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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Work drinks after work

120 replies

SloopyDoodle · 07/11/2023 12:15

A colleague of mine organises work socials going out drinking normally once a month. It is usually something like 5:30pm on a weekday. I can never attend these as I do the nursery pick ups (husband does drop offs) I could always attend a lot later (e.g. turn up at 7pm) but I don't really want to as I'm knackered from working all day and then parenting, cooking, cleaning! AIBU? I'm the only one in our team who is a parent and most people go. I feel guilty I can never go but I'm knackered all the time, I also don't drive so it means waiting around for buses and getting back really late and then I have to be up again at 5:30 am - 6am to do it all again. When I say I can't my colleague says "next time we'll try a time that's convenient for you!" And I feel awkward as in this stage of life I'm not sure when that would even be (no family or friend help close to us for childcare, my husband and I have a date night about once a year).

This has mainly become a thing post pandemic because we work hybridly now, I like my colleagues but feel like I see them enough really and want to see my own family. What are peoples thoughts?

OP posts:
Moveoverdarlin · 07/11/2023 12:39

I don’t see the dilemma. You can’t go, and you don’t want to go. Winner. They won’t care.

SloopyDoodle · 07/11/2023 12:39

ViaRia01 · 07/11/2023 12:31

I’m struggling to understand what your ideal alternative would be?
do you just want people to stop socialising after work because you can’t / don’t want to?

Thanks, this is a useful way of thinking of it. I think its more I want someone to validate that its normal to feel in this way, not have an alternative social idea. Its tough being the only parent in the team as I feel like others don't really get it! I would have to leave the office, pick up my kiddo, walk her home, make us dinner, think about packed lunches for next day, say hi to my husband when he gets in, leave in the dark and cold to catch a bus into town, have 1 drink, wait again to catch a bus home... get home and go to bed, wake up and go to work. I guess I just want someone to say, that sucks you don't have flexibility right now but hopefully in the future! Rather than putting pressure on to attend.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 07/11/2023 12:39

Lovetotravel123 · 07/11/2023 12:16

You are not unreasonable. I don’t understand why people don’t want to go back to their partners or families.

It’s an alien concept on MN, but some people have these things called “friends” who are people outside of their family who they enjoy the company of and like to socialise with

twostraws · 07/11/2023 12:41

I must confess, I'm not exactly sure what we're voting for in this scenario!

OP, there is nothing wrong with your colleague organising after work drinks every so often. There is also nothing wrong with you not going because you have other commitments.

You speak about why you can't go, but you also point out that you don't want to because you're tired because you're a working parent who doesn't drive... but however they rearrange drinks, you're always going to be tired in the evenings?

So your colleague isn't unreasonable to organise drinks when they do, because you're never going to go because you don't want to participate. You're not being excluded.

I think it would be nice to make the effort and occasionally go. With enough notice, you could arrange one-off cover for that pickup. You could. You just don't want to.

And re EDI compatibility - I think it's important to suggest drinks on different days occasionally (if you're always organising drinks on one colleague's non-working day, that could be seen as exclusionary). It's also nice to suggest the occasional team lunch, as that's within working hours, and thus widens up participation to people who cannot stay late after work.

However... I suspect the OP wouldn't want to go to a lunch either.

It's not a criticism - some people don't like socialising with their colleagues. As long as they get on with people at work during work hours, that's fine. But I don't know why it's so hard to just admit outright they don't want to do that, rather than inventing many obstacles as to why they can't.

"I don't want to" is an acceptable reason not to do something optional.

WeighDownOnMe · 07/11/2023 12:42

I would want to go but weeknights are a pain. Surely Friday night would work better.

Coffeerum · 07/11/2023 12:42

Reachforthestars00 · 07/11/2023 12:35

It would be an EDI issue at my workplace too. Exclusion of people mostly women) with caring responsibilities - so a form on indirect sex discrimination. Perhaps you could organise a lunchtime or breakfast event? Not exactly a big drinking session but a compromise. My team had some great pre-work breakfasts.

How on earth is a pre-work breakfast before work any less exclusionary than something after work?

After work drinks so not mostly exclude women. OP has a husband who can look after her kids, she just doesn’t want to.

Possimpible · 07/11/2023 12:43

@SloopyDoodle Its tough being the only parent in the team as I feel like others don't really get it!

They get it... it's probably why some of them haven't made the decision to have children, because they like the flexibility and freedom to be able to pop to the pub. You've repeatedly ignored the suggestion that your husband could finish earlier one day and help out - why?

OP has said they work hybrid, so a lunch presumably wouldn't work as not everyone will be in the office.

SloopyDoodle · 07/11/2023 12:43

Ellie1015 · 07/11/2023 12:37

Just try and stop feeling bad about it. It is perfectly fine not to manage. Your colleagues would be happy to see you there but also don't care when you are not there (not in a bad way just enjoying what they are doing).

The person saying "we will try and make it a time that suits you next time" likely also feels bad that they cant accomodate you and naturally go with the majority.

Next time it comes up just say something like "oh thanks for thinking of me but i understand after work suits the majority. Tbh with little one I don't drink much anyway as hangover with a toddler is too hard. Have a lovely time"

They want to invite you so you dont feel excluded but they realise you won't manage.

Thank you, this is really helpful and a good way to respond!

OP posts:
WeighDownOnMe · 07/11/2023 12:44

KStockHERO · 07/11/2023 12:20

YANBU.

It's an EDI issue on all kinds of levels and not something that'd be tolerated where I work.

Like PP, I don't understand why people want to spend evenings with their work colleagues rather than their family and friends. I never socialise outside of work hours with work people. Ugh, no.

Oh good god.

My colleagues are my friends. Some of my best friends started life as 'just' colleagues, and how do you think we kept those relationships? By socialising.

You and your workplace sound quite quite miserable.

SylvieLaufeydottir · 07/11/2023 12:44

SloopyDoodle · 07/11/2023 12:39

Thanks, this is a useful way of thinking of it. I think its more I want someone to validate that its normal to feel in this way, not have an alternative social idea. Its tough being the only parent in the team as I feel like others don't really get it! I would have to leave the office, pick up my kiddo, walk her home, make us dinner, think about packed lunches for next day, say hi to my husband when he gets in, leave in the dark and cold to catch a bus into town, have 1 drink, wait again to catch a bus home... get home and go to bed, wake up and go to work. I guess I just want someone to say, that sucks you don't have flexibility right now but hopefully in the future! Rather than putting pressure on to attend.

Or you could just... execute the idea suggested multiple times that your H starts earlier and does pickup and you stay out for one or two. You're not a single parent.

I'm the only parent in my team. It's not an issue. If something comes up that being a parent would genuinely make more difficult for me, I say so. I go to the drinks, stay a few hours and fuck off home at 7:30/8 when I'm peopled out and let the people who want to stay out later. DH even manages to do dropoff and pickup once a week when I do uni after work.

CanIPetThatDawg · 07/11/2023 12:45

Reachforthestars00 · 07/11/2023 12:35

It would be an EDI issue at my workplace too. Exclusion of people mostly women) with caring responsibilities - so a form on indirect sex discrimination. Perhaps you could organise a lunchtime or breakfast event? Not exactly a big drinking session but a compromise. My team had some great pre-work breakfasts.

A pre-work breakfast?

Great if you fancy that sort of thing. Would be a hassle for me.

Just let people enjoy their after work drinks without running to teacher.

rose69 · 07/11/2023 12:45

Can you acknowledge that you will never be able to do drinks after work and send out an invitation for lunch at a midway point between the monthly drinks

SloopyDoodle · 07/11/2023 12:46

Sorry, my husband has set hours so can't just finish earlier, my hours are more flexible so I do early start and finish as it works for us as a team. He is a great dad, I am surprised there isn't more people that have a set up like us!

OP posts:
cardibach · 07/11/2023 12:46

Bouncyball23 · 07/11/2023 12:34

I always say no, like you am the only one with children and I don't think they realise my day is not done once work is over.

I am a single parent (DD is an adult now). This is a very condescending comment.
Nobody’s day is over when work finishes. People have all sorts of responsibilities and commitments outside of work. You (and they) are still entitled to some social time every now and then.

ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 07/11/2023 12:46

This is why we tend to start drinks at 4:30pm, means more people can attend.

Chanelbasketballandchain · 07/11/2023 12:47

It would be an EDI issue at my workplace too. Exclusion of people mostly women) with caring responsibilities - so a form on indirect sex discrimination.

oh FFS
and you wonder why we struggle to be taken seriously

Possimpible · 07/11/2023 12:47

SloopyDoodle · 07/11/2023 12:46

Sorry, my husband has set hours so can't just finish earlier, my hours are more flexible so I do early start and finish as it works for us as a team. He is a great dad, I am surprised there isn't more people that have a set up like us!

Yeah so do I, lots of us have set hours. Your husband doesn't get annual leave or time in lieu? For one early finish?

WeighDownOnMe · 07/11/2023 12:47

AgnesX · 07/11/2023 12:33

Could you ask them to organise a lunch maybe. Or arrange something yourself? Maybe a sober event might appeal to some too. It would be more inclusive (I can't imagine an entire office/team always wanting to get scoobied). If its all about the booze you're at a different stage in your life so you mightn't be missing much.

You know what, I think that's an absolutely shite idea.

Why should the guy - and the others - who like going for the occasional post-work pints have to change? They like going for a pint and they invite everyone.

If people don't want to go fine, but 'could you change it to a lunch' would get short shrift from me. You want a team lunch, organise it.

HerMammy · 07/11/2023 12:49

I don’t understand why people don’t want to go back to their partners or families.
Martyr alert ^^*

Onethingatatime23 · 07/11/2023 12:49

Can't you swap with DH for one day a month? We used to take it in turns to do drop offs and pick ups, one one person doesn't miss out on things like this.

Chanelbasketballandchain · 07/11/2023 12:50

Instead of moaning about what other people bother to do, organise something yourself.

Morning won't be convenient for many people
Lunch will be very inconvenient for most people
Weekends will not even be considered by most

but why does it matter? No one is trying to invite EVERYONE, it's a gathering to be a bit friendly with co-workers. No need to make it a massive drama.

The person who organised it after work probably prefers it at that time, and fair enough, they organise what suits them. It's one colleague, not the Party Planning Committee on behalf of the company. Organise something different, or don't moan.

AtomicPumpkin · 07/11/2023 12:51

No idea what EDI is but it sounds awful.

SecondUsername4me · 07/11/2023 12:52

SloopyDoodle · 07/11/2023 12:46

Sorry, my husband has set hours so can't just finish earlier, my hours are more flexible so I do early start and finish as it works for us as a team. He is a great dad, I am surprised there isn't more people that have a set up like us!

My dh has set hours too, and mine are more flexible.

But he uses annual leave or agrees a random early finish once in a while with work if I need or want to do something straight from work.

cardibach · 07/11/2023 12:52

Possimpible · 07/11/2023 12:47

Yeah so do I, lots of us have set hours. Your husband doesn't get annual leave or time in lieu? For one early finish?

I guess he couldn’t if he’s a teacher or similar - but then holidays would occasionally cover a once a month event surely?

Almondmum · 07/11/2023 12:52

Op, could you organise something at lunch time yourself if that would suit better.