25 Excuses for Not Going to Work Christmas Party That Work!

Excuses for Not Going to Work Christmas Party

Looking for good excuses for not going to work Christmas party?

Not everyone wants to attend their company’s Christmas party, but there is often a great deal of pressure.

So, the best thing you can do is come up with a reason that’s going to work for you and be prepared when someone asks if you’re going.

Here are 20 excuses you can use to dodge your company’s Xmas party, from the serious to the silly and everything in between!

25 Excuses for Not Going to Work Christmas Party

1. Sorry, Something Has Come up And I Can’t Make It

This is a way of making it clear that you will not be going and provides the excuse that it’s not possible even if you wanted to.

While still being a little vague and not committing to a lie that you might forget or get your story mixed up at a later date.

Related Here are 15 bulletproof excuses you can use to get out of work at short notice.

2. I’m Actually Away on That Date

This also makes it clear that you can’t make it to the work Christmas party even if you wanted to.

If it’s a lie, however, make sure you get your story straight as to where you’re going and be prepared to answer questions about it!

3. I’m Double Booked with A Gig I’m Already Going To

You could say that you’ve already booked and paid for something on the date of the Christmas party.

It’s not like they will change the date just for you, but make sure you know about an event going on the same night.

4. That Date Doesn’t Work for Me, Sorry

This is a bit more of a blunt way to just say that you don’t want to go without having to make up a story.

5. I’m Not a Fan of Work Christmas Parties

You could simply state that you don’t like work Christmas parties and don’t see the point in attending.

This is a more honest approach but might not go down as well with your boss!

Still, it’s better than making up a lie and getting caught out.

6. I Have No One to Watch My Dog if I Go Out

If you have a pet that needs someone home, this is a great excuse as it’s both plausible and means you can’t go out.

They might think you could find a sitter for the night, but that’s on you.

7. Thanks for The Invite, But I Don’t Think I’m Going

This is a way of saying no that’s more polite than some of the other options.

It shows that you appreciate the invite but won’t be attending for whatever reason.

Plus, it’s always good to be polite to your boss or colleagues!

8. No Thanks, I Hate the Festive Stuff

This excuse might get you a reputation for being a bit miserable, but it gets the message across that you don’t want to go to your company’s Christmas do and it’s nothing personal.

9. I’ll Wait Until Nearer the Time to See

You might not be able to use this one if they need a lot of notice to book the event.

Still, you could just stall until you miss the deadline if you want to get out of it that way. But it’s not the best excuse.

Related Tips for how to word it when telling your boss you’re not coming in tomorrow.

10. I Don’t Commit to Things that Far Away

Similar to waiting as long as possible to answer, you can simply say that you don’t like to make plans too far in advance.

This is more of an issue if the Christmas party is being held months ahead, but I’ve heard people use this excuse before.

11. I Had a Bad Experience at A Work Christmas Party Before, I’ll Pass

This is a great way to get out of going as it’s both believable (as work Xmas parties can be wild) and also shows you’re a bit traumatized.

You’ll probably be asked questions about what happened previously, so get a story straight that isn’t too embarrassing!

12. Meh, There Are Going to Be People There I Don’t Want to See

Annoying coworkers and fillings out at work are fairly common, so you might simply want to say that you don’t want to be among certain people.

This makes you look bad in some lights, but it’s also a way of showing that you don’t appreciate the actions of certain people.

13. These Things Are Never Fun for Me Honestly

This is a more honest way of saying that you don’t want to go and makes it clear that it’s not just the Christmas party.

If you’re not the kind of person who enjoys work events or even just socializing, then it’s fine to say so.

This way people will not keep bothering you and trying to find ways to make you go.

14. It’s Not My Type of Place You’re Going To

You could blame it on the venue if there is something about the place where the party is that you don’t like.

Maybe it’s too fancy for you or too loud and you just don’t feel comfortable there, if you can find a fault you should use it.

15. I Don’t Feel Like I Fit in Enough, I’ll Pass

This is a great way of saying no if you’re new to the company or feel like an outsider.

It’s not the best way to make friends and might raise some concerns, but it does show that you’re not interested in going to the party.

16. I Had a Last-Minute Emergency Come Up

This is one of the many excuses you can use if you were scheduled to attend, but didn’t turn up on the night.

It’s best to come up with a believable story as to what the emergency was, but people will usually accept this without too much questioning.

17. I Was Feeling Sick on The Night

This is another common excuse that people use that acts like a free pass to not turn up to a work Christmas party when you were expected.

You’ll probably be known as someone who flakes out on events, but at least you won’t have to go to the party!

18. Sorry, I Don’t Mix Work and Pleasure Like That

Even though work Christmas parties are pretty much customary, over the years I’ve known a number of people who simply didn’t want to socialize with work colleagues.

This is perfectly fine if that’s how you feel, but it might not be the best way to get ahead in your career as socializing is a big part of most companies’ culture.

19. I Have Family Over for Xmas and Won’t Be Able to Go

If you have family visiting or plans already made, then this is a great way to get out of going to a work Christmas party.

It’s normal for families to visit over the festive period, so it’s an excuse you can use even if it’s not true.

Related What to do if you think you’re about to get fried for too much absence!

20. I’m Just Not Feeling Like Going

This is the bluntest and most honest excuse you can give if you really do feel this way and don’t mind saying it.

It’s a bit of a cop-out and makes you look like you’re not willing to put in the effort, but it will get the message across that you’re not interested in attending the party.

21. I Have Travel Plans

If you have travel plans coming up you can use this as an excuse even if they don’t necessarily conflict with the office Christmas party. There is often times planning that goes into holiday travel plans so you would be justified in missing the party if you had some “travel logistics” to take care of.

22. Volunteer Work

Christmas is the season of giving so no one would blame you for missing an office Christmas party for putting in some holiday volunteer work. People usually ask who you are volunteering for so you should probably actually do some volunteering!

23. Was Not Able to Get Child Care

This is actually an excuse my wife and I use often when we don’t feel like attending parties or other social functions. However in some cases, the babysitters are busy and we really cannot find childcare. So this is usually an acceptable excuse.

24. Apartment or Home Maintenance

It seems like there is always something to fix in my house. From toilets, to washing machines, something is always in need of a repair or tune up. If there is a major repair in your house or apartment that requires you to let the plumber or handyman in, that would be a good excuse not to attend the work Christmas party.

25. Religious Observance

Christmas is a religious holiday and many churches hold services and vigils throughout the week and weekends. You could use religious observance as an excuse and people not think that is out of the ordinary.


Image credits – Photo by Jared Tomasek on Unsplash

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Skip to content