Disappointed in junior staff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you having all these social events during a COVID surge right before the holidays? I would decline to participate as well.

What Covid surge?

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/11/1142099805/indoor-masking-advised-washington-california-new-york

[Anonymous]

If you are their supervisor, give them some coaching! Not a “you should have been there!” but a “let me give you a bit of career advice… people notice. If you are looking for opportunities to advance, these kind on social get together are pretty important.”

I can totally see how young people (or jaded old people) can tell themselves it doesn’t matter, and it likely doesn’t if they just want to get by at their job. But whatever people may want to tell you, it DOES matter if you want to advance, get thought of for good assignments, build relationships that make people inclined to do favors for you or give you the benefit of the doubt. I know for a fact that showing up at a majority of office happy hours, holidays parties, random work dinners, etc (even when I was a PT employee mostly working from home) if a large part of why career took off. Out of sight, out of mind. And now that I’m the big boss, I’m less inclined to give you grace if you make no effort to be part of the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't drink alcohol in my religion, so I don't attend these events. They should be optional.

You have your own religion? How did you start it?

BTW we serve mock tails my company and my wife attended twice when pregnant. She ate food, had a Virgin pina colada or a soda. I only drink 2-3 drinks as wife with me a boss. Very little drinking going on. I have more cokes and coffee then liquor

It's called Islam. There are a lot of countries where alcohol is forbidden. I guess you don't travel outside of the US much or have Muslim friends/co-workers.

And what’s wrong with that? So freaking entitled…

Is this really how you defend your ignorance of very basic details about Islam? Mormons also don’t drink. No international travel required for you to know about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are their supervisor, give them some coaching! Not a “you should have been there!” but a “let me give you a bit of career advice… people notice. If you are looking for opportunities to advance, these kind on social get together are pretty important.”

I can totally see how young people (or jaded old people) can tell themselves it doesn’t matter, and it likely doesn’t if they just want to get by at their job. But whatever people may want to tell you, it DOES matter if you want to advance, get thought of for good assignments, build relationships that make people inclined to do favors for you or give you the benefit of the doubt. I know for a fact that showing up at a majority of office happy hours, holidays parties, random work dinners, etc (even when I was a PT employee mostly working from home) if a large part of why career took off. Out of sight, out of mind. And now that I’m the big boss, I’m less inclined to give you grace if you make no effort to be part of the team.

God forbid you learn a lesson and use your newfound power to stop perpetuating nonsense. I’ve yet to see anyone in this thread articulate a business reason for any of this. Only comments from people probably about to sign up for Medicare about how “this is the way it works.”

[Anonymous]

Yeah these things aren’t mandatory. Neither is going above and beyond at work. Some companies and bosses appreciate the face time. Just the way it is. You have to play the game. I’m a young millennial and I know this.

Sorry your employees made you look bad OP. I’m sure you’ll keep that in mind when opportunities for advancement roll around.

[Anonymous]

My POV is that things like this are either required or not required. If it is really important to the team or the boss, then make them mandatory. Stop with the "well you don't haaaaave to be there, but if you aren't, you're in trouble" games. Be straight with people. A party or a lunch really isn't about the work. It's about schmoozing. Those are different things. And yes, your junior people might very well miss out on connections that lead to opportunities, but that's on them. If they're doing their work, then for god's sake, leave them alone.

[Anonymous]

I’m super introverted and just deeply hate things like this. Like deeply hate. It’s not laziness. It just takes so much out of me. I perform highly specialized technical work that no one else in my company does. I’m an individual contributor. I really hope my employer factors that in when I don’t attend events like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you having all these social events during a COVID surge right before the holidays? I would decline to participate as well.

What Covid surge?

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/11/1142099805/indoor-masking-advised-washington-california-new-york

I love how these people go silent when the actual numbers are posted.

I don’t go to events like these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you having all these social events during a COVID surge right before the holidays? I would decline to participate as well.

What Covid surge?

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/11/1142099805/indoor-masking-advised-washington-california-new-york

I love how these people go silent when the actual numbers are posted.

I don’t go to events like these.

Covid. Is. Endemic. Covid is endemic. COVID IS ENDEMIC. Do you get it yet? All these numbers prove is, wait for it… Covid is E N D E M I C.

I’m not going to cancel any event for fear of possibly contracting any endemic virus. Absolutely positively absurd suggestion.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t say anything and let them face the repercussions if any.
Honestly covid fatigue is real and after all the pseudo events in Zoom and those in charge making any in person communication extremely difficult I am just not feeling it. Our department has happy hours every few months and I just don’t feel like going. It is probably not very rational but I feel betrayed by people who locked us up, destroyed our kids’ social opportunities, and now want us to pretend like it all never happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My POV is that things like this are either required or not required. If it is really important to the team or the boss, then make them mandatory. Stop with the "well you don't haaaaave to be there, but if you aren't, you're in trouble" games. Be straight with people. A party or a lunch really isn't about the work. It's about schmoozing. Those are different things. And yes, your junior people might very well miss out on connections that lead to opportunities, but that's on them. If they're doing their work, then for god's sake, leave them alone.

Ugh, yes, this. Make it mandatory or don’t! And if it’s mandatory pay people to show up! None of this “come to a party that you have to use PTO and/or hire a babysitter for and pretend it’s the best perk we’ve ever offered you!” nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Well, I’ve learned that it’s going to be easier and easier to get ahead these days, judging by all the lazy whiners in this thread. All you need to do is show up and have lunch with the boss…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't drink alcohol in my religion, so I don't attend these events. They should be optional.

You have your own religion? How did you start it?

BTW we serve mock tails my company and my wife attended twice when pregnant. She ate food, had a Virgin pina colada or a soda. I only drink 2-3 drinks as wife with me a boss. Very little drinking going on. I have more cokes and coffee then liquor

It's called Islam. There are a lot of countries where alcohol is forbidden. I guess you don't travel outside of the US much or have Muslim friends/co-workers.

And what’s wrong with that? So freaking entitled…

Is this really how you defend your ignorance of very basic details about Islam? Mormons also don’t drink. No international travel required for you to know about them.

NP. Calm down. Most of us know this. Islam also forbids pork but my friend goes to brunch where pork is present. He also likes a slice of bacon if his mom isn't watching!

[Anonymous]

Junior staff are gen z, not millennials. Nice try boomer troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I’ve learned that it’s going to be easier and easier to get ahead these days, judging by all the lazy whiners in this thread. All you need to do is show up and have lunch with the boss…

This is not a thread about lunch, it's a thread about after hours drunk socializing with desperately lonely executives.