Australian pays $100 to attend Christmas party: ‘Totally messed up’

A company’s decision to make employees pay $100 to attend their own Christmas party has caused internet division after an Australian revealed his wife had to foot the bill, which didn’t even include a drink.

The man said his staff parties have always been “fully” funded by the company, covering the cost of food and alcohol, which is why he was so shocked to learn his partner’s parties were the opposite.

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“I’m curious what other people’s parties are like,” he wrote on Reddit.

“My partner’s fee is about $100 to attend plus drinks on top.”

The shocking revelation sparked a heated debate as several people ended the practice of asking employees to cover the cost of attending a work party.

“Requiring you to pay is completely screwed up,” said one person.

“Dinner and drinks are the norm, her cry. I would never pay for a Christmas party. On the contrary, these are billable hours,” said another.

“100 dollars! I wouldn’t even hesitate to decline participation,” added another.

The man said he’d been to work parties before that cost “$10 a head,” which offered unlimited alcohol and catering to help offset the cost, which he felt was justified.

Others said the fee was to ensure workers actually showed up, claiming it’s not that much to ask of an employee.

Some suggested whether the fact that the man’s wife worked in the public service might have played a role in the party’s expenses.

“You often have to pay in public service. Either by paying for your meal or by raising funds for a party throughout the year,” one person said.

“To be fair, I wouldn’t necessarily want my taxes to fund a company Christmas party. So the public sector usually has to pay for its own parties,” added another.