TOTALLY GEEKED!

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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I remember one employer I had. They were planning the Christmas party. I was off the day of the Christmas party and they send out "mandatory" invitations. We did not get paid for attending the party. I went to my boss and told her I was scheduled to have lasix surgery the day of the party and would not be able to attend. I explained that I had planned the surgery on my day off so they didn't have to find someone to cover my shift. She told me to either cancel my surgery or I would be penalized for not showing up at the mandatory Christmas party. I went through with the surgery and when I came back they informed me that I had forfeited my right to my $25 Christmas bonus, free blanket with the hospital name printed on it, and my Christmas turkey. You know what? I didn't really care. If that is the kind of employer you are just keep all your crap.

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How is that even legal? 

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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I remember one employer I had. They were planning the Christmas party. I was off the day of the Christmas party and they send out "mandatory" invitations. We did not get paid for attending the party. I went to my boss and told her I was scheduled to have lasix surgery the day of the party and would not be able to attend. I explained that I had planned the surgery on my day off so they didn't have to find someone to cover my shift. She told me to either cancel my surgery or I would be penalized for not showing up at the mandatory Christmas party. I went through with the surgery and when I came back they informed me that I had forfeited my right to my $25 Christmas bonus, free blanket with the hospital name printed on it, and my Christmas turkey. You know what? I didn't really care. If that is the kind of employer you are just keep all your crap.

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How is that even legal? 

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 I dunno.  Does the government even get involved in Christmas parties?

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NO, but an unhappy employee can get the Department of Labor involved if an earned bonus is denied.

And if any hourly employee is required to be on the premises and not getting paid for the time.

 

I always attended Christmas parties that my company had. Now that I'm a SAHM, I attend DH's company Christmas parties with him. This year's party was family friendly and people were encouraged to bring their kids. DS had a lot of fun running up and down the length of the park the party was at.

I only ever worked at one place that had a Holiday party (the owner was Jewish and was being inclusive by calling it a Holiday party). But like the OP, I had to help organize it so it was not as much fun as just being able to show up. But it was still fun. It's what you make it.

Eh, I got my eyes done instead.

weltschmerz wrote:

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Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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I remember one employer I had. They were planning the Christmas party. I was off the day of the Christmas party and they send out "mandatory" invitations. We did not get paid for attending the party. I went to my boss and told her I was scheduled to have lasix surgery the day of the party and would not be able to attend. I explained that I had planned the surgery on my day off so they didn't have to find someone to cover my shift. She told me to either cancel my surgery or I would be penalized for not showing up at the mandatory Christmas party. I went through with the surgery and when I came back they informed me that I had forfeited my right to my $25 Christmas bonus, free blanket with the hospital name printed on it, and my Christmas turkey. You know what? I didn't really care. If that is the kind of employer you are just keep all your crap.

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How is that even legal? 

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 I dunno.  Does the government even get involved in Christmas parties?

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Here, all hospital employees work for the government, and have strong unions. No goddamn way could they force an employee to go to a party, unpaid. That's absurd. I can maybe see giving out gift to the ones who actually show up, but forcing you to go to a mandatory party? No way in hell.

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 Gotta love Unions!  They even want to be paid to go to a free party put on at the expense of their employers!

weltschmerz wrote:

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If you FORCE me to go to a party, damn right you're paying for my time!

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 I know, right?

flan

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

I have worked at places where events were mandatory but you didn't get paid for attending. They don't come right out and tell you it's mandatory in those words. But if you don't show up, there are certain repercussions. No one will ever say your bad evaluation is because you didn't attend, but it is implied. They have ways of making people pay for not attending. Give them the bad shifts, the difficult work assignments, lower raises, etc. Management will even ask supervisors if that person is a "team player" and if they should be kept on.

Fortunately for me, the people up my chain of command know I'm a bit of a recluse and accept it.

huskerbb wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

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Well, it clearly wasn't mandatory since she said she didn't go.  

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 And she ALSO didn't get the gifts.

flan

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Then that wasn't mandatory. So what if you dont' get some stupid gift?

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 There were several gifts, if I recall.

And, if I work as hard as everyone else, I should get the Christmas bonus too.

flan

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Then go to the party.

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 You're in a mood today.

NJN was having Lasik surgery so she wouldn't have to...you know...take time off work.

flan

flan327 wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Then go to the party.

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 You're in a mood today.

NJN was having Lasik surgery so she wouldn't have to...you know...take time off work.

flan

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 Forfeiting a few stupid prizes wouldn't be a big deal to me.  So, i really can't relate.  BTW, Lasik is purely elective.  She could have choosen to postpone it if if it was that important.

huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

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Well, it clearly wasn't mandatory since she said she didn't go.  

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 And she ALSO didn't get the gifts.

flan

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So?  Why should she get them?  That's the choice that was made.  

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 They were NOT "party favors." They were year-end bonuses.

flan

flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

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Well, it clearly wasn't mandatory since she said she didn't go.  

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 And she ALSO didn't get the gifts.

flan

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So?  Why should she get them?  That's the choice that was made.  

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 They were NOT "party favors." They were year-end bonuses.

flan

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 And those were contingent on going to the party. Part of the job is to attend the party. 

Ohfour wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

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Well, it clearly wasn't mandatory since she said she didn't go.  

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 And she ALSO didn't get the gifts.

flan

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So?  Why should she get them?  That's the choice that was made.  

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 They were NOT "party favors." They were year-end bonuses.

flan

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 And those were contingent on going to the party. Part of the job is to attend the party. 

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 Then the employees should have been PAID.

flan

flan327 wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

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Well, it clearly wasn't mandatory since she said she didn't go.  

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 And she ALSO didn't get the gifts.

flan

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So?  Why should she get them?  That's the choice that was made.  

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 They were NOT "party favors." They were year-end bonuses.

flan

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 And those were contingent on going to the party. Part of the job is to attend the party. 

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 Then the employees should have been PAID.

flan

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Um, if they got the $25 for going--then they did.   

flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

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Well, it clearly wasn't mandatory since she said she didn't go.  

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 And she ALSO didn't get the gifts.

flan

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So?  Why should she get them?  That's the choice that was made.  

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 They were NOT "party favors." They were year-end bonuses.

flan

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 And those were contingent on going to the party. Part of the job is to attend the party. 

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 Then the employees should have been PAID.

flan

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Um, if they got the $25 for going--then they did.   

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 Nope, here's what NJN said:

When I came back they informed me that I had forfeited my right to my $25 Christmas bonus, free blanket with the hospital name printed on it, and my Christmas turkey.

flan

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So what?  It's irrelevant what  terminology you use.  

huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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weltschmerz wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Most people arent "forced". But its usually a good idea to go.

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Clearly, you missed the "mandatory invitation" in NJN's post.

So yeah, if it's a mandatory party, you're paying me, or else you can go to hell.

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Well, it clearly wasn't mandatory since she said she didn't go.  

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 And she ALSO didn't get the gifts.

flan

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So?  Why should she get them?  That's the choice that was made.  

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 They were NOT "party favors." They were year-end bonuses.

flan

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BS.  They were NOT year end bonuses.  A blanket?  You can't be serious.  The ONLY one that could remotely be considered a "bonus" was the $25--and it was $25.  That would be flat out embarrassing to be called a "bonus".   

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 It would be $25 more than any holiday bonus I ever got. Never had one - ever. So I wouldn't say it was embarrassing, it's better than nothing. 

And if I had to drive all the way to work for a party that will only get me $25, I'm going to weigh the cost against the profit.

Well, let me clear a few things up. Regardless of what some here imply nurses ARE professionals. And I've never been salaried. EVER. I've always made an hourly wage. And my hourly wage was WAY MORE than $25. So a two hour party would have cost me money if I'm counting the "bonus" as being paid. Next, my surgery was elective but I had to have it done before the first of the year or I would lose my health spending money. We were barred from taking time off during the holidays unless we had it pre approved in writing several months prior. So yes, silly old me arranged to have my elective surgery long before the party was announced. At that point I could not change my elective surgery without losing $2000 in my health spending account. Not sure why I have to justify this to everyone but I did weigh it all out and decided to do what was best for me. If they were decent employers in the first place it wouldn't have been an issue. But they weren't so I don't really care. In the long run I didn't suffer one bit for not getting a turkey, a blanket, and $25.

Most people enjoy getting even a small token.

Well, probably not. But if someone gave me a ten dollar Starbucks card I'd be happy!