AIBU to think management shouldn't have vetoed out of work Xmas party

[Flingingmelon]

Xmas party for the department - there is about a dozen of us. It's out of contracted hours, not being paid for by the company and not branded as 'X' company Xmas party.

It's a sit down meal type thing. We have all agreed to do a lateral flow before we go and only go if it's negative.

Senior management have demanded the event is cancelled. Too many people.

It is the majority of the department, but everyone is vaccinated and most have had covid.

AIBU to think although the management (and I) may think it's risky, they don't have the right to veto it?

What a group of people choose to do in their free time is up to them

If I was them I'd go ahead with it but not discuss it at work or arrange anything via work emails or phones.

Yeah work have no right to interfere from what little I know!!!

AIBU to think although the management (and I) may think it's risky, they don't have the right to veto it?

YANBU. I would laugh at a manager giving me that instruction.

Just tell the manager its cancelled and carry on as normal. They can't tell you what to do in the evenings!

How do they even know about it if its being arranged outside of work?
I can see why they'd be a bit wary if they whole department gets covid at the same time there could be issues. But they can't dictate what you do outside work.

@IncompleteSenten

What a group of people choose to do in their free time is up to them

If I was them I'd go ahead with it but not discuss it at work or arrange anything via work emails or phones.

Yes, arrange it in your own time not using company resources

Keep all communications off the company network, then unless they have inside people , they should not be aware of it, until it's either happening or taken place. also consult with hr to know the relevant documents that may apply to it.

If any manager tried to dictate what I could do in my evenings I'd laugh so hard I'd fall off my chair and then I'd proceed to do exactly what I had originally planned.

Tell them to get stuffed!

None of their business! They have no right to dictate what you all do in your spare time if no reference is made to the company name/finances.

I had to check this wasn’t a thread from this time last year. Nonsense - there’re not any restrictions are there? They should be wishing you a happy outing and maybe dropping a few quid in the kitty. Miserable buggers.

My company have pulled the plug on all official Christmas work parties (the money is given as shop vouchers instead) but haven't even attempted to control what individuals do on a private scale.

All they've asked is that any social gatherings with colleagues are done sensibly and are not linked to the company in any way.

Your company is being daft, and I'm rather risk adverse. Unless you bring the company into disrepute they don't have a leg to stand on.

We were asked not to socialise and not to travel to certain areas at different points of the pandemic (over and above regulations) but I work in an ICU. So whilst I’m a bit surprised at those who’d ‘fall off their chairs laughing’ at the idea that managers can say anything about behaviour out of work hours - there’d be deaths if we couldn’t staff our unit - if you’re not at the point where you could expect staffing to be in crisis if some people were exposed then I’m not sure what the employer can really do. Just organise a social event that people from work can attend and don’t use work resources or time to organise it.

😂 em ur time is ur own to with what you please. Tell them where to go they can't tell staff what to do outwith work hours!

That’s very odd. Your management cannot dictate who ans how many people you socialise with out of working hours, what are they doing, reviewing folks Xmas plans with family?

My senior management have done the same. But never mind that their Instagram has been full of their nights out for the past few months. Gigs with a few thousand people pah! Team night out- no way.
Massive eye roll. They can fuck off.

I’m an NHS worker - we’ve been told to consider whether our service would be safe if we all got Covid? Obvious answer is no, so Christmas meal is cancelled

I agree with your company, you may all test negative before going out, but it only takes one person to pass on covid (waiter, waitress, bar tender, people at a nearby table), before you know it your entire dept could be off with covid

Makes far more sense to hold smaller gatherings

@MissTrip82

We were asked not to socialise and not to travel to certain areas at different points of the pandemic (over and above regulations) but I work in an ICU. So whilst I’m a bit surprised at those who’d ‘fall off their chairs laughing’ at the idea that managers can say anything about behaviour out of work hours - there’d be deaths if we couldn’t staff our unit - if you’re not at the point where you could expect staffing to be in crisis if some people were exposed then I’m not sure what the employer can really do. Just organise a social event that people from work can attend and don’t use work resources or time to organise it.

If we were keyworker a if any type I'd completely agree with managements' concern. But we couldn't be further from that if we tried.

Whether or not we should have an event isn't the issue. What concerned me is that the company think they can tell us what to do out of hours.

I’m NHS and we’ve been told this. As our senior manager was pictured on Facebook partying and holidaying with two other senior managers we’re going ahead with our Christmas lunch. Management can fuck right off. The difference is we won’t post it on social media.

Are you all wfh or in the office/

We've been recommended to think hard ( also nhs) so we are going for outdoors on smaller table to minimise risk . We need a morale boost or we will lose more staff it's got to be balanced

The company is liable for things that happen at company parties. So if they knew about it and didn't say it couldnt happen even though it contravened their covid policies, and someone got covid and got very ill and sued them, they could be liable. An employee could argue that they didnt want to go but their employer knew about it and all the team were going and they felt pressured to go even though they didn't want to, to fit in with their team etc.

I don't think they are so much telling people what to do in their spare time as a. Worried that the whole office is going to catch covid at once and b. Covering themselves legally so they are not seen as 'turning a blind eye' ie condoning employees breaking their own covid procedures.