Forced to attend Xmas Party

simon4amiee

Hope I am in th eright area, my wife is being forced to attend a Christmas party which is not at her workplace but at the local leisure centre, she has been told by her boss that if she does not attent she will face diciplinary action as it is on company time, should someone that doesnt want to go for a meal be forced to as she feel uncomfortable around others when eating!

Shevs

This has really annoyed me, at my last work place my manager threatened one of my colleagues with disciplinary action if they didnt attended the team christmas lunch. The person in question had at the time an eating disorder which only a few of us knew about. When we heard what our manager was threatening her with the majority of the team took the persons side and also refused to go. Non of us got disciplinary action as we stayed at the office working on works time.

If you look through your wifes contract of employment there will be no where in it that says it is mandatory for her to attend the offices Christmas lunch and therefore should have the option of staying at the office if it is in as her boss said ''company time'' hth x

full-time-mum

Throw a sicky! A tummy upset would seem most appropriate :rotfl:

simon4amiee

she's a packer in a factory, so Im assuming the factory will be closed for this!

ckerrd

I assume she is not paying for this?

The bosses could argue that it is a meeting which happens to take place over a Xmas lunch and attendance by all staff is compulsory. Of course they cannot force anyone to eat anything, and once when my employer had a big meeting over the lunch period they provided some very nice looking food for everyone. As I knew nothing about it before the day started I had already taken in my sandwiches and I was damned sure I wasn't going to waste them so I sat at this lunch eating what I had brought in.

Will the factory be closed, or will there be some staff left?

She is still entitled to a break in her working day as this does not constitute a break under the Working time regs.

simon4amiee

I'm assuming the factory will be shut, they stop at 11pm to leave time to go home and get changed to meet at the Leisure Centre at 12pm. It is only a small company, but I think they all go to this meal.

ckerrd

It seriously depends on how far she wants to take this.

You haven't said if she is paying? What does she normally do for lunch?

She could go, in her normal clothes no need to go home and change for a works meeting, after all that is what it is. Have her own lunch and then leave. Takes a lot of guts.

Why are they threatening disciplinary proceedings?
Do they think that by forcing everyone along it will be fun?
Seems a very heavy handed tactic rather than say we would love all staff to be there to share in the Xmas lunch on us.

Another thought, if the company is paying for it then depending on the amount it could become a taxable benefit, unless she does not partake of any of it.

simon4amiee

The company pay for everything, beer, food etc, after the meal they then go out on the lash.

She just isn't comfortable eating in front of people, I know it's weird, I asked my personnel, and they said offer to work it, and not attend the meal, see what they say!

ckerrd

Not weird at all. If she feels uncomfortable then so be it.

I must admit to having a hatred of "enforced" management "Fun!"

Where I used to work we had informal parties organised by various groups but eventually those on high decided to have one big party so we could all enjoy ourselves. Fisrt one was okay as they threw shedloads of money at it, after that it went downhill rapidly with people again choosing to do their own thing

consumermonkey

A slightly different story here, but my boss has gone on record as telling me I must attend the staff xmas party. I am the only one she has told MUST attend. To everyone else it is an option. If she thinks I am attending just because she tells me I must,especially in my own time, she can whistle!

DKLS

ckerrd wrote: »

Not weird at all. If she feels uncomfortable then so be it.
I must admit to having a hatred of "enforced" management "Fun!"

I also hate the enforced Management fun, and wont be attending this years xmas bash even though its free and at my fave restaurant.

Once when I worked for a big bank, I was hauled in the office and asked why I didnt go to the pub with the rest of the team on a friday afternoon.:eek:, I hate socialising with colleagues I can never truly relax and be myself. For fear of having one too many sherbets, and telling the boss he is a to**er:D