'Sorry, boss. I got other plans': Boss confronts employee about not attending weekend work party, employee tells boss to reschedule work events for the actual work day

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 10, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Socializing with one's coworkers is important, but why does it have to take up so much of one's personal time? 

Sure, these events are typically not in the office. They might be at a bar, a restaurant, or the boss's home, which is ten times nicer than anything you could ever afford. The reality of the matter is that regardless of location, you're still networking with your coworkers. You're still on the job. It doesn't matter if food and drink are on the company because your time is actively being taken away from you. As one commenter on this Reddit thread states, our time is valuable! If it's so crucial for everyone to be at a weekend work event, perhaps everyone should be paid for that time. Or perhaps it should take place during work hours. 

We know bosses get frustrated at this concept, as this boomer employer did, but they cannot have it both ways. They can't squeeze every minute of productivity out of folks during work hours and then expect a big chunk of that free time as well. That's not what work-life balance should be about.

For more stories like this, check out this post about the best jobs employees ever had.

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  • 01
    EXIT "Boss [is] upset I don't attend his unpaid weekend parties.
    via Shridhar Gupta
  • 02
    flappynslappy 2 hr. ago I was pretty much fired a long time ago for not "participating" in things like this. Just another case of "We're a family here"
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 03
    Additional-Sky- 7436 OP. 2 hr. ago We can be a family during regular business hours.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 04
    Introverted Brawler 1 hr. ago "Yes, I generally make plans with my family on the weekends since that's when I'm off."
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 05
    tmoeagles96 · 2 hr. ago Even if you don't go, you should rsvp with a no, just so whoever is actually organizing it (probably some secretary) has an easier job
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 06
    Additional-Sky- 7436 OP 18 min. ago Funny things about that, she's not going either.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 07
    Hippy_Lynne 1 hr. ago The one and only time I attended a company party after hours it was because we were told that bonuses would be distributed at the party. They were. To the five partners in the 50 person office. No one else got a bonus that year.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 08
    Outrageous- Comfort42 .1 hr. ago I was told I wasn't a team player for not going to after hours this. I'm not like getting paid, it's during personal time, and I see these people more than I see my own family. If it's so important then you can pay us to be there.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 09
    Zahrad70 2 hr. ago Well, you came to the right sub. That said, meh. If you're management, (and it kinda seems like you are,) then this sort of after hours ra-ra stuff comes with the salary. If you're not management, then the boss being hurt you aren't coming is a little weird, tbh.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 10
    el_ochaso 1 hr. ago I'm old school. you, pay me. My time is valuable. I enjoy being blunt to management. It rings their bell and keeps them self-aware. It also encourages change.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 11
    Zosopagedadgad. 1 hr. ago Try being on a construction crew and not going to the bar with them after work. I don't drink so it's no fun. You wind up ostracized real quick...
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 12
    Boomer boss upset I don't attend his unpaid weekend parties.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 13
    I have a boomer president that twice a year or so hosts a big company party at his house. He enjoys doing it. Of course it's on the weekend and it's unpaid. I haven't gone in a few years.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 14
    They aren't really fun and highly likely to have some absolutely inappropriate thing happen during them. He just called me up asking why I haven't RSVP'ed for this weekend's party. I told him that I have other family plans. He complained to me that it seems to him like I always have other family
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 15
    plans during the company parties. I told him that is generally correct. He gave me an ear full over the phone about how I need to spend more time socializing with my guys, and I told him that would be great and I would be happy to if he scheduled his parties during our business hours.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436
  • 16
    Of course that wasn't a good idea because that would take away from work. So, sorry boss. I got other plans.
    via u/Additional-Sky-7436

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Tags

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