Being made to go out for food after work

gazzak_2

To be trained as 1 of just 2 then you obviously have a position of trust and respect. Right now nobody's job is safe so I say go for it, it's only a couple of nights, hardly a biggie in the grand scheme of things.

Where I work we regularly have Europeans over and have to take them out if they are training for a couple of days. I don't particularly enjoy it as the language can be a big barrier. Some of the staff here never make the effort to come out, always a rubbish excuse, and everyone knows them as lazy because of it. So don't worry, at least your lot will be easy to communicate with compared to our guests.

ceridwen

Personally - I wouldnt go.

Two reasons:
- The food is unhealthy compared to what I normally eat (so I would be sitting there eating own food I had brought with me - or going hungry)

- The other - its MY time, not theirs. I would definitely feel "You want my time - you pay for it - and dont forget that its to be at overtime rate".

Its a pity that you have already told your manager you dont wish to go. But I think the situation could be retrieved if some necessary requirement in your own personal life came up "unexpectedly" and "at the last minute". Maybe - you could say some relative has come over ill unexpectedly and you have to be in attendance every hour going perhaps. I dont agree with lying basically - but in this case they are the ones that started the immoral behaviour - by trying to grab your own time for themselves for nothing.

What I am also wondering is whether this is the start of a "slippery slope" - ie they might come back with further excuses in the future to try and make the staff do unpaid overtime...in which case, even more necessary to make it plain NOW that you wont be doing it.

At an absolute bare minimum - if you do decide to "cave in" and go (and please dont!!!!) - then take your own food. Why should you have someone else's idea of how to eat inflicted on you? You could take subtle "revenge" for being forced to do unpaid overtime by making sure its very smelly, very messy food that takes a long time to eat - and sitting right by the culprit (ie the person that did this) and eating it.....loadsa garlic comes to mind. The cheese called "Stinking Bishop" comes to mind - it really does stink. I dont think they would be too anxious to repeat the forced "invitation" somehows..:D .

Another possibility for a bit of subtle "sabotage" is to come over ill unexpectedly....a bit of food poisoning or something....and then you can either do that at the start of the day in question (or - if you are playing fairer than them).....start "feeling ill" at the beginning of the unpaid overtime period. It is literally possible to go from feeling fine one minute to wondering what on earth is going on you feel so terrible 5 minutes later....really...it has happened to me before now and cleared up equally mysteriously (when I'd just about managed to walk out of the "religious" talk I was listening to and stumble back home to bed somehow).

Cornishpixie_2

I don't see how they can force you to go. I wouldn't go because it wouldn't fit in with us eating as a family esp. if it wasn't part if a paid shift. It seems to me employers appear to be asking more and more of people. My hubby ended up saying to his boss, that he is seeing less of the family now then when we were seperated,:eek: because of her constant demands for him to work extra hours, plus all the phone calls at home . Good luck x

DKLS

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I've got to spend 2 weeks out of the country for work next month (and every night of those I will be eating with colleagues).. so I don't have a lot of sympathy - it can just be the part of a job occasionally

I know that one well, especially if the boss says I have to entertain a client :rolleyes: whatever they want, being in a seedy karoke bar in Korea til 4am isnt my idea of fun either, and still be expected to be up for a 7am breakfast meeting.

In the current climate, the OP should go, why give a company a reason to get shut. The credit crunch is an ideal time to get rid of dead wood within a company, under the guise of cost cutting.

I know 3 staff in my company, who if they dont buck up and perform within the next 3 months they are out.
Reluctance to go just makes you stand out and makes you an easy target.

Mark7799

Are you in a job where you have defined working hours or is there something in your contract along the lines of 'you may be required from time to time to work additional hours as deemed necessary by the management'. If this is the case I suggest you don't really have a lot of option - as someone else said, look for a salad option.

[Deleted User]

DKLS wrote: »

In the current climate, the OP should go, why give a company a reason to get shut. The credit crunch is an ideal time to get rid of dead wood within a company, under the guise of cost cutting.

So true, managers will value flexible and more social workers over those who come in, do the set hours, go home on the dot and never go to the pub after work. It's harsh, but it's how things go.

I've got one of those 'forced nights out' in 2 weeks time.. managers annual meeting followed by drinks and nibbles in the evening. I find that these things can be split up into 2 parts - the bit where they talk about work (i.e. the core reason behind the 'meeting') and the food. Often, if you want to leave early, no one minds (although it is noticed), as long as you sat through the 'work' bit.

Or, failing that, go to your union if this is such a big deal

DKLS

ringo_24601 wrote: »

So true, managers will value flexible and more social workers over those who come in, do the set hours, go home on the dot and never go to the pub after work. It's harsh, but it's how things go.

Damn right, I have a large project coming to an end in the next two weeks, 3 of my developers are putting in long days, working up to 10 pm at night, to ensure the project is delivered on time and on budget.

1 staff member leaves on the dot at 5.30pm:rolleyes: which is fine by me, however staff reviews are being done on the week after the project ends, guess which staff are getting a 5K increase and who will get £500

robpw2

i completely understand why you wouldnt want to go , but i think its two days out of a year go out and let your hair down you never know you migh have fun .

however you should not feel forced to go

Reggie_Rebel

I think it depends on how much you like your job.

If you really enjoy it then bite the bullet and go, if you aren't bothered then don't

ClareEmily

They can't force you to go, but why make waves, I'd rather be there and eat a slice of pizza, than miss what was being discussed, and also risk them talking about you (not a team player, not sociable etc etc).

And unless you are a midget 8stone10lb is hardly overweight. Have a salad, or just don't eat anything much until the evening.

I would jump at the chance of a couple of free nights out.

P.S I am a company secretary and it is very difficult to get all staff and management down for a meeting or social event, so probably only realistic time they could do it.