Work party--Attendance mandatory?

[dsny1mom]

It depends. If the party is something the employees and management are putting together outside the scope of owner or corporate directive then no one is obligated to attend. If the company is hosting (paying for) the party then management should attend providing attendance does not put any hardship or additonal cost on them.

My staff gets together from time to time. I do not join them. I live an hour from my store and after working all day I am not interested in going out, I just want to go home, as I have a full life outside of my job. I also am not going to drive two hours round trip on my days off for something that is not within the scope of my responsibilities. Not to mention I feel that management has to be careful in not getting so familar with their staff that lines of authority can be blured.

Parties are not team building functions. They are social functions. In my state it is against the law to require anyone to attend a team building (aka work) function without paying them. If the company is not paying the hourly people then the salaried people should not be mandated to go either.

My store wins cash prizes all the time that are to be used for meals and or treats for the entire staff. I use the money to stock the break room with all sorts of food and beverages that all will be able to enjoy during their breaks. That way everyone will get to enjoy the spoils of our store wins. In the past I did try and do get togethers to use the money after hours but Fri nights didn't work for me and Sat nights didn't work for some and week nights and Sunday nights or morning didn't work for others. Using the money for treats during break times assured me everyone would be able to share in the prize.

Don't get me wrong. I like my staff and care about them. I just don't see the need for us to get together out side of work. A well run and successful business is dependant on what happens within the cofines of the business not after hour get togethers for the holidays or any other reason.

dsny1mom

 

[dsny1mom]

As a business owner, I will tell you that it reflects poorly, especially on someone in a Managerial position. Twice a year might be a bit much to ask, depending on the purpose of the second party.

They should be there for team-building. Missing EVERY event tells co-workers, managers, and owners that they have little regard for the company and it's employees for anything more than a paycheck.

I disagree. If a business owner wants team building functions then they should pay the team to be there for the team building experience, not expecting a social function to help said business owner further their business.

As a manager I think expecting employees to attend after hours parties reflects poorly on the business owner for having little regard for the employees personal lives and seeing them as nothing more than their employees.

dsny1mom

 

[WDWBarb]

Management should attend all company functions (unless, of course, there is an overwhelming personal obligation).

 

[w0rM]

I'm not a huge fan of mandatory work parties either. For one thing, not everybody consider parties a fun way to pass the time. My nights and weekends are my time to do the things I enjoy most. I already spend plenty of time with the people I work with.

With that said, I think of you're a manager, you have an additional responsibility as a leader to be there if you can. I wouldn't want to go to annual work parties where my boss never showed up either.

 

[luvsJack]

Three of our administrators (dean, vice president and president) make it their business for each to at least make a appearance at any college, campus or department function. The dean of our campus will for any departmental or campus wide function on our campus and the vp will do the same on the main campus. The president usually reserves his presence for campus-wide or college-wide functions (he actually hosts two events a year that includes the entire college).

We are a bit different than retail, but I can see thier reasons for making that appearance being the same reason managers should also make the effort. It makes them seem more accessible to their staff and it gives them a chance to get to know their staff on a more personal level. Our president likes to say that we "are a family" and their presence in our social occaisions makes that seem more of a reality.

I don't think it should be required for them to be present the whole time, but I do think that managers should at least make an appearance.

 

[kellyg403]

I guess for me, in the end, it boils down to 'social' and 'work'. I do care about the employees that work for me. I do care about making sure they are happy and feel they are regarded as more than just a breathing person who does a job. But, I don't really understand in the grand scheme of things how showing up at a social function after hours would be regarded as a 'snub' on my part. If I respect your after hours life, why is mine any different?

We work together. There a few here and there I have lunch with or social events with. I socialize with everyone at work related functions, but I don't see how my appearance at social events can be construed as anything other than I have another life, a life I put off for work related things A LOT..sometimes my real life trumps a social gathering.

Just 3 days ago my one son asked me if I was cooking anytime in January. For the last 3 weeks the end of the year stuff at work, the training, the meetings have taken up a lot of my time and my family has been on a back burner. I chose not to attend a party because for once it was not an OBLIGATION on my part to show up and have fun with people I see sometimes 15 hours a day.

I would hate that my boss would think less of me for doing so. I would hope that he would see I have given quite a bit to the company and this time I chose to prioritize elsewhere. My family is important to me, they make me happy, i like spending time with them. My job could decide tomorrow that I am replaceable. Whether I attend the social function or not.


Kelly

 

[PaulaSB12]

This I don't understand, managers have lives outside work as well. If the party is supposed to be a team building episode make it during work hours otherwise you aint paying and I aint going.

 

[maxiesmom]

No alcohol?
I wouldn't go period then; management or hourly~ no booze~ count me out.

The company does not allow alcohol at work parties. There were too many problems. However, once the party is over, nothing keeps a few of us from heading across the street to the bowling alley/bar. I'm just sayin...

I guess I never realized how lucky I am that so many of us at work get along, and have fun hanging out. Just a couple of nights ago quite a few people hooked up and went to a Hockey game together. Dinners out with a group are not unheard of either. There are a bunch of us who are Facebook friends. We often tease each other, and say we can get away with it because we are family. I guess I am very lucky.

 

[dsny1mom]

The company does not allow alcohol at work parties. There were too many problems. However, once the party is over, nothing keeps a few of us from heading across the street to the bowling alley/bar. I'm just sayin...

I guess I never realized how lucky I am that so many of us at work get along, and have fun hanging out. Just a couple of nights ago quite a few people hooked up and went to a Hockey game together. Dinners out with a group are not unheard of either. There are a bunch of us who are Facebook friends. We often tease each other, and say we can get away with it because we are family. I guess I am very lucky.

Maybe this is an age thing. There is no asscoiate in my store under 40. We all get along and are "like" family, but we all have friends and plenty of actual family to keep our personal time very full. Not to mention none of us are looking to go out after working all day or drink or stay out late.

Back in my twenteis I was up for an afterwork get together, party, whatever. 40 years later, not so much. LOL

dsny1mom

 

[Disney Doll]

My opinion is that even if I did not want to go to an "after hours" work party, I would go for at least a little while especially if I was management...."make an appearance" so to speak.

I might let it be known beforehand that I "had another commitment so could only stay for a while", but I'd go.

 

[shortbun]

If I were the boss, I'd expect my managers to attend. I would not make it mandatory but it would be right there in my mind when I was considering raises and promotions.

 

[Pakey]

It's mandatory where I work. I'm in upper management at a mid to large production company. Management actually serves the food and hands out the gifts and bonus checks. It's a small way for us to acknowledge and thank all of the production workers who work their butts off so that we can keep our cushy jobs.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

Probably a good idea to go, at least for a while. I am not one for "mandatory fun" either, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

it gives them a chance to get to know their staff on a more personal level.

I don't WANT my boss to know me on a more personal level. My personal life is my personal life and I pick and choose who is a part of that. I am not a career person... and I don't like it when work and personal lines become blurred. It makes me uncomfortable.

I am a stellar employee (if I do say so myself... LOL.) I bust my butt and I've been with my company for a loooong time. People trust me, people come to me for help. I'm the go-to person for new projects. I treat everyone I work with respectfully and everyone knows if there is a question to come to me first. But when the day is done, I'm done. I leave the building and then get on with my life.

That also doesn't mean that I don't have friends at work. But I think the whole "one big happy family" mentality in a workplace is off-putting. My family is my family.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I don't WANT my boss to know me on a more personal level. My personal life is my personal life and I pick and choose who is a part of that. I am not a career person... and I don't like it when work and personal lines become blurred. It makes me uncomfortable.

I am a stellar employee (if I do say so myself... LOL.) I bust my butt and I've been with my company for a loooong time. People trust me, people come to me for help. I'm the go-to person for new projects. I treat everyone I work with respectfully and everyone knows if there is a question to come to me first. But when the day is done, I'm done. I leave the building and then get on with my life.

That also doesn't mean that I don't have friends at work. But I think the whole "one big happy family" mentality in a workplace is off-putting. My family is my family.

I agree on that, I do not want the line between work and home/family to become blurred. It is too easy for that to happen. It kind of becomes where work is who you are, and it is your life. I do not want that, but some people seem to, or seem not to care. Yes it is fun to see on "the Office", but that's a TV show, I am NOT my job.

 

[PaulaSB12]

If I were the boss, I'd expect my managers to attend. I would not make it mandatory but it would be right there in my mind when I was considering raises and promotions.

So you would expect your managers to have no life outside of work? The idea that you have to go to a party is mad in that case would you pay overtime for the time you would expect to take.

 

[disneychrista]

As a manager I would attend just because I felt like I "had to." If left on my own, I wouldn't. I am just not a very social person and like to be home, in my jammies or sweats on my time off.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that Managers should make at least a token appearance. There are reasons why they are paid more and interacting with staff is one of those IMO.

Hopefully, these events are few and far between though. Have to go often would be a pain.

 

[dsny1mom]

It's mandatory where I work. I'm in upper management at a mid to large production company. Management actually serves the food and hands out the gifts and bonus checks. It's a smal l way for us to acknowledge and thank all of the production workers who work their butts off so that we can keep our cushy jobs.

If retail managers had cushy high paying jobs then the expectations would be different. Most retail managers are in the trenches working shoulder to shoulder with their workers on a daily basis. No need for them to make a show at a party to say thanks to people they are working with and doing the same tasks as all the time.

dsny1mom

 

[PollyannaMom]

I don't believe that work parties should be mandatory at all.