I've been with this current company for a little bit now and I've never had problems with any of the employees or management-- it is a very small company run by a husband/wife team. This past week though the bosses are making me very uncomfortable because they are saying I need to attend an upcoming get together with everybody's families. They didn't tell me directly that this was mandatory, but I think they've made it clear that not attending is a mistake career wise. What should I do? I like this job and up to this point I've had absolutely no problems here. I'm thinking I just need to tell them I enjoy working there, but I have no desire to ever see them outside of work. Has anybody had this happen before? What did you do and how did it work out in the end?
Boss wants me to attend party
- Thread starter IAMN
- Start date
You should go. Since, they have invited you to. To reject an invitation is definitely a NO NO. Since, you love your job... why not give it a chance? You got nothing to lose also. Just have to endure it for 1 night only. Maybe, it will turn out to be great.
IamThisOne
Well-known member
Show up and stick around for a while. Then, contact a relative or a friend via text or something and tell them to call you in a few minutes and act like they broke down on the side of the road and need you to come get them. Surely the boss will understand that.
Make sure you come up with a story if the boss asks about it at work.
Make sure you come up with a story if the boss asks about it at work.
Waybuloo
Well-known member
wow thats weird that you are invited to something so personal, but then again i've never been an employee of a small family business. I suppose if it is expected of you go go, then yes for the sake of social cohesion go. It is not like the boss wants you to go buy some socks for him.
Just curious, do you mean just the boss' family or the families of everyone are going?
Just curious, do you mean just the boss' family or the families of everyone are going?
Bad idea I think. Lying will not solve anything and especially if his boss finds out, he can be quite sure to be fired. I know I would fire a person lying to me.
Go to the party, but you dont have to be there that long. 15 min is way to short time but try to be there about 2 hours. I am sure everything will be ok, and when your boss expects you to come, there is not really anything else you can do, if you dont have a very good reason not to come
Waybuloo
Well-known member
Or the boss's daughter for that matter
nightcrawler
Well-known member
dottie
Well-known member
You're asking this on a social phobia forum?
hahah that's what i was thinking. there is a long list.
Rembrandt Broam
Well-known member
Rembrandt Broam
Well-known member
That's a great idea. The thing is, if I tried that then the whole thing would turn into an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" with me in the Larry David role. Somehow my little deception would be found out and instead of coming clean, I'd just dig myself in deeper and deeper until I was forced to leave, with all the other guests glaring at me in contempt.
mrb
Well-known member
you say you have never had any problems with the bosses or management
so that being the case you will get on ok with them there , so just talk to them , you will find that partys like that were all people familys and wives are turning up , most of the wives get together huddle into a corner and just talk amongst themselves ... if your on your own im sure you might get the odd oh this is my wife ect , just smile shake hands it will be over very quickly , then just get your self a drink , and just find some body you know to talk to .... wont be so bad lol you said they have made it clear that not attending is a mistake career wise , id just do it , its only a few hours , wont be half as bad as you think im sure 
coyote
Well-known member
Excuse me, but that was a different party.
coyote
Well-known member
You were lucky. When I found myself in a similar situation, the boss tried to join us.
Well, she would have had a good explanation, but it's never polite for a lady to talk with her mouth full.
Well I solved it. The boss was asking people if they were coming this saturday and everybody was saying yes and being nice about it except for me. I blurted out " most definitely not" when she asked and then went to lunch. Afterwards she asked again because she "thought I was joking the first time". I flat out said no I will not be attending. Then... one last time... at the end of the day she called me into her office and asked me why I wasn't coming and I said I don't want to waste a good saturday driving 45 minutes to a situation I won't enjoy. I think I will be needing a new job soon as this was the worst possible way I could have handled it. I didn't intend to be blunt about it to her but I got nervous ::
:Well I solved it. The boss was asking people if they were coming this saturday and everybody was saying yes and being nice about it except for me. I blurted out " most definitely not" when she asked and then went to lunch. Afterwards she asked again because she "thought I was joking the first time". I flat out said no I will not be attending. Then... one last time... at the end of the day she called me into her office and asked me why I wasn't coming and I said I don't want to waste a good saturday driving 45 minutes to a situation I won't enjoy. I think I will be needing a new job soon as this was the worst possible way I could have handled it. I didn't intend to be blunt about it to her but I got nervous :
How was the boss´reaction?