Boss called in sick to Christmas party

[idonotmind]

Our boss called in sick to our Christmas party. AIBU? Shouldn't he be leading by example? He has form though, he cancelled our in-office day once due to the rain, which I was actually relieved by.

I’ve also heard of Xmas parties in January. Seriously, what’s the point ?! Probably because it’s cheaper but who seriously wants an Xmas party once it’s all finished?

We had ours in October because it was warmer.

YANBU

He should have made the effort to turn up, shit himself in his chair and then puked across the table.

Usually it’s the people who work evenings in December ; pub and restaurant staff, retail, party events. Much easier to have a thank you party in quiet January.

I've had to miss at least two Xmas parties through illness - didn't think anything of it.

I've lead teams of up to 50 and managed people up earning six figures - I've always thought the best way to lead was being competent, capable of setting direction and providing assistance, treating people with consideration and helping with career aspirations.

Mind you I also enjoy a decent bash with them as well

Maybe he's sick. Just a thought.

Maybe he's sick of you all and doesn't want to socialise outside work?

Or coughed in their faces and then told them they had to come into work when they were sick because he did lead by example.

You can't have a Christmas party in November. It's just a party. If it was today it's a Thanksgiving party.

1. Confirm that although the boss won't be there, the company is paying christmas party expenses.
2. Enjoy the boss-free party.
3. There is no #3.

Your boss IS leading by example, they are ill so ensuring the rest of the team don't catch what they have by not attending

Are you not able to attend without the boss holding your hand?

We share an office building with a major online retailers customer service and IT/Dev departments, their 'Christmas party' is always mid-late Jan because they're absolutely flat out from about 3 weeks before Black Friday right up to mid-Jan.

are you sad he is not there..your response indicates that he is not held in high regard
Shed loads of people have non-Covid illness right now.
Sone people are just not logical. I attended an all day meeting online (instead of in the London office) for the whole duration of the meeting, I was unwell, feeling like my bones were made of steel rarely off sick. I was less than impressed to have two passive aggressive comments about how face to face is so much better and (when they could fathom the in room microphone) if everyone was here we wouldn’t have this problem.
looking for a new job. Wa**s. Why would they want me (as a clearly infectious bug monster) to travel in a packed train and then sit in closed room with frontline health leaders. Furious and sad.

? Christian orthodox Christmas is on 7 Jan
And even if Catholic or Protestant, there are 12 days of Christmas, with the last Christmas Day being Epiphany on 6 Jan

So, nothing wrong with a Christmas party in January.

Is this a reverse? Even bosses get ill you know.

I would much prefer our works Christmas do if the boss did not turn up. This would be a win.

Is it impossible to be ill on the day of the Xmas party, then?

Cus, as far as I was aware, norovirus etc don't give much of a shit about the office calendar.

YABU

Maybe he is genuinely sick? Not really good to assume.

They moved dh's big while staff do to January, sometimes February.
They got fed up of paying over the odds for mediocre and limited Christmas menus.
It's now in the new year at a time when lots of people feel a bit gloomy due to the cold dark weather - all paid for by the business, so no huge issues with post Christmas spends for staff.

They just have small departmental evenings out in December, paid for by themselves, if they choose to.

You really are not making sense.

Boss is ill and does the sensible thing and stays away. Bugs of any description are no less infectious due to it being a Chrismas party.

They have form, by cancelling an event due to the weather which left you feeling relieved.

It sounds like you have a very sensible and pragmatic boss and you should be counting your blessings.

I manage a team of 10 and I purposely don't ever socialise out of work, I'll do a quiz during work hours and a Buffett and buy them all a bottle of their favourite poison but I prefer to spend my time out of work with my family

IMHO work dos aren't important and can create more trouble than they are worth

Can’t you have a crimbo party without him then, you sound like a child scared as mummy won’t be there

I dislike being "forced" / "expected" to attend what is meant to be an enjoyable and fully optional occasion. He may actually be ill, in which case he really shouldn't attend. Otherwise, yes, perhaps he "should" attend, as a manager or person in authority at the business, but in his shoes, I'd resent it.

Blimey, I used to work for City law firm and we were usually so busy in the run up to Xmas that our team Xmas party often got pushed back to January or February. One year we had it in March - we still wore Xmas jumpers, had crackers etc. The rest of the restaurant thought we were completely mad!

we never would have had a problem if anyone including the bosses couldn't make it for whatever reason though. Things, including sickness, happen and no-one should be judged if they can't, or don't want to, attend.