Left out of work Christmas dinner

[Daisylake]

The Christmas dinner in work was organised within work time when myself and another colleague where in work so we couldn't go, but the rest where off that day so they went.. AIBU to feel excluded?

Is the workplace staffed 24/7 so that someone would always have to miss out on a party?

Yes that’s shitty. You organise it when everyone can attend, or in case of shift work, have little get together during work, everyone brings some food in, buffet etc. that everyone can take part in.

This,,.what happened last year.

If there is always one or two who miss out, then reasonable. If it is the same who miss out every year, then not.

It happens to everyone at some point, depending on the workplace. Two of my immediate colleagues couldn't come this year because they had a clashing commitment they weren't able to get out of, but as the date and time worked for everyone else, that's when we had lunch.

Does someone always have to be excluded ?

Where my DH works it would be impossible to include everyone as they are staffed 24/7 so sadly some people will always be left out.

It is a different scenario to my workplace where we keep office hours so everyone could be included.

At my last job, a city was chosen between all branches, travel and accommodation covered - lovely!
Oh, they've done it on a Friday and I'm rota'd to open up the branch at 8am Saturday... (As we're staff from other branches)....

We were closed on Sunday, not sure why it couldn't have been a Saturday night, many people who didn't want to go could have covered the Saturday half day shift. No they didn't want to do that either.

Oh well, 2 months later I left and never looked back, awful job 🤣

Would anyone be willing to swap with you?

Is there a reason you can't be off that day too?

Why start a thread and not come back., what’s the point.,

Do you have a day nobody is working?

As others have said- is there a need for the company to be staffed during this time? If so, and this is the usual date that the event occurs every year, and it just happened to be you both, then it's really not an issue- working in healthcare, we also all don't attend due to not being able to. If you feel you and your colleague have been targeted, then that's a completely different issue

Did you know in advance that the dinner was happening? Did you speak with your manager about it? You have the right to feel left out- you were left out. But raise it with your manager as they are the ones who can do something about it. If the company paid for a meal, then you are entitled to the same amount being spent on you (no cash. It gift cards are allowed), otherwise it is discriminatory.

It's very mean spirited and clearly it has bothered you because otherwise you wouldn't be posting.

Some workplaces treat staff very poorly and I'm sorry you're in one of them.

This has happened to me too. In my case, someone had to be manning the phone and desk. I volunteered one time, so the others could go. To be honest, I don't enjoy eating lunch with the team and manager. I think it's just one of those things, not everyone can be pleased.

typically Someone has to miss. Shitty your work couldn’t or didn’t have you come on work hours (sober with a cell phone).

or! Oh well. They don’t like you. Stop putting social effort in!!