Company VP invites employees to his holiday housewarming party, then tells them they're expected to do business with other attendees last-minute: ‘I didn’t sign up for [this] on my days off’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Dec 3, 2025 10:00 PM EST

In the thick of the holiday season, you will inevitably be invited to multiple parties you'd rather not attend for a multitude of reasons; You either haven't spoken to the host in ten years, dated them, or they're your boss. All of these options seem like they are, in fact, optional, but one is not… If your boss invites you to their holiday housewarming party, you go—even if it's the last thing you want to do.

Schmoozing is the name of the game in corporate. So, you put the suit on, buy a fancy bottle of scotch that you think smells like gasoline, and nod your head at the arrogant comments your boss and other C-suite executives make under the guise of a "joke".

The employee who shares this next story explains that his company's VP invited a few employees to his home for a holiday party, which marked nearly a year of his residency there. As the party approached, the employees were informed that they would have to "work" the room and partake in business conversations. The employee calls this "mandatory fun" and, quite frankly, they're not wrong.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation like this before? How did you get out of it?

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    business people partying in celebration
    via Getty Images for Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    "Mandatory fun: The holiday party"

    I work at a large firm as an engineering manager. So the VP is throwing a holiday open house this weekend. He is my
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    boss' boss. I plan to go to show that I'm a team player and the invite said we could bring a +1, so my wife is joining me.
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    I found out none of my employees were invited so I figure the VP wanted to keep things small.
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  • 05
    The invitation said (paraphrasing) "Join me and [his wife] in celebrating new friendships at our new home after our first year in [our new city].
    via PersonalBlenderLid
  • 06
    Fair enough. Show up for an hour, drop off a bottle of wine, shake hands with the VP who pretends not to
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    see me at work events or in the hallway. Whatever. I know the drill.
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    Then on Friday, my boss said this open house will actually be a work event. More clients and potential
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    clients will be there than the people at my company. We are expected to work the room and basically do
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    business development on a Saturday night for three hours-show up sharply at 6, stay until 9.
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    business people meeting and discussing work at a party
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    Like I said, I'm the engineering manager. I didn't sign up for BD on my days off. So
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    fuck bringing a bottle of wine-that's like paying to go to work on my day off.
    via PersonalBlenderLid
  • 14
    I'm just wondering if I'm supposed to wear a name tag and bring business cards. My wife wants to go for the spectacle of it all.
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  • 15
    I'm definitely going to figure out what the most expensive alcohol is and get a few of those-I don't drink, I'll just pour them in the plants.
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    Anyone else deal with. something like this?
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    Gabagoon5545 Sorry. Maybe it kinda sucks but I'm assuming you're very highly paid. This might not be your favorite thing ever but this isn't abuse.
    via Gabagoon5545
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    PersonalBlenderLid Salary is low six figures. The thing that didn't come across well in my original post is how the VP pitched the event when the RSVPs came out a couple of weeks ago as a welcome event to come to his house, meet the wife and whatnot, but it turns out the thing is a straight-up work event. Just feels like the VP wasn't straight with us. Maybe I'm just naive. Anyway, thanks for your reply.
    via PersonalBlenderLid
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    Gabagoon5545 Yea. Totally fair point! If they were a little more direct and didn't do a bait and switch, it's a little annoying but not bad. This switcharoo is definitely annoying!
    via Gabagoon5545

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workplace-stories holiday season work Party Horrible Bosses
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