Manager schedules mandatory teambuilding dinner at 7 PM, gets offended when asked if is paid: 'Not everything has to be transactional'

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Aug 15, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

Should employees be made to do work socializing off the clock?

In theory, nobody with a job that has set working hours in its contract should be obliged to do any kind of overtime, unpaid or otherwise. If they tell you that you are only going to get paid between the hours of 9 and 5, it is reasonable to assume that there should be no problem with clocking out at 5 and not looking back until the next workday.

Of course, anybody who has had enough experience of the workplace knows that things don't always work out that way. Deadlines creep up, crises happen, and bosses or colleagues start to place expectations on you that involve spending more time thinking about your job. It isn't fair if it isn't being compensated, and even then, it can end up being exploitative. While there are some situations where there is no choice but to work late, it shouldn't be made a habit or be done for frivolous reasons.

This can make the topic of work socializing a bit controversial at times. While it's good to get to know your teammates and even enjoy their company outside of the daily grind, it shouldn't be a rule that has to be enforced.

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_{Colleagues standing in groups talking to one another in the evening, next to a table with drinks on it. Models for explanatory purposes only.}
In this post from r/jobs, an employee was baffled to receive an email from their manager inviting them to a mandatory team dinner. It was outside of working hours, at a restaurant far away from the office, and everybody would have to pay their share.
They felt that it would be appropriate to ask if this was something that they would be paid for, but their boss wasn't happy when they did. They were accused of not being enough of a team player instead.
My manager called a 7pm team dinner mandatory and got annoyed when I asked if it was paid

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_{A group of colleagues sitting at a dining table with wine glasses at night. Model representation.}
Other people also thought the situation was odd.

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They felt like this type of manager was one of the worst types.

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They suggested the employee should be billing the company.

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The demand went against the appropriate work rules.

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It was pointed out that most companies compensate in this situation, one way or another.

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