F'n ****s at my work, what would you do?

[BanannaMan]

I thought I got along good with my staff at work. I'm the owner.
They actually refer to themselves as my friends and tell me they "love" working there.

Business has been really slow the past 2 months and even though I should not have, I've kept them at full hours when most of my competitors half had their staff working 'short time".

I happen in on a conversation yesterday and find out there's a big party planned for Friday night for everyone from work, except me.
I mention this to my office manager, What, there's a party and I'm not invited?
It was discussed , she says. and then says, You probably wouldn't want to come anyway right?

WTF

I putting them all on one day off rotation next week, foooking barstewards. Starting with the office manager.


What would you do?

[Kenzie]

I wouldn't take it personally, but some people feel they can't hang out with the boss. I guess being friends in work is ok, but outside of it might feel a little strange to some people.

[widepants]

You,re the boss and take all the risk .The're the staff and let you take the risk.Do what ever is right for you.I bet if they had the chance of a better job etc it would be bye bye.
In other words Bill....Man up and do it.
Being nice wont buy you a new bike , its just buissness

Dont mix business and pleasure. You're thier boss not thier friend. Lots of employees insincerely blow sunshine up the bosses ass, but will happily cut you out socially. For a start they dont want you seeing thier drunken antics and realising poor performance next day is due to the hangover, or if they do something daft changing your opinion of them and affecting career prospects. Many people feel they cant enjoy a night out when being watched by thier boss. If business isnt good, your staff utilisation isnt good and your competitors are cutting hours, then you need to do the same. If you go under and they are all made redundant how many do you think will give a damn about you and be your friend afterwards? Ive seen quite a few small IT firms go down because the boss was too interested in being one of the lads.

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[Fallout]

I second what's been said above by all. I've had some good managers who've I'd had some light hearted banter with and enjoy the company of, but I wouldn't want to socialise with them outside work. Nothing to do with them as people but purely because I may feel the need to make some hideous rude and depraved jokes after a few bevvies. It's not a big deal if my co-workers judge and get offended, but I'd be afraid that if my boss felt that way it'd affect my job/promotion/pay/treatment later on.

Basically, when someone is in control of a large part of your life, you want to keep them onside. When you're out getting hammered you don't want to have to rein yourself in to play the good guy for your bosses benefit.

Don't take it personally!

Edit: Also, the fact that you're willing half their working hours because you weren't invited to a party proves the point. From their perspective it's "Don't invite boss to a party = half pay". This is why employees are scared of bosses and don't want to socialise with them. Obviously you have good reason to reduce their hours because of money etc. but it's a perfect example of the power you wield.

We all have friends we wouldn't invite to certain parties its the way it is and I wouldn't want my boss to see me absolutely wasted.


Also I completely misread the start of the title, thought the n was the start of the starred out word.

[Fallout]

Originally Posted by Spank86

Also I completely misread the start of the title, thought the n was the start of the starred out word.

I know what you're thinking you bad man.

[Sid Squid]

I appreciate the relationship with the boss can be quite difficult to manage, when it comes down to it you're not friends - however friendly your relationship may be. In this circumstance, (I have experienced similar), I would expect to be informally briefed that there were a function and also that I were not invited, I know that seems tough, but it's better than finding out accidentally.

Crap situation, but now you know where you stand - if you need to can a few of them now you won't hesitate, and possibly compromise your business and your own livelihood by trying to help your 'friends'.

Then go burn down their houses.

[pookie]

I bet HR werent invited too ... it sounds like a team building exercise. Clearly there maybe other conflicts of interest which meant that your weren't invited. I imagine the "it was discussed " raisied the point. Crack the whip and make sure they pull their weight the day after

[Bibio]

if i had heard my staff talk about a party i would have piped up and made a joke of something like ''party! how come i'm not invited? ok i know i'm old and smell of wee but an invite would have been nice'' then walked of mumbling to my self while smiling then the first member off staff i come across i would order them to make me a cup of coffee.

Bill don't worry to much about it, they might think your having money problems or to old to party etc.etc and were concerned so kept it secret. from what i have seen your a good man Bill so don't change.