To go or not to go...help me decide about this party

[Barb D]

My client is having their summer party for their employees and families tomorrow. The client employees are getting paid to go to it. I'm invited, but I wouldn't be paid for my time; I would have to use vacation time.

On the one hand, I know that people have gone to a lot of work to get this party together. A couple of people have even used their vacation time to get stuff ready. It sounds like a lot of fun; it will be on the water, and people are bringing boats, etc.

On the other hand, there won't be any teenagers there except my kids. And I would have to use vacation time, of which I don't have much. Not only that, but we don't get sick leave and I get sick fairly often and have to make up the time or use vacation time for that. And I might be having surgery in the fall, and would have to use 5 days of vacation time before short term disability would kick in.

WWYD? I'm so undecided...

 

[Pam]

How big of a client is this?? Will it help determine future sales, etc.?

We get invited to TONS of events, all over the United States. Some we attend - and others we don't. You can't attend everything.

Will your client understand that you are having surgery soon and will need your vacation days to recuperate?

 

[Barb D]

How big of a client is this?? Will it help determine future sales, etc.?

We get invited to TONS of events, all over the United States. Some we attend - and others we don't. You can't attend everything.

Will your client understand that you are having surgery soon and will need your vacation days to recuperate?

We're all friends, they all know about my sick leave/surgery situation, and this would have no impact whatsoever on future sales. Fortunately, this isn't that kind of environment.

It's partly guilt making me want to go, because I know how much effort people have put into it. And it does sound like fun. But the practical side of me says I should be saving my vacation time.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

If it's a client of yours how come you have to use vacation time?

Would your employer not want you to go to build a relationship with that client?

I get time off to attend (or credit for attending) all kinds of "social" events. It's quite fun to see some of them and some of them are a drag. But my employer would have to be willing to support that or I wouldn't go.

The only complaint I have is that they don't have LBD expense item I can claim.

 

[Barb D]

Would your employer not want you to go to build a relationship with that client?.

I only get paid for billable hours (or vacation time).

ETA We don't even get paid to go to our own company's meetings, unless they're billable to the client. If you go, you go on your own time. I don't usually go unless I'm given a good reason to.

 

[Daxx]

Can you do a pop in and use your lunch hour to do it with?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Since you might need the days for sick time, your only decision is too go with your head and not go.

 

[azgal81]

If they expected me to use my vacation time to go I wouldn't bother. But if it was close I would probably pop by on my lunch hour.