parties, from hotels even down to bands and Djs (I'm sure both of those always declared the income anyway....)

But I have some sympathy with the banks, imagine the media storm if they did run an event or series of events and sponsored it.
 
When I worked for some of AIB/BOIs competition, we were lucky if as managers we got a contribution of €15 a head for a Christmas party and that was 5 years ago. Staff had to pay the rest themselves
 
Latrade said:
But I have some sympathy with the banks, imagine the media storm if they did run an event or series of events and sponsored it.
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That's the joke of it all. Who is drumming up the media storm? Are ordinary people shocked that the employers of other ordinary people are treating them to a few 'thank you' drinks at christmas?

My view is that these decisions are being made in boardrooms and the guys at the top cannot distinguish between over the top junkets and a few simple drinks for the ordinary staff at the end of the year.
 
DerKaiser said:
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/aib-and-boi-cancel-christmas-staff-parties-1937641.html

I have to say that this is something I don't really understand.

The 3% pay raise probably costs over €1000 p.a. for the average employee whilst a Christmas party could cost as little as €30-40 per head for a decent venue with a few drinks and some buffet food.

Do all principles of staff morale go out the window in a recession?

Most employees recognise that wage costs, etc need to be contained. Cancelling a christmas party is something that saves very little money and has a huge negative impact on staff morale.

I know it's illogical but I'd certainly feel more appreciated by an employer if pay rises were postponed but small occasional efforts, like having a christmas Party, were made to remind employees that their work is appreciated. This is espcially the case with all the negativity around at the moment.
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Just curious - would you take the same view on Xmas parties for public sector staff? [For the record, I haven't come across any public body that pays for such a party anyway]
 
liaconn said:
I'd say it's for the optics more than anything. Imagine the papers if they heard that, on top of a pay rise, bank staff were also being wined and dined for free.
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Yes. A friend of mine who works in a bank told me that they can well afford it but that they've been told "No party" because it would look bad PR wise.
 
If the tax payer wasn't bailing these banks out with skip loads of money, I couldn't care less if they had parties or not. However, I don't see why they should have a Christmas party at the tax payers' expense.

Indeed, many real private sector companies can't afford to party! They made the right decision... for once.
 
DerKaiser said:
That's the joke of it all. Who is drumming up the media storm? Are ordinary people shocked that the employers of other ordinary people are treating them to a few 'thank you' drinks at christmas?

My view is that these decisions are being made in boardrooms and the guys at the top cannot distinguish between over the top junkets and a few simple drinks for the ordinary staff at the end of the year.
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I agree, but I can see it from the bank's point of view. Even if it was just a glass of wine and a cocktail sausage in the canteen it would be translated as an 'extravagent party' by rags like the Sunday Indo. There is also bound to be someone who'd come on here spluttering indignantly about how their next door neighbour's cousin works for AIB and you WON'T BELIEVE THIS BUT......

I think the Banks have made the right decision. There is nothing to stop individual managers buying a few bottles of wine for their staff or taking them to the pub for a drink after work.
 
I'd imagine that the lowest gross monthly salary paid to a bank official in Ireland probably falls in to the €1,800 - €2,000 bracket.

What harm can it do to increase this by €50 for one month?

People also have to realise that better morale in the workforce pays dividends as regards productivity.

The notion of any employer having their staff work through December and pack up on the 24th without any acknowledgement of Christmas makes me quite sad, to be honest.
 
I miss bringing my children to the annual free Panto in the Gaiety. Little did I know that my children and I would spend the rest of our lives paying for those tickets!
 
TarfHead said:
What's the guessing the Sindo will next be calling for the abolition of all Christmas parties funded "at the taxpayer's expense" ;) ?
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Well, they were moaning on Sunday about Civil Servants getting 'generous' compassionate leave if their spouse or child dies!!! (You get 5 days!).
 
The notion of any employer having their staff work through December and pack up on the 24th without any acknowledgement of Christmas makes me quite sad, to be honest.
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In our company, we'll all have to work right though Christmas this year, including Christmas day. (We develop payroll software, and the budget is later than usual this year)
 
umop3p!sdn said:
In our company, we'll all have to work right though Christmas this year, including Christmas day. (We develop payroll software, and the budget is later than usual this year)
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Well I hope that you will be generously paid above the normal rate for giving up your Christmas day, that Christmas day work will be optional, that there will be a good atmosphere in the office on the day and maybe a few drinks, crackers, paper crowns etc., you will get time off to enjoy the festive period with your family and finally that your employer is going to shell out for a party at some point!
 
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