'Mandatory corporate fun is not optional': Boss issues written warning when employee declines to attend brewery party 2 hours away

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 17, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Let's face it, you don't always have the energy to do your job. Maybe you had a rough night and you're lacking sleep. Maybe something is going on in your personal life that is distracting you from your work tasks. Maybe you're just losing steam at your job because there's not enough room to grow. Maybe you just don't have it in you that day. Whatever it is, the juice is not in the tank even though you want it to be. But this doesn't always fly in the workplace. You're expected to give 110% every day or else face consequences.

But does this apply to work events too? When your work organizes a group outing after work hours for the purposes of bonding and fun, does that count as work? It's a fine line. Because of course, you want to show interest in commitment to your coworkers in your company, but you also might not have the bandwidth to take on anything extra at the moment.

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  • 01

    Work wants to give me a written warning for not attending a party at a brewery 2 hours away.

    I work for a company that is home based two hours away. Every so often i must go to meetings in the base office wich i always do. This time around i started driving and started dozing off about 30 mins in to the drive. I was very tired and emailed my supervisor about it. And
    via u/Sweet-Good-9187
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10517981696
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • The question remains: Does your employer have the right to punish you for that? Is it part of your work expectations to join in on the company fun, or is it up to you? That's what was going on in this story where an employee was too tired to come to a work event two hours away. But when he expected understanding from his bosses, he didn't get it. But, just comments were torn on who was in the right in the situation.

  • 03
    emailed my supervisor about it. And turned around telling him i was dozing off at the wheel and that i would just work a regular day from my designated place, as i didn't think i could do that drive back and forth in the same day, and i was expected to be helping out at a big event the next morning. Now they want to give me a
    via u/Sweet-Good-9187
  • 04
    written warning about not attending this work event wich was just a summer party at a brewery, they are mad because I got an award for the outstanding job i do at my work location and i wasn't there to receive it. Love it, specially the fact they they dont even care I was dozing off, like be at the party or fall asleep at the
    via u/Sweet-Good-9187
  • 05
    wheel but make it still. Just to clarify this was at 7 am in the morning, i had been up since 5:30. As i had to have breakfast get ready etc, we drive over two hours, spend the day doing summer games, etc, then it ends at 5, we are expected to drive back as we are expected to be at work the next day. These hours are not my regular hours of work.
    via u/Sweet-Good-9187
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10517981952
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 07

    Commenters had some thoughts for this worker.

    Choice-Marsupial-127 4h ago You should have just said you were sick. If you're too exhausted to drive, you need a sick day. Details are your business. But since you already gave them details, you need to keep reiterating that it was not safe for you to drive.
    via u/Choice-Marsupial-127
  • 08
    Do ng DoomDog • 4h ago Mandatory corporate fun is not optional
    via u/D***ng DoomDog
  • 09
    • Fresh_Caramel8148 · 4h ago "Every so often i must go to meetings in the base office wich i always do. " Sounds like they were considering this event an event everyone was expected to attend. The fact you were too tired to drive- why? You're very vague about this. Why didn't you make sure you got enough sleep the night before?
    via u/Fresh_Caramel8148
  • 10
    You're not wrong for prioritizing yours and others safety, BUT you're wrong for not making sure you're properly rested to make the trip.
    via u/Fresh_Caramel8148
  • 11
    simongurfinkel • 4h ago You being too tired to work is an issue to be written up for.
    via u/simongurfinkel
  • 12
    Ernesto_Bella • 4h ago "I didn't show up for work, can my boss write me up for that"?
    via u/Ernesto_Bella
  • 13
    emzim 4h ago Was this at night? How were you dozing off if you were going to go home and work a regular day? Sorry but I see why you bosses thought this story was fake.
    via u/emzim
  • 14
    Tardislass 4h ago . Sorry but dozing off in the day is not normal. I get that you may be tired but honestly that is not your boss's problem nor is the drive. If you had to be at an event and called in because you were drowsy that's a problem. If you were drowsy because you were sick or ill that is something else.
    via u/Tardislass
  • 15
    Wearestartingacult 4h ago "I told my boss I was too tired so I bailed on an event" Yeah, you get written up for things like that
    via u/Wearestartingacult
  • 16
    Just-Shoe2689 · 4h ago Dozing off is not a reason to not work. You can sit at a desk and not doze off, but not drive? Im writing you up if you were supposed to be there during office hours.
    via u/Just-Shoe2689
  • 17
    AddictedToRugs • 4h ago So this work activity took place during normal work hours at a location near to your designated office. Bang to rights I'm afraid.
    via u/AddictedToRugs
  • 18
    Brilliant-Fun-1392 3h ago Did OP turn around and drive the half hour home drowsy as well or did they pull over and take a nap in the name of safety?
    via u/Brilliant-Fun-1392
  • 19
    richbiatches · 4h ago So youre dozing off at 7am?? What time did you go to bed? This is not normal.
    via u/richbiatches
  • 20
    After-Snow5874 4h ago . Find another job. I'm all about remote working but those who have it acting so insanely entitled never wanting to ever again leave their living rooms are going to ruin it all.
    via u/After-Snow5874
  • 21
    N47881 • 4h ago . You should have gotten adequate sleep and showed up. Decisions have consequences and you're getting a valuable lesson in work expectations. Take the write up and do better.
    via u/N47881
  • 22
    Realistic_Spite2775 • 3h ago You need to stop playing around all night. 7am is not early.
    via u/Realistic_Spite2775
  • 23
    EarlyBi... . • 4h ago Edited 4h ago You're allowed to include your own comments to your writeup. Put in detail how you were exhausted and falling asleep at the wheel and in the interest of your personal safety and the safety of other motorists on the road with you, you decided to make the smart decision to not attempt to make the drive in those dangerous conditions
    via u/EarlyBirdWithAWorm
  • 24
    Edit: disregard OP. I missed the part that this was at 7am. Like.... go to bed earlier if you have to travel in the morning?
    via u/EarlyBirdWithAWorm
  • 25
    NoStandard7259 4h ago • You being to tired isn't their problem. They do care you are dozing off because they let you not come in. That being said it's your responsibility to make sure you get adequate sleep and prep for work.
    via u/NoStandard7259
  • 26
    Big-Cloud-6719.4h ago This was a work event. Your inability to plan and get enough sleep is your responsibility. I'd write you up too.
    via u/Big-Cloud-6719

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