Drinks after work

[boa]

I use to give the workers at work a few free drinks afterwork on a Friday at times, Saying it is there responsibility, etc to do the right thing; this was at a pub not at work, at times, I paid for the first few drinks etc. I have just been informed this is discriminatory to other staff who cannot attend for various reasons. Hang on it is my money, it is after workinghours, it is a blanket invitation to all staff, yet I am doing the wrong thing.

[d2dave]

Who told you this? What if you give some of your friends a job then you go to the pub after work and you decide to shout your friends. This has to be legal, as these are your friends.

As for your original comment. I can't see how this can be discriminating as the offer is for all your staff. I will be interested to hear others comment on this.

[JayBoRover]

So if I have a birthday dinner next week and invite a few family and friends, but forget to make it an open invitation to all of AULRO, my workplace (2,700 employees!) or the whole of Australia, am I discriminating against them?

So I better invite absolutely everyone (is this how those drunken street parties the cop's love to hate so much start?) but then I am discriminating against those in Tasmania that simply can't get away due to the ferry's running out of diesel (may as well start a rumour while I'm here for some extra fun).

Just take the team out for drinks and enjoy being in a position where you can do this:cool:. Don't worry too much about the stupidity of some people. Be sensible about how you manage things, keep things in perspective, respect your workers and their common sense and they should respect your position and support you.

So where's my invitation, or are you going to discriminate against me because I don't work for you??:D

[Landy Smurf]

stuff them, sounds like they are just whinging for the sake of it

[stallie]

Some primary schools - including some prestige private ones - have a rule that students's party (eg birthday) invitations must go to he whole class.......

[Homestar]

If it is a blanket invitation, then tell the ones complaining to **** off and stop spoiling it for the rest.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j443/Bacicat2000/General%20Stuff/1C9E8EB9-D3DD-46B0-898E-EB4F39335C3A-1122-0000018F17DC0A11.jpg

[JDNSW]

Some primary schools - including some prestige private ones - have a rule that students's party (eg birthday) invitations must go to he whole class.......
I have run across this, but the difference is that the discrimination is considered avoided by issuing the invitation to everyone - which boa says he has done.

John

[SLOWBOAT]

Common sense is not common anymore but the Spoilt Brat system is.
It's all about me me me now and if I miss out so should everyone else or change it to suit me. Oh I don't drink so you ALL have to go to a non alcoholic place now and drink lemon grass ade.
Spare me the crap I just can't take it anymore.!!!!!!!!!:soapbox:

[p38arover]

I use to give the workers at work a few free drinks afterwork on a Friday at times, Saying it is there responsibility, etc to do the right thing; this was at a pub not at work, at times, I paid for the first few drinks etc. I have just been informed this is discriminatory to other staff who cannot attend for various reasons. Hang on it is my money, it is after workinghours, it is a blanket invitation to all staff, yet I am doing the wrong thing.

Tell those who do go that you can no longer do it as Billy Bloggs has complained. They will soon sort Billy out.

[Hoges]

There's always the person(s) who sees an injustice when others may be getting some benefit which they are missing out on for whatever reason...

I don't know what business you're in, or the gender balance of the staff, or the number of employees... but at the end of the day, you pay them to do a job and rightly expect them all to give their best while on the job.

Now here's the tricky bit: shouting a couple of rounds of drinks at the pub after work on a Friday is a good way to unwind, share ideas and encourage camaraderie. Hopefully then, on Monday, people turn up to work motivated etc etc . EXCEPT there are a few who feel left out because the group who went to the pub can appear to be more cohesive because they "get the jokes", and it's a bore having to repeat the funny stuff to those who weren't there...

So, your good intent as the "leader" is being undermined by unintended consequences.

By promoting the benefits of a social hour after work on a Friday, you may be setting in place a "them and us" culture in the workforce... there may be good reasons for people not attending... they rely on their job to support their kids, they need both partners working, they're juggling homelife ,work, debt etc etc... but deep down, what they're possibly complaining about is not so much about missing out on a couple of free drinks, but rather, the opportunity to be part of 'the group'...

I spent many years advising companies large and small on these and similar issues and I've never yet found/seen/heard the magic answer...except the smaller the business the more difficult it is.

You could invite the person(s) who complained to share their concerns with you. Remember, don't be defensive...be a listener! It may be, that depending on who it is and what they've got to say, opens up a deeper issue affecting the work group which you are not aware of. You might ask them what they could suggest to achieve the same positive outcomes (mentioned above) bearing in mind that you will not have drinks on the premises ( legal liabillity issues), affordabiility (it's not an open cheque book situation) and that it has to be an activity which all employees have reasonable chance of attending. If they can't offer a reasonable alternative then ask them what precludes them from attending at least occasionally?

What I'm advising is to get them to "own" their reasons for not attending and not just shout 'discrimination' expecting someone else to solve it. At the same time, tread carefully and see if there's more to it before you "shut any doors" ...good luck

Agony Aunt (I mean Uncle!;))

[akelly]

Ignore it. Keep doing what you're doing, sounds like a good management practice to me.

Need any more employees? ;)

[Blknight.aus]

Thats just not on, Drinks AFTER work....

A good boss has a carton in the fridge by lunch time and cracks it open for the crew at least 30 minutes before knock off...

[Eevo]

im doing a bullying/discrimination course as i type


a detriment in a work place can include:
being left out or excluded from work or work-related social functions

bit i do say stuff. go drink with who you want, when you want

[easo]

Give the complainant a hip flask full of orange juice and I'll take their place at the next after work drinks. That way your not discriminating because I'll be their stand in or body double! Therefore that person will be there in spirit.

Stupidity and Regards Easo