Is this fair (aka Work Christmas Party):

[bjohn13]

Ah, yes. The work Christmas party. The one day every year where fellow associates deem it socially acceptable to get totally obliterated in front of their superiors. Every year without fail, at least one person gets fired because of drunken comments made at the event or because of damage caused at the venue where the event is held. Then, let us not forget about the next day when an average of everyone is late for work.

I was "volunteered" to work the Saturday after the Christmas party this year, and I think a large part of the reason why is because I don't drink. The problem is, the shift starts at 6:30 AM, and the Christmas party ends at 1:00 AM. In other words, essentially, I was screwed out of the second half of the party because of the company's misguided belief that people who are responsible should be punished. That is no problem for me...I have gotten where I am today by taking one for the company every once in awhile.

So 10:00 PM comes around, and I figure I had better get going so I can get some sleep for the shift which was imposed upon me the next morning. I left the party at 10:15. I got to bed by 11:00 just in time to get about six hours of sleep. That is just about enough for me.

The next morning comes around. There are five of us scheduled to work, me at 6:30, and four other fellows at 8:00. Ironically, I was the only one who showed up on time. Also, ironically, I was the only one who showed up sober (I sent one guy home because he was too drunk to work). To me, that seems like a serious problem. However, I can keep my mouth shut. Why? Because I know that everyone else, even those who are responsible, would suffer if I opened my mouth.

But then I was informed of the most unfair event of which I have heard in a very long time. It seems that about twenty minutes after I left, a grand prize drawing was held. It was one of several door prizes that were given away over the course of the evening, none of which were announced. This particular prize was a $500 gift certificate to a local mall. Guess what? I won. However, I wasn't there to claim my prize, so it was given to someone else. In other words, the fact that I got screwed out of the second half of the Christmas party because I had to work the next morning for the company that was holding it screwed me out of $500.

How is that fair?

Before anyone tries to get my goat, let me just add that since I just made a down payment on a house about a month and a half ago, I am very strapped for money this Christmas season. That $500 would have mostly gone for Christmas presents for friends and family....people who would otherwise not be getting anything from me this year. I carefully budget my money, and the money I had put away for Christmas (including travel expenses) was less than half of the value of that gift certificate this year. My mother and sister feel that it is enough of a Christmas present for them if I make the trip to come see them, but I got them each a small gift anyway. Unfortunately, the people who I deem most important, my niece and nephew, won't be getting anything because I simply don't have the funds. If I would have won the gift certificate, it would have gone a great deal towards easing my conscious as well as making a little boy and a little girl happy.

I pit my employer for this. What the hell is the sense in having drawings if the people who have to leave early because of work can't win? I guess I'll just have to get obliterated next year and not show up for work the next day just so I don't run the risk of losing such a "prize" again.

That's all.

[irae]

I've got half a can of Resume Polish™ left over that I can send you if you want it... That really sucks.

[Duke]

Now that is a ripoff. I have been to several raffles during the last 16 months (they seem to be a way of life here), and I can only remember one where the "winner must be present."

I know that the various gang of malcontents will be here any minute to say, "Well, those are the rules, so tough noogies." But having that rule at an office Christmas party is ridiculous. There are always going to be people who have to be working during the Christmas party, and thus not physically present. Hell, I was in that situation myself during our end-of-the-fiscal-year party this year, and I would have been pissed if I'd "won" in similar circumstances.

[BoBettie]

Hey, that fucking sucks no matter how you slice it. How can you be required to be there to win at a company Christmas party? I call bullshit on THAT policy. I'm mad for you, if it's any consolation at all.

[masonite]

That's pretty bogus. If there were justice, they'd find a way to give you a bonus for showing up the morning after the party, equivalent to the prize you would have won. An even more sensible solution would be, next year, to award door prizes in absentia.

Good for you that your dedication has advanced you at your company, but if the powers that be ignore this slight to you, I'd think about getting out. That's seriously annoying. Call me offenderatus, but I'd be offended if no effort at making it up to you were made.

[SnoopyFan]

That TOTALLY sucks.

[hajario]

You were robbed. No two ways about it.

Haj

[TeaElle]

When there's a corporate Christmas party with alcohol, why is it being held on a night before people have to work, anyway? Or when people have to work at 6:30 a.m.? What kind of work do you do, bjohn?

Methinks that you work for a bunch of advantage-taking jackasses. Personally, unless I knew that they were also vindictive jackasses who would fire someone for pointing out an inequity such as this, I'd mention in passing to my boss "You know, you scheduled me to work so early the morning after the party that I had no choice but to leave before the prize drawing. So how is it fair that I was penalized and couldn't get my prize?" Of course, I wouldn't try that if it seems likely to cause retribution.

[Naz]

That's just not right. Did you say anything about it to your employer, or are you just going to let it go?

[Excalibre]

I'll chime in with the chorus of the pissed off. That's a fucking terrible policy; your supervisors deserve to be beaten in the gonads until they are sterile.

[Guinastasia]

Yeah, try and ask your employer-that is just completely and utterly wrong.

[bjohn13]

Thank you for all the responses. Quite frankly, they may be the only positive responses I've ever gotten in the pit....or maybe even the only positive ones I've ever seen.

I plan on making mention of it. That's part of the problem, though. With the beaurocracy they have, I don't know who holds power in this situation. I have no doubt that I will get some sort of settlement as the company is very savvy when it comes to political situations. I don't like politics. I want things done right without wasting money on deciding whether or not it should be done right.

After pondering this a little, the only thing I really want to see is change. We have way too many people working odd hours and being on call to have a situation where if they got called to work, they would be in the same situation as I am in. The money really isn't important as the principle of the situation. The kids' birthdays are just round the corner....I can make it up once I recover from the shock of dumping all of my assest except my job into a house.

A funny thing happens when a person starts referring to his career as a job. Most of my job is writing, which I love to do. The rest is tedious paperwork and talking to customers. Saturdays are usually spent doing tedious paperwork and talking to customers. My attitude wasn't very good when I left work yesterday. I've got another day to at least be postive enough to talk to my boss.

BTW....one of my best friends is the one who ended up winning the gift certificate. He ended up buying me a cool painting for about a quarter of the money he won as a gift. I certainly can't be too upset about the outcome.

[wakimika]

That is indeed a raw deal and if I was the "winner" of that raffle, you would have received a check for $250 the next day.

I hope you got a gift receipt with that painting; presents for your niece and nephew are right there. :)

[kambuckta]

Yes. That seriously sucks.

But I got a crappy set of glasses from my mum for Xmas that I'll happily send you as the Consolation Prize if that helps.

:D

[Cheesesteak]

Your management sounds like a bunch of little children "oooh, bjohn isn't here, hee hee, he doesn't get the prize!" This is flat out bullshit. Tell your boss you think it's bullshit, and you feel very much like you should have stayed at the party and shown up at the office late/unprepared to work just like everyone else did. You made an effort to be professional and provide good labor for the company's dollar, and got screwed for it.

[E.T. Bass]

What kind of business are you in? I don't think that a company should throw a party unless all participants, drunks (people like me) and sobers (people like you) should be allowed the day off the next morning. Why have a party hwne people had to be at work so early the next day? The party could of been held at 6 PM, and ended by 1030 PM. The drunks could get loaded and get home and sleep it off. 1 AM? Hell, that's past my bedtime on saturday night and I am only 36 years old. I would call bullshit on that one.

If you are an employee in good standing, i would report this to a supervisor, or to a boss in your division. Hey, I had to be at work at 630 AM, It is impossible for me to stay up until 1 AM to claim a prize that I had no knowledge of beforehand. Come on!

Maybe you cannot retrieve that 500 bucks BUT you can probably get the boss' symapthy to cut down your hours at full pay perhaps?

What business are you in? You did not say (I bet either retail, Fed EX, or postal service)

ET

[paulberserker]

yeah, thats a complete ripoff what the hell's wrong with going 'oh, bjohns won it, we'll sort him out tomorrow because he's had to work early doors tomorrow while we'll all be nursing hangovers'.

wrong wrong wrong. If I were in your position i'd be kicking off and no mistake.

[Sister Vigilante]

That is crap and I feel for you.

Complain to your boss, and his boss if that doesn't work. Rat everyone out who showed up late and drunk the next day. And get your money.

[yBeayf]

I work on the IT helpdesk of a medium-sized company. Our corporate Christmas party is always on a Thursday night, as most of the executives are Jewish, but there is work scheduled the next day. However, the party always has an open bar, and people tend to drink to excess (this year, we only had two casualties serious enough to warrant visits to the emergency room). We on the helpdesk, though, *love* the day after, because there are no calls whatsoever for most of the day, as those with lesser hangovers slowly filter in to work. :D

[Ca3799]

No good deed goes unpunished.

Serioulsy, I've found that 'taking one for the company' rarely pays off in my experience.

[Shodan]

Ain't it fun being the grown-up?

"Let's schedule bjohn13 for Saturday - he's the only one who isn't going to stay up all night getting ruined at the company party."

And I would be surprised if anything serious is done to make it up to you. Companies that need a non-drinker around to carry the ball for the rest of the drunks on the payroll don't usually think in those terms.

Wish there were something more we could say than "That sux".

Regards,
Shodan

[Cat Whisperer]

What Ca3799 said. In my vast experience with working, taking one for the company is almost universally ignored. Do try to get some restitution for this very unfair situation, but if nothing is done, make a mental black mark against this company. That was a crappy way to treat a good employee (heck, *any* employee).

[Cat Whisperer]

Um, finishing my thought about mental black marks, you decide how many constitutes a "well, let's get my resume updated and go fishing."

[dav01]

bjohn13- I don't know the size of your company, but most companies with at least 20 or so employees have a Human Resources department, even if it's just one person. It's the job of HR to take care of injustices like this. I would plant myself in front of the HR director's desk and calmly explain what happened- they are probably already aware, but you seem to present it to the board with the proper emotional detachment that you would need to avoid being labeled by the company as an alarmist.

HR departments usually have a direct line of communication to the legal department of the company- again, if your company is large enough. The litigation-happy nature of employees these days tends to make corporate legal departments rather cautious about employee injustice. You might not get much satisfaction about what happened this year, but you may be the reason it doesn't ever happen again.

Stand up for yourself. Good luck.

[Quartz]

bjohn13, who was the senior company officer present at the party? Was your boss also present? Your boss should have accepted the prize on your behalf. Write to both of them and state what happenned and how disappointed you feel, but put it professionally. Do state why you had to leave early. Don't threaten anything.

[hajario]

Originally posted by Duke
I know that the various gang of malcontents will be here any minute to say, "Well, those are the rules, so tough noogies."

Hmm. We have 20+ responses and all of them are supportive. It looks like your predictions of all these assholes showing up in the thread fell a wee bit short. By my count there was only one person making a jackass statment in this tread. Look in the mirror, pal.

Haj

[Scuba_Ben]

Since your job was so important that the company had to have someone cover it at 6:30 AM on a Saturday plus four more people at 8 AM, go ahead and write up the person whom you had to send home for being too drunk to work. The usual advisories about proper references to company policy and about professional attitude apply in spades.

You're not taking your shitty situation out on the drunken sot. No, your beef is with the company. You played by the rules and got screwed out of half the party and $500, the company played by the rules and assigned people to morning shifts on a weekend the day after the party, the people who showed up drunk should play by the rules too.

Acutally, now that I've written that, go ahead and write up the other people for being drunk on the job.

If the company really wanted your job covered to professional standards, they shouldn't have a late party with an open bar.

[jjimm]

That's fucking outrageous.

Write a polite letter saying exactly what you've just said (without any vitriol), and send it to the CEO. I'd also suggest that a nice gesture for someone who sacrificed their enjoyment for the betterment of the company might have been to say "bjohn13 isn't here because he's working tomorrow. So it's pretty cool that he won the draw. We'll give him his prize at work tomorrow."

And get your resume up to date.

[TwistofFate]

Did they call out your name, or did they call out a raffle ticket number?

[Duke]

Originally posted by hajario
Hmm. We have 20+ responses and all of them are supportive. It looks like your predictions of all these assholes showing up in the thread fell a wee bit short. By my count there was only one person making a jackass statment in this tread. Look in the mirror, pal.

Haj Actually, I would like to hope that my comment forestalled some negative comments. I've seen way too many people just coming in here to vent and then getting pounded.

I didn't want bjohn's perfectly legitimate complaint to be buried in a "Those are the rules!" fit of sniping. Hey, I was being completely supportive's of bjohn's situation. If that's jerkish, we don't have enough jerks here.

[hajario]

Originally posted by Duke
I didn't want bjohn's perfectly legitimate complaint to be buried in a "Those are the rules!" fit of sniping. Hey, I was being completely supportive's of bjohn's situation. If that's jerkish, we don't have enough jerks here.

I hate to use the word "jerkish" because the has a connotation that the post was a bannable offence, which it cetainly wasn't. The supportive part was fine. The maligning of a community wasn't, IMO. Your assertion that there are a regular gang of us here who automatically attack every Pit post without thinking about the situation was way off base. Your next assertion that your first post was the reason that this vicious gang held off this time is laughable.

Haj

[Silver Serpentine]

Wow. That sucks. I'd raise hell, myself. You might ant to do it in a more polite way than I would, heh. That's completely unfair.

Let us know what happens.

[PunditLisa]

Yup, you were screwed. Good luck in fighting TPTB.

[NicePete]

Originally posted by hajario
I hate to use the word "jerkish" because the has a connotation that the post was a bannable offence, which it cetainly wasn't. The supportive part was fine. The maligning of a community wasn't, IMO. Your assertion that there are a regular gang of us here who automatically attack every Pit post without thinking about the situation was way off base. Your next assertion that your first post was the reason that this vicious gang held off this time is laughable.

Haj

Lighten up, Francis.

[Duke]

Haj, I stand by my comment that these kinds of threads usually get dumped on. But you're right that I went over the line in saying it, and I apologize for that.

[Khadaji]

You lost me pretty early on by implying that people who drink can't be responsible.because of the company's misguided belief that people who are responsible should be punished Hey guess what? I drink and I am responsible. Sorry you have to work, but maybe that is simply how the rotation worked out. Someone had to work and this time it was you. If they have consistently done this, then perhaps you have cause for your whining.

[hajario]

Originally posted by Duke
Haj, I stand by my comment that these kinds of threads usually get dumped on. But you're right that I went over the line in saying it, and I apologize for that.

See what happens when you apologize, the very next guy dumps on the OP. :D

Haj

[Bill H.]

bjohn13, you're right on the money about calmly expressing what happened to management, and especially about finding the right person who can do something. If you're on good terms with your boss, that's a good start. Don't talk like you were cheated. Talk like you're disappointed about the process.

[CrazyCatLady]

On the bright side, at least you were given the opportunity to attend your office Christmas party. Ours was held last Saturday night, when pretty much the entirety of the emergency staff was either currently working, had just finished a 9-hour shift, or had to be at work at 8 the next morning. They held the party at some seedy little bar, which was something of a problem for the handful of employees (again, mostly on the ER staff) who are under-21. Then the day staff bitches about how the emergency people never come to office social events.

I cannot tell you how many times I have had this exact conversation over the last month:

You're coming to the party, right?

No, I have to work that night.

Well, you can come after work.

I'm scheduled till 2am, and I'm usually here till 3 or 4. The party ends at 10 and the bar closes at 2.

Well, you can come for a little bit before work.

I have to be here at 5, and the party doesn't start till 7.

Well, somebody can come work for an hour or so for you so you can come.

Oh, goody! Which part of my shift do you want to cover?

Oh, I can't do it, but I'm sure you can find somebody.

[lezlers]

I agree you should talk to the boss. That's a buncha bullshit. Although as Twist asked, I'm curious, did they announce your name, or just the ticket number? Did they know it was you who won? Go to the boss and explain the situation. I'm also a firm believer in the philosophy that taking one for the team usually ends up in you getting fucked over, and nothing more.

And if it was truly one of your best friends that won after you, I'd think they'd know the story and would've at least split the prize with you. That's kinda fucked up that they're all "dude, that sucks. Here's a painting. Merry Christmas and sorry you can't get the kiddies any gifts because you got jacked out of the money you won, which I ended up getting. Aight, I'm gonna go do some shopping now..."

Is it just me, or does that sound like not the friendliest thing to do?

[Skydive101]

So sorry that happened to you. Your OP was very well written and thought out, one of the better ones I've seen lately. I'd brush it up and send it to HR and see what they can do. Here's hoping you get a big bump for being a trooper on this one.

[Zabali_Clawbane]

It's the thought that counts, why not pick up some gifts for you neice and nephew in January, and send them? Better late than not at all. Explain that you are very strapped and could not afford to get them a gift in December, but that you still wanted to get them something as soon as you could. I think they'll just be glad to get a gift most likely.

It does seem unfair that you didn't get your prize. :(

[CanvasShoes]

Originally posted by Zette
Hey, that fucking sucks no matter how you slice it. How can you be required to be there to win at a company Christmas party? I call bullshit on THAT policy. I'm mad for you, if it's any consolation at all. Amen. I've never heard of any such thing happening at a company Christmas drawing. IME, they just hand it over the next day.

I'm sorry, that sucks. And yes, IMHO, it's very unfair!! I wish you some good Karmic comeback.

[The Mad Hermit]

I've heard of this happening. At my wife's company Christmas party, they decided to change how the gifts would be done this year.

Last year, they called everybody by tables- the tables were numbered and the numbers drawn, so when your table number was called you got in line to pick a gift from an open (unwrapped) gift table.

This year, they did the drawings as you entered the door. My wife won a clothing bag with the company logo, and some items from a TV station in Erie PA (anyone ever watch Fox 66? I have a hat and T-shirt now.) After we sat down, another manager (she was recently promoted) informed her that this year, managers don't get gifts- although they didn't say anything at the table, this manager kept bringing the subject up whenever anyone came over to the table- making me pissed, although for my wife's sake I remained quiet. (Everyone told my wife how rude the manager was the next day.)

There were additional drawings for grand prizes- our first year we won a video camera- but the Big Boss decided to keep everyone at the party, so he announced: If you are not here you don't get the prize, and the prizes will be called out over the course of the evening, so stay and mingle.

There was nothing to do but dance to the DJ, who played wedding-style songs (typical reception stuff except for the schmaltzy tunes) or drink at the cash bar. Oh, and listen to shop talk. There's nothing more boring than someone else's job gossip.

The only lively point was the secretary who got soused and spent the evening showing off the tattoos on her thighs and trying to seduce the company president, who seemed not to mind until his wife stepped in.

The difference between this party and the OP's was that no one worked the very next day, and you had a clear choice- stay to be eligible to win.

I hope that your message is listened to by your management, however. What they did just sucked.

[NurseCarmen]

My work party is tonight. I work tomorrow, just like everyone.

bjohn13, I really hope you stand up for yourself. You were screwed, and anyone you talk to is an idiot if they don't recognize it. They probably didn't think of that at the moment due to the fog of alcohol. They're sober now, they'll recognize it, and maybe they'll even do something about it.