Is this too cheeky to ask?

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

ok - just had an email from my Head Office - Works xmas party is in Germany where the HO is.

Now i went last year and was great

but heres my dilemma.

Work pay for my flights, my meals and a hotel etc - My boss takes us to airport and claims petrol

I work 16 hours a week - xmas party is on a thursday - i work 9-1 on a thursday.

I have to leave my home at 5am on the day of the xmas party, flights at 7am, get to germany 9am, into the office. I dont get paid for my travel time.

Would it be cheeky to ask to leave at 1pm as thats when i would normally finish? (Bearing in mind i will have been up from 5am) ?

liney

You will leave the UK at 7am to go to Germany, and want to leave where at 1pm? An office in Germany that you will probably just be hanging about in, until it's time to get ready for the party?

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

liney wrote: »

You will leave the UK at 7am to go to Germany, and want to leave where at 1pm? An office in Germany that you will probably just be hanging about in, until it's time to get ready for the party?

Ah sorry

I want to leave the Germany office at 1pm (as i would leave the UK office at 1pm if i was there)

And party isnt in the office, they hire a venue out and doesnt start till 7pm. But there's a German xmas market on i would like to go to (didnt have time last year) so wanted to leave at 1pm, go to the market, back to hotel to get changed then off to the party. I'm getting paid from 9am - 1pm (like normal) and I dont work fridays so will be flying back early in the morning.

SarEl

How about nicely asking if everyone who wants to can go to the Christmas Fair? After all, it's a bit "picky" starting in on a few hours of extra time when most people do not have employers who would do any of this in the first place. It would seem churlish to start questioing it, and possibly raise hackles. But if you could point out that it is a rare occasion for UK people to get to one of these Fairs (unless you happen to live near Leeds - they have a big one every year!) and wouldn't it be nice if everyone could have an hour or two to go. They can only say no, and if they do, no harm done. And if they don't you will be popular with everyone else!

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

SarEl wrote: »

How about nicely asking if everyone who wants to can go to the Christmas Fair? After all, it's a bit "picky" starting in on a few hours of extra time when most people do not have employers who would do any of this in the first place. It would seem churlish to start questioing it, and possibly raise hackles. But if you could point out that it is a rare occasion for UK people to get to one of these Fairs (unless you happen to live near Leeds - they have a big one every year!) and wouldn't it be nice if everyone could have an hour or two to go. They can only say no, and if they do, no harm done. And if they don't you will be popular with everyone else!

See the thing is - There is me, my boss and a few managers that go. Last year they all went into a meeting that lasted till quite late in the afternoon and i wasnt allowed to interrupt. There is no set up for me to work there and i just had to sit with my german colleagues and we all just chatted away so there isnt actually anything for me to do.

I know it sounds incredibly horrid for me to ask when i know people dont generally get such nice parties - but its so boring sitting there for hours on end not really doing anything knowing there is better things i can be doing! (plus not getting paid to sit there!)

KiKi

mommyme wrote: »

See the thing is - There is me, my boss and a few managers that go. Last year they all went into a meeting that lasted till quite late in the afternoon and i wasnt allowed to interrupt. There is no set up for me to work there and i just had to sit with my german colleagues and we all just chatted away so there isnt actually anything for me to do.

I know it sounds incredibly horrid for me to ask when i know people dont generally get such nice parties - but its so boring sitting there for hours on end not really doing anything knowing there is better things i can be doing! (plus not getting paid to sit there!)

If there's no set up for you to work, then why do you have to sit in the office all day, and would anyone notice if you didn't?! Otherwise I'd just say to my colleagues "I usually work until 1pm on Thursdays, so I'm just popping out, I'll be back later."

KiKi

ERICS_MUM

KiKi wrote: »

If there's no set up for you to work, then why do you have to sit in the office all day, and would anyone notice if you didn't?! Otherwise I'd just say to my colleagues "I usually work until 1pm on Thursdays, so I'm just popping out, I'll be back later."

KiKi

Yup, that's what I would do. Enjoy the day/evening.

dmg24

It really depends on the ethos of the company. Very few companies would fly out a part timer to Germany for a party, and for that reason I would feel impolite asking, whether I thought they would allow it or not.

All too often we criticise companies for taking a lot and not giving the same back, but here it seems the other way?

clairec79

I don't see a problem with it it's not that cheeky, however I'd mention it to the bosses on the way that you were planning on going to the market between the time you finish (so just assuming the same hours apply) and going to the party and do they want you to pick anything up for them

Any

As you are not doing anything while you are there, not working or have any duties, you actually just hang around and wait for the rest of them then I don't see the problem at all.

However I would not ask them "as I get up at 5 am can I go leave the office", I would ask "are you going into that meeting again? do I have to hang around the office or can I go to the market after 1pm?".

DVardysShadow

A company that does all this? If you ask them about the Christmas Market, they may well say 'Didn't you go last year?". If otherwise you do not work in Germany, I can't see they would say no.