To have emailed our HR person about our ‘Christmas get together’

[Circumlocutious]

Got an email from our HR person saying that we’ll be having a celebratory in-person gathering at the office (SE). Secret Santa is planned and ‘going out for a few drinks afterwards’. Caveated with ‘only if you’re comfortable of course’.

I responded directly to the email by politely her asking how they’re squaring this plan with Tier 2 guidelines (‘they’ because this idea was cooked up by our CEO). In the meantime, other colleagues have chipped in saying ‘we’re in’. Feel like I’m on a different planet.

DH thinks I should just stay out of it and that it’s nothing to do with me. Tempted to agree but the email has been sent.

@CheetasOnFajitas

Thanks for the clarification. I initially assumed as such but the ‘business exemption’ threw me off.

To clarify, the vast majority of us don’t go into the office (or so do very rarely). So this is a one-off event designed to bring us together. Luckily I don’t need to come in after.

@JingsMahBucket I know him well and he is a selfish arsehole, correct.

@TonkinLenkicks

You think that's bad. The powers that be have decided that in absence of being able to have a Christmas party were going to have a zoom mince pie baking competition. There's 60 of us. And we all have to supply our own ingredients. It's not optional. God give me strength.

Dear god! Can you just look busy, shuffle about your kitchen on camera and then pull a load of unpackaged readymade ones out the oven

I don’t think they’re being wise, but I wouldn’t kick up a fuss. The rules are bonkers, illogical, and designed purely to prop up the economy, to the great detriment of health and well-being more generally- particularly the vulnerable, the elderly, working and unemployed single parents and low income working families have been thrown under a bus.

The human sacrifices we’re making to allow govt to keep the level of support they’re making available to retail/industry low (and therefore avoid raising taxes after the pandemic to pay for it- therefore alienating conservative voters) are extraordinary. I’m not surprised people are fed up, jaded and incredibly focussed on getting blotto this Christmas.

I wouldn't want to go either and agree with your logic on that, but I voted YABU because they've probably found a way that it's allowed under the rules, they haven't said it's compulsory and they've specifically given everyone an out. I wouldn't have emailed.

Aren't the different rules for businesses for business meetings? Not the same thing at all.

Must be nice to be so much better than them, I bet it felt great from your high horse to point out just how much better you are than them!

YABU if you don’t want to go, don’t, leave them to it (they are probably glad you aren’t going, there’s always one in the office you have to invite but don’t really want there).

I'm surprised hr are not advising the bosses that this is a very bad idea and I think you are right to query it.

As you are working from home at least you don't need to be worried about them exposing you to covid after their pub visit.

My work are just going to wait until the rules are relaxed as they are being very covid compliant.

We've had a number of just about within the rules things planned for Christmas, but panic is setting in now, as numbers here have risen sharply and they've all been cancelled.

@Strangedayindeed

Must be nice to be so much better than them, I bet it felt great from your high horse to point out just how much better you are than them!

YABU if you don’t want to go, don’t, leave them to it (they are probably glad you aren’t going, there’s always one in the office you have to invite but don’t really want there).

I’d rather say what I think than be governed by office popularity competitions. This isn’t the school playground. But you do you I guess.

Not to mention, there are other coworkers who think the same but would never say anything out of fear of rocking the boat.

@Circumlocutious this isn’t about me or what I’d do, I said if you don’t want to go don’t that’s all you’d have to do. There is absolutely no need to send an holier than thou email pointing out how wrong they are and then come on the internet to get a pat on the back for being such a good little girl. But, hey as you said, you do you.

@Circumlocutious

Would be good to see the guidance where these events are permitted for businesses.

I read about the business lunches on City AM

www.cityam.com/turkey-for-two-business-lunches-ok-under-tier-2/

I don't know about Christmas gatherings, but would hope someone in HR checked this out for your CEO before organising it.

The Evening Standard

is clearer and suggests that it only applies to people who have no office space.

The evening standard article was based on information released on 26th November. The extract I posted above was released on 29th November and makes it clear that if a meeting is purely for social purposes it cannot happen.

Tier 2 guidance clearly states

"Gatherings for work purposes are only allowed where they are reasonably necessary. If meetings take place in the workplace, workplaces should be set up to meet the COVID-19-secure guidelines. Meals to socialise with work colleagues are not permitted."

There is always one jobs worth moaner in the office. That’s you.

Debbie downer.

@Comefromaway I posted a link to the guidance and the same extract upthread. Why are you making my own point back to me?

YANBU.

They shouldn't be organising a gathering and it's unfair to expect everyone to be able to or want to go.

It's sad for some people to miss out on a get together, but alternative festivities should have been organised.

Where I am, management have used the money they would have spent to give us vouchers instead. I very much prefer this!

[quote Strangedayindeed]@Circumlocutious this isn’t about me or what I’d do, I said if you don’t want to go don’t that’s all you’d have to do. There is absolutely no need to send an holier than thou email pointing out how wrong they are and then come on the internet to get a pat on the back for being such a good little girl. But, hey as you said, you do you.[/quote]
‘No need?’

So we tell women to stop being people pleasers, to be more forthright, to say what they think, but when they do, they - gasp wait for it - might hurt the feelings of a 50 year male CEO. They might even make him feel bad about himself or question his judgement. How terribly presumptuous. Now back into your box little girl and be likeable so that everyone actually wants you there at the office party.

So regressive.

"And no it hasn't harmed my standing in the company one bit".

Keep telling yourself that OP.

If you don't want go go then don't. Let folk make their own decisions.

It is an exclusionary thing to do though.

Lots of people are understandably very cautious or unable to go for health reasons (themselves or people they live with).

Organising a physical get together excludes those people.

I wasn't necesarily making the point to you, but to those who may read the evening standard extract (which is, as you say clearer than the City Am one) to point out that the actual guidance goes even further than in that article, as the point seems to have been missed a bit.

Thanks ComeFromAway, I was going with what the local council had emailed me, I'm not planning any type of business event so hadn't looked up restricitions.

Hopefully the council wrote the email before the changes were made and have forgotten to amend it 😬

@Circumlocutious

It’s funny that buy coming on the internet for validation that you’ve done the right thing is the same thing as seeking it from your work colleagues.

You’re also working on the presumptive opinion that people only attend these events to not rock the boat or be liked. People who are genuinely liked by others don’t worry about being liked, it just doesn’t come into their thoughts. I’m not sure what I’d do in your situation in terms of if I would attend or not but I am an adult who can assess the risks for myself, I wouldn’t need a slap on the hand email reminder from you.

You asked if you were being unreasonable for sending the email, I think you were. Don’t ask if you’re unreasonable about something if all you want is people to tell you how right you are.

@Stellaris22

It is an exclusionary thing to do though.

Lots of people are understandably very cautious or unable to go for health reasons (themselves or people they live with).

Organising a physical get together excludes those people.

Very much so. And a few junior colleagues will also feel the pressure to attend (however optional it appears) because senior staff will be there, including the CEO.