To feel a bit pissed off and resentful?

[Firefly04]

Work have arranged for me and the rest of my team to go to a 2 day conference in London next week and have the team Christmas party on one of the evenings. It’s all booked and paid for.

Even on a normal year I wouldn’t want to be messing about in London the week before Christmas but this year especially so.

I am SO worried about getting Covid and not being able to see my family this Christmas. My boss is seemingly unaware of the potential risks as nothing has been mentioned. I think that’s what annoying me the most.

WIBU to say something? I mentioned it to one of my colleagues who’s also attending and they were all ‘it’ be fine I’m sure, chill out.’ But that was a few weeks ago, before this Omnicron variant was around.

AIBU?

Yanbu, our office have done exactly the same . We all work in a local office but someone has decided that we all have to troop up to London for a meeting followed by a meal when we could easily have had the meeting in the office and gone to a local restaurant.

@Vapeyvapevape, are you going?

@sst1234 having just been off ill for 3 months with covid I'm not sure I agree that it's an irrational fear ?

It's not mild for everyone you know.

I have voiced my concerns and think I will decline, like you it’s all been paid for and was actually booked fairly recently. I’ll probably be seen as a party pooper but I have very elderly parents and want to see them on Christmas Day.

I’m not attending ours this year. I have informed my boss it is too close to Christmas and I don’t want to risk it for the sake of my vulnerable and elderly relatives I will spend Xmas day with. No repercussions.

@Firefly04 I wonder if it’s the same company!

My organisation is the kind where teams organise and pay for their own. We’ve just sent out a message asking them to cancel and management will cover any out of pocket expenses.

Do you have anyone vulnerable? If so use them as your reason. I'd be nore concerned about getting this horrible other virus that's around, cough lasts for weeks and knocks you right out...not covid but doing the round where I live.

Def don't go if you dint want to. Either call in sick or tell the truth if you won't be reprimanded. I'd take more than those 2 specific days off though or may be a tad obvious!

Has your work done a risk assessment for this?

You have every right to feel the way you do about your situation.
Ask for a Zoom link lol!

My DH's work who are very big on social stuff have cancelled all their conferences/managers meals etc on the basis of nor wanting to force people into these scenarios before Xmas. The Xmas party is going ahead but that's optional so not the same. Can you not raise your concerns?

@sst1234

Will you lock yourself away forever OP? With this irrational fear of Covid.

It's not irrational to not want to miss Christmas, which is exactly what will happen if she catches it next week. Have you always struggled so with empathy?

Just don't go. Say why to your manager.

My employer cancelled our Xmas party just yesterday. It was due to happen Friday next week.