Got drunk in front of colleagues

[Anonymous]

I went to our Christmas Bar Association party the day that I had a horrible trial. Got my ass handed to me on a platter. I got knee walking drunk, saw the judge that ruled against me at every turn, went up to him and said "I can't believe how wrong you were today. You had no legal basis for doing what you did." nice. The only thing that saved me was that I was relatively young (27) and he was a very good-natured old man. Never did that again though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my, OP, I hope you aren't listening too closely to the chicken littles who think this is some sort of awful and terrible sign of the zombie apocolypse.

You drank too much once. You talked too much, once. No one is looking but the anonymous bitches here who wish they had your job.

She doesn't have to listen to us, but she asked the question and I answered honestly. We have someone in our office that did this at a conference and everyone thinks he's an ass now and he's been passed over for promotions several times since (he was considered a rising star before).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my, OP, I hope you aren't listening too closely to the chicken littles who think this is some sort of awful and terrible sign of the zombie apocolypse.

You drank too much once. You talked too much, once. No one is looking but the anonymous bitches here who wish they had your job.

She doesn't have to listen to us, but she asked the question and I answered honestly. We have someone in our office that did this at a conference and everyone thinks he's an ass now and he's been passed over for promotions several times since (he was considered a rising star before).

There could be any number of reasons why people think he's an ass. If he really is an ass, maybe he really didn't deserve the promotion.

If OP is otherwise a decent worker, and a decent person, getting drunk in front of co-workers and talking about an ex is not really a huge deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my, OP, I hope you aren't listening too closely to the chicken littles who think this is some sort of awful and terrible sign of the zombie apocolypse.

You drank too much once. You talked too much, once. No one is looking but the anonymous bitches here who wish they had your job.

She doesn't have to listen to us, but she asked the question and I answered honestly. We have someone in our office that did this at a conference and everyone thinks he's an ass now and he's been passed over for promotions several times since (he was considered a rising star before).

There could be any number of reasons why people think he's an ass. If he really is an ass, maybe he really didn't deserve the promotion.

If OP is otherwise a decent worker, and a decent person, getting drunk in front of co-workers and talking about an ex is not really a huge deal.

I know specifically that many of us have lost a lot of respect for him due to his behavior and think he's an ass for what he did/said while drunk. OP may be a decent person and a decent worker but all I'm saying is that it does change the opinion of some people when you act like this. I know it affected the opinion I had as well as others in my office of my coworker who got drunk in front of us. It's unprofessional. As OP can see, some people will be fine with it and others will not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I know specifically that many of us have lost a lot of respect for him due to his behavior and think he's an ass for what he did/said while drunk. OP may be a decent person and a decent worker but all I'm saying is that it does change the opinion of some people when you act like this. I know it affected the opinion I had as well as others in my office of my coworker who got drunk in front of us. It's unprofessional. As OP can see, some people will be fine with it and others will not.

This is mostly the point that some of the PPs were trying to make. That, to some people, it's really NOT a huge deal. Just like you said - some people will be fine with it.

Either way, no point in making OP feel worse.

[Anonymous]

OP - forget about it. It never happened. Was it a bad decision? Yes. Will some of your colleagues judge. Yes. Will some of your colleagues see you in a new, human, frail way that could work to your advantage. Yes.

You are who you are. If you work hard, produce at whatever it is that you do, one stupid night is a blip on the radar in life. No harm, no foul. Walk into the office radiant and beaming on Monday and exude confidence. Don't ever let them see you sweat!

Lastly, learn from this mistake and don't make it a habit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my co workers once got so drunk that we couldn't find her. Eventually we found her with her head on the toilet in the bathroom, she was so drunk she had to be taken away by ambulance. She was good friend of mine, still is to this day, I never judged her on that incident and I don't think others did, it happens! Life goes on.

Good thing she didn't die from alcohol poisoning. Man, your company could have been on the line for that one.

Yep, that's what we all thought.

[Anonymous]

Meh. It also depends on your company's culture. Mine is work hard, play harder and no one has ever had their career derailed bc they got drunk. Happy hour is one of our big bonding activities.

[Anonymous]

Yep, I think it is a big deal. But you get one pass -- seriously, dont do it again,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I beg to differ. No we haven't all done it. Some of us know how to show restraint at social functions when the situation calls for it. Beat yourself up because yes, it was stupid and 100% preventable. But better yet, stick to your plan of never letting it happen again.

I have to agree with this poster. If I worked with you my opinion of you would be lowered as well as my respect for you.

This. But the higher ups are probably rip roaring party boy drunks so OP would be promoted anyway for being popular.

Once you get a reputation for being a drunk, and it only takes one time, the higher ups don't look favorably on you. OP, shape up because if there were higher ups present, you just screwed yourself. I know that I would not want anyone working with me who cant't hold their liquor. As for the guy who urinated on the dance floor, he would have been fired immediately. You are an adult with responsible jobs and if you want to keep them, learn how to behave in public.

It completely depends on the culture and the industry.

In my "space" it is perfectly acceptable to get drunk. It actually is a bit of a requirement if you want to move up. If you don't drink fine, but you better be able to hang or you will always be on the outside looking in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh. It also depends on your company's culture. Mine is work hard, play harder and no one has ever had their career derailed bc they got drunk. Happy hour is one of our big bonding activities.

.

Agreed, my company as well. I have seen every single one of our executive team slurring drunk at least once in the last 7 years I have worked there with the exception of the recovering alcoholic. If you work for Marriott, however, I could very well imagine that it could be a CLM (career limiting move).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh. It also depends on your company's culture. Mine is work hard, play harder and no one has ever had their career derailed bc they got drunk. Happy hour is one of our big bonding activities.

.

Agreed, my company as well. I have seen every single one of our executive team slurring drunk at least once in the last 7 years I have worked there with the exception of the recovering alcoholic. If you work for Marriott, however, I could very well imagine that it could be a CLM (career limiting move).

My company as well. You should see the Christmas party. Just about everybody books a hotel room because by the end of the night most people are fall down drunk as well. Even at our work related happy hours, we are allowed to expense Drivers Inc. because it is expected that most people will get drunk and the boss does't want any of us on the road.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what your job is - are you a lawyer? Is job to be able to keep your mouth shut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I know specifically that many of us have lost a lot of respect for him due to his behavior and think he's an ass for what he did/said while drunk. OP may be a decent person and a decent worker but all I'm saying is that it does change the opinion of some people when you act like this. I know it affected the opinion I had as well as others in my office of my coworker who got drunk in front of us. It's unprofessional. As OP can see, some people will be fine with it and others will not.

I'm not judgmental or trying to be an ass, but I have to agree with this. Unfortunately, I was at a conference in Las Vegas - I don't drink very often, but on the "free night" I started gambling and without realizing it, they keep bringin you free drinks. I got drunk! My boss and her colleagues were walking by, saw me, and my boss basically, took me and said, you've had enough, come with us. I drank water the rest of the night, but I was wobbly, tripped a couple times, definitely slurring my words.

It was 2 years ago and I am still mortified. I KNOW people are looking at me differently. Since that time, I've sipped one glass of wine (when appropriate - when everyone else is) and switched to water. I've been trying like hell to have my boss witness my drinking water or seeing me at the end of the night completely sober. I don't think it's working. I've been "labeled" as a 'drinker' and it's not a good label. In fact, my boss' boss mentioned "vegas" to me just last week when we were planning a dinner for some clients and someone (not me) asked about ordering a bottle of wine for the table. he didn't say it mean, but just looked over and and made a comment about vegas. It's in the back of everyone's mind - every.time. UGH. I don't know how to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I know specifically that many of us have lost a lot of respect for him due to his behavior and think he's an ass for what he did/said while drunk. OP may be a decent person and a decent worker but all I'm saying is that it does change the opinion of some people when you act like this. I know it affected the opinion I had as well as others in my office of my coworker who got drunk in front of us. It's unprofessional. As OP can see, some people will be fine with it and others will not.

I'm not judgmental or trying to be an ass, but I have to agree with this. Unfortunately, I was at a conference in Las Vegas - I don't drink very often, but on the "free night" I started gambling and without realizing it, they keep bringin you free drinks. I got drunk! My boss and her colleagues were walking by, saw me, and my boss basically, took me and said, you've had enough, come with us. I drank water the rest of the night, but I was wobbly, tripped a couple times, definitely slurring my words.

It was 2 years ago and I am still mortified. I KNOW people are looking at me differently. Since that time, I've sipped one glass of wine (when appropriate - when everyone else is) and switched to water. I've been trying like hell to have my boss witness my drinking water or seeing me at the end of the night completely sober. I don't think it's working. I've been "labeled" as a 'drinker' and it's not a good label. In fact, my boss' boss mentioned "vegas" to me just last week when we were planning a dinner for some clients and someone (not me) asked about ordering a bottle of wine for the table. he didn't say it mean, but just looked over and and made a comment about vegas. It's in the back of everyone's mind - every.time. UGH. I don't know how to fix it.

Who the hell goes to Vegas and acts like a saint?? That's crazy! It's VEGAS!
(I'm only sort of kidding.)
When I worked at a large law firm, they had "booze cruises" on a regular basis for the summer associates. We were expected to go on these things and were encouraged to drink a lot. They really wanted to see how you handled your liquor. One guy got so stinkin' drunk, as we pulled into the dock at the end of the night, there he was making out with the managing partners wife. Now THAT is what you don't want to do. The rest of this stuff? Who cares.