#WorkDinner #CompanyCulture #JobStress #WorkLifeBalance
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed about attending a work dinner in the midst of job dissatisfaction and a recent workplace ordeal? You’re not alone. Many employees find themselves in situations where they are reluctant to attend work-related events, especially if they feel unsupported or unappreciated by their employer. In this article, we’ll discuss how to navigate the tricky territory of work dinners and social obligations when you’re feeling disengaged or disenchanted with your job.
##Why The Reluctance?
It’s important to first address why you might be feeling apprehensive about attending the work dinner in question. Your recent experience with being placed on a PIP and feeling unsupported by your boss has likely contributed to these feelings. The combination of job stress and a lack of enthusiasm for the company culture can make attending work-related events seem unappealing. You’re not alone in feeling this way, and it’s okay to prioritize your well-being and mental health.
##Consider Your Options
When it comes to deciding whether or not to attend the work dinner, it’s important to consider all of your options. Here are some points to consider:
– Is attending the dinner mandatory or strictly voluntary?
– What are the potential consequences of not attending?
– How will your decision impact your relationship with your boss and colleagues?
Having a clear understanding of the expectations surrounding the work dinner can help you make an informed decision.
##Communicate Your Concerns
It’s okay to express your concerns and apprehensions about attending the work dinner. Your recent health scare and the PIP situation have undoubtedly left you feeling hesitant about participating in company events. Consider communicating your feelings to your boss or a trusted colleague. Expressing your concerns in a respectful and professional manner can help alleviate the pressure you may be feeling.
##Explore Your Boundaries
It’s important to set boundaries that prioritize your well-being and mental health. If attending the work dinner poses a risk to your health or makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to politely decline the invitation. Your well-being should always be a top priority, and it’s important to communicate your boundaries to your employer and colleagues.
##Assess Your Next Steps
Given your current situation and feelings of disconnect from your job, it may be beneficial to assess your next steps. Exploring new job opportunities or considering a change in your workplace environment may provide the fresh start you’re looking for. While attending the work dinner may seem daunting, it’s important to focus on your long-term well-being and career satisfaction.
In conclusion, feeling reluctant to attend a work dinner in the midst of job dissatisfaction and workplace challenges is understandable. It’s important to prioritize your well-being and mental health, and to communicate your concerns and boundaries with your employer and colleagues. Assessing your next steps and exploring new opportunities may provide the clarity and direction you’re seeking in your career. Remember, you are not alone, and it’s okay to prioritize your well-being in the workplace.
“I have a personal commitment and can’t make the dinner”
Done.
No company should make workers feel obligated to go to an outing outside of work. If you are unhappy best thing is to move on. Is the retaliatory behaviors that I don’t like.
If you’re not on the clock for the dinner, then they can’t force you to go. Employers don’t own your personal time.
If you have a HR, now is the time to bring up your PIP and being forced to go to a work dinner in fear of retaliation.
Let me commend you, for being smart, seeing the PIP, and seeing its time to get the hell out of dodge.
As per your coworkers (soon to be former). Just tell them you have other plans and move on. Inform HR of this so they know, so if the boss wants to use it as grounds to punish you under the PIP they know its retaliation.
Tell hr. Tell them about Covid and the dumbass that put you on a pip. Get a new job.
Sounds like your going but making it seem like your not right now. Please start looking for a new job if you are unhappy with your job. Been there did that it doesn’t get better.
Find an employment lawyer
I don’t go to any outside work events even if I love the job.
If you wanna keep your job, I would say yes go. At least you want to keep working until you find a new job.
Don’t tell HR why, just say you can’t go and fear retaliation. HR isn’t there to protect you, they’re there to protect the company.
And to be fair, you did already commit to going and are now backing out – so just say something came up.
If you don’t want to go than don’t. If it’s after hours they can’t force you to go or punish you for not going.
I have a firm rule. If you’re not paying me I’m not going. I immediately decline anything that isn’t during work hours.
Good luck with the job hunt OP!
That’s a terrible boss. You should look into getting another job plus talk to a lawyer about the PIP, especially when it’s Covid. Seems to me that could be illegal.
I read many posts from jobs here, and I’m glad I don’t work anymore. I have had many bad bosses along the way. Sadly, these bosses take advantage of the good workers. Best of luck.
Covid is fake, just quit
Do you work in accounting?
Hang on, you called out with a fever, then came into work with a fever? So you took your sickness to work to infect your coworkers and didn’t test until day 3 of this fever? I’m confused as to why you didn’t test earlier? At this point it’s a matter honestly of how much you’re trying not to get fired.
Go to the dinner order a meal to go and leave
It’s tricky. At this point, since you already on a PIP, it likely doesn’t matter if you go or not to the dinner. How close are you to getting out?
Until you have another job lined up. Just keep peace at current job, bite the bullet and go for the dinner
NTA, and honestly, you might be better off if they let you go as opposed to leaving, as I assume there would be severance involved.
I LOVE your answer – “I’m afraid to go and get sick, since I just received a PIP for calling in when I had COVID…”
I’d absolutely say that if you can afford to lose the job.
…. but I’m also an ass and you probably SHOULDN’T, but oh man, so tempting….
Definitely NTA. Firing or disciplining someone solely for being sick may potentially violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if the health condition qualifies as a disability. Additionally, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job protection for eligible employees dealing with their own serious health condition.
It’s crucial to consult with an employment law attorney to assess the specific details of the situation and determine if any laws have been violated.
I had a place force me to go to a pizza party I didn’t want to go to because they treated people like crap and the pizza was 3 hrs late. Pretty excruciating.
There is no way I could sit next to people who I’m angry at. And the injustice of being written up for not early self-diagnosing yourself with Covid is beyond the pale.
Tell them you’re not going so they can reduce the mouth-count by 1 or get another person to fill your seat. You don’t owe them any explanation.
You: “FYI, I won’t be attending the company dinner on evening X.”
HR: “Why not?”
You: “Personal reasons. I’m just being courteous to tell you in advance.”
“Sorry busy”
I didn’t go to my company’s Christmas party and the boss is known to be the same. He got over it. Do what’s best for you if it’s not mandatory.
If I’m not being paid to go somewhere as an official work function, I’m not going. I don’t give af what the company thinks about it. I can’t even imagine working in an environment that expects me to work when I’m not being paid to do so.
You are not obligated to go. You’re the one who gets to determine who gets your time and presence.
Nope. Your health and safety comes over work. Your instincts are dead on.
It’s a dinner. Suck it up and go. The minute the check is paid, say your goodbyes and go home. Play the game until you have another offer.
Ugh, my work did this at the beginning and we all hated it. We wanted to go home and eat with our families.
Until you have another job, I would play nice and show up. Work hard and maybe you will have your bosses job one day and you can fire him.
That attendance PIP is bullshit. If you’re sick, you’re sick. They are wrong to require proof and/or penalize you for it.
If you’re on a PIP it won’t matter if you show up to the dinner or not.
Your time at your current employer is coming to an end.
This is time for keep your head down and eyes on the prize. Go to dinner. It’s a couple of hours. Don’t rock the boat.
I would go, not talk to anyone and then stuff myself on my boss’s dime.
You sound immature.
OP, I’m gonna make is super easy for you. Don’t go, don’t give an explanation, don’t talk to HR. Tidy up your resume and look for another job and don’t tell anyone you’re leaving.
Some people get a sense of justification to let their employer know their plans. That’s a fast track to getting canned before you secure your next job. Best of luck.
Thanks for inviting me! I can’t make it, but have a great time!”
or “Appreciate you including me, but I already have plans”
Done! You are not obligated to attend, if they ask why say doctors appointment
If they try to say it’s a meeting
“I apologize for any inconvenience my absence may cause, but please keep me updated with action items I may be able to help with. You can feel free to send those notes over after the meeting, though I won’t be available right away.”