'You wouldn’t be working exactly, just helping': Boss invites employee to exclusive Christmas party, only to pressure her to work the event

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 27, 2023 2:00 PM EST

Has anyone else been fooled by their boss into thinking they were being singled out for something special when in reality, they were just being taken for granted? It's a common occurrence in the workplace, especially during busy times of the year like the Holiday season when people tend to be the most selfish under the guise of graciousness. Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, many employees have already begun to plan for their office Holiday parties. Few of you are excited, many of you are anxious, and most of you are probably eager to imbibe on the company's dime at the very least. But what happens when your company has an exclusive Holiday party for those at the managerial level and you get invited under the guise of inclusion when really, you are actually being asked to work the event? Once again, tone-deaf selfishness has made its way into an already toxic work environment.

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  • 01
    "They want me to work for free."
    via u/vinylsleepover

  • This thread was posted to Reddit by u/vinylsleepover, who found herself having to navigate these difficult waters. She was expected not only to work this exclusive Holiday event, but also to do so without getting paid, as if being there was enough of a reward. Thankfully, she had enough to sense to decline the invitation, but keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. When you're done, feel free to take a look at this post about how HR blindsided an employee and constantly adjusted their pay.

  • 02
    Was invited to an exclusive company Christmas party, turns out they want me to work for free.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 03
    Me and a plus 1 were invited to an exclusive managers-only Christmas party and I excitedly RSVP'd for myself and my husband. Found out today that they'd like if I helped with some aspects of the event the night of, but I won't be paid for it.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 04
    My boss said "you wouldn't be working exactly, just helping". Sooooo just say I'll be working and not getting paid for it, then
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 05
    Important notes: I am a manager on a small scale, and the manager above me is our regional manager. They get paid significantly more and because I'm the one who does the most for this group of people at my company, I was invited and not her. So not only am I already doing the work of a regional manager, and have been for a long time, I also have not had a raise in 2 years. I have remained loyal and have stuck through it even with inflation being nuts in my HCOL area.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 06
    I rescinded my RSVP today and said I'm unable to make it after all. Genuinely thought I'd get to go and enjoy myself with my husband as a thank you for all my hard work this year.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 07
    Ozzie_the_tiger_cat. 15 hr. ago They probably needed you to bus the executives tables. 511 Reply Share
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 08
    SmokeyMoon Man 13 hr. ago I thought you were going to say bus the executives around. Like a party bus chauffeur. 4 102 Reply Share
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 09
    Dead Letters Society. 14 hr. ago "just helping"; any time you hear this from any kind of boss, supervisor, or even just a colleague: it means you'll likely be working. 339 Reply Share
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 10
    vinylsleepover OP. 4 hr. ago Exactly. This also stems from resentment I have from paying to go on company trips to "help" and not getting reimbursed for travel OR paid overtime for these trips. 48 Reply Share
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 11
    Green-Inkling 14 hr. ago "tell me the difference between helping and working. i'll wait" 227 Reply Share
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 12
    sold_myfortune · 11 hr. ago I can't tell you how many holiday seasons I spent working nights in an IT operations center just to receive call from people saying, "Hey, I'm out Christmas party hopping but I just wanted to check and make sure the servers are doing ok! If there's a problem don't call me, just fix immediately!"
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 13
    Like who the fi makes it part of their evening's entertainment with the peon to trying to pay his rent? I used to hear about these lavish Christmas parties companies would throw for employees back in the 90s. The best I ever got for Christmas was team lunch at Panda Express which was scheduled on my day off. When my boss asked me why I didn't show up I told him, "It was my day off, next time put team lunch on a day when I'm working on the clock and you can bet I'll be there!"
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 14
    I quit a few weeks later and it took them six months to replace me with someone half as qualified, jerks. 111 Reply Share
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 15
    vinylsleepover OP. 4 hr. ago That is AWFUL. Some people have no self- awareness.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 16
    SteamingTheCat. 12 hr. ago And what should your +1 do at a party where she knows almost no one while you spend the night "helping"? Also what is your gender? This matters.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 17
    And no raises in two years. This is no kindness. They're using you. Go out and get your boss's job. At another company. They are clearly not loyal to you.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 18
    vinylsleepover OP. 4 hr. ago I'm a gal. My poor husband would be left to fend for himself in a room full of people while I help facilitate games and hand out presents to everyone else.
    via u/vinylsleepover
  • 19
    I'm all fairness, I should be jumping ship to another industry since ours is in the tank. It's pretty much on me. My industry has had massive layoffs in the last 2 years, companies shutting down, 0 places hiring. Bonuses were taken away at my job over a year ago, but we are still expected to commute to the office and pay to go on company trips. It's all been building up to this and I think I've hit my limit.
    via u/vinylsleepover

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work toxic-boss Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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