Work zoom

[cabinfever2]

Help- my work colleagues have organised a zoom party tonight at 7-9pm . I don't work directly with this department as we work on different projects so I don't know them really but my boss has said we all have to attend as he wants everyone involved ?? I really don't want to go on it but I don't have a good enough excuse not to since we can't really go anywhere?? AIBU to just not go?

Would that be during your usual working hours? If so, I would say you have to attend. If not, I wouldn't bother.

go for 20 mins to show face, and then disconnect due to 'wifi issues'?

If there are several people on the zoom it will be really easy for you just to log on, sit there and not really participate. With zoom you can only really have one person talk at a time, so the chattier people will dominate. I sometimes paint my nails whilst on a zoom and mostly just listen to the chat.

They can't say you have to at that time. Ignore

"Technical issues" wifi down or switch camera off and say it isn't working

Just say you have already arranged to talk to close family at that time which is out of working hours so you’re not available.

Have you been on Zoom before? It’s really easy to appear to have difficulties.
I’d join ( you may actually enjoy it) then press “no video” then switch if off, then text someone to say you can’t get back on.

But sure you already have a zoom quiz/pj party/ family party arranged for that time don't you ?

I have done zoom lots so yea I guess I could just be there but not be there but I never get invited to anything , I work on a project alone and there is15 of them , they have zoom team meetings weekly , Xmas do's , secret Santa and I get left out of it all and now suddenly they want me to go to this - the mind boggles

Ooh I just remembered my dad invited me to a zoom quiz tonight ;)

So you get annoyed when you're not invited and now you're annoyed that you are. Non work time stuff shouldn't be mandatory, but if you don't go, don't moan about not being invited to things in the future.

@rookiemere not moaning was stating I have not since starting 2 years ago been involved which is totally fine we are different departments I get it but now I'm being told by my boss that I have got to attend despite it being well outside work time.

The mind doesn't "boggle" here - you've actually been invited to something, which is a happenstance you have been hoping for.

Why question it and moan about the very opportunity you wanted? Just turn up and be your best self, then make your excuses - it's a video chat, no one will care.

Gin daddy where did I say I wanted to? I pointed out I havn't ever been- I'm fine that I havnt but why do I need to go now- my question is more about the fact I'm being told I have to go at 7pm on a Friday night and I really don't want to.

Unless you have an 'all hours' contract you are not obliged to attend. I wouldn't sign in. Your absence might not even be noticed. If it is and you don't want to tell the truth, just say your broadband was playing up at the time or a sudden domestic crisis arose.

Thanks all :) I am just not going to go. They probably won't notice you're right :)

You can easily say you are going out. It was more difficult earlier in lockdown when it was hard to find an excuse, but now we can go out in small groups, I've just said I am taxi for my son to go to sport or meeting friends outside.

And a problem with your broadband can happen at any time.