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Awkward work holiday party situation
So, I'm a contract attorney, which is sort of like a glorified temp. I go into the office once every 10 days or so for an hour or two to meet with my boss, get files, drop stuff off, etc, and the rest of the time I work from home. My first two weeks, I worked in the office, but that was back in October.
When I started, I was on a distribution list about the holiday party. It was just a "save the date" for this Friday afternoon and I didn't really think much about it. I just assumed it was some catered thing in the conference room.
Yesterday I went in to pick something up, and on my way out the receptionist and secretary asked if I was coming on Friday. I had totally forgotten about it, but knew I had something else to do in the city on Friday, so I was like, "sure, I'll drop by." Then they told me they needed to know if I wanted meat or vegetarian by tomorrow. I said meat and was then like, "wait, is it here?" And they said it was off-site at some restaurant. They hand me a printed invite and I'm all caught off guard. I just told them I'd see them on Friday and left.
So, I don't actually know if I'm invited. I did get that one save the date, but I never got anything asking for my meal request and or telling me where the party is. I'm on some distribution lists (I got an email about toys for tots collection drive), so I don't know if there just wasn't more emails about the party, or if I was specifically excluded from them or what. My boss has never mentioned it to me.
I don't really want to go...I don't really know anyone there since I work with just one person. I don't know all the secretaries names because I didn't work there long enough to meet them and remember them. I was friendly with a couple of the attorneys, but I haven't had a conversation with them since I was regularly in the office in October.
But, my husband thinks I should go for networking purposes...since this would be a good chance to actually socialize with these people. He does have a point, but I just don't know if I'm really invited.
Ugh...I don't know what to do. Thoughts?
Re: Awkward work holiday party situation
my read shelf:
I definitely think you're invited. The fact that this is the first you've really heard about the party is likely an oversight.
When I was a contract atty, I had a similar situation - started in October, kept totally to myself, had no one to talk to at the holiday party, which I did attend. That particular party was not good for networking - obviously everyone else knew each other, and I'm sure they assumed that I was someone's spouse or something and thus made no effort to talk to me.
I think you could go either way. On the one hand, you shouldn't miss an opportunity to network with other attorneys. If you've had several covos with some of the attys and would feel comfortable making the effort to chat with them, then I say go! But practically speaking, there will probably be lots of unfamiliar faces (spouses and such) and so you may get lost in the crowd and not get a chance to do any meaningful networking.
Anything you can achieve through hard work, you could also just buy.
You're invited, and you should go (sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear!). I doubt the receptionist would've handed you an invite and asked what you wanted to eat if they weren't expressly instructed to do so... otherwise they'd have been making an assumption and I doubt that's the case.
And yes, it would be great networking and would show that you're interested in being a part of the firm (even if that's not true, it's good to keep your options open).
Actually, the receptionist and secretary don't really seem to understand my situation. Every time I go in, they comment about how weird it is that I don't come in every day. I've tried to explain that I'm a contractor, but they seem to think I'm a regular employee. On my first day there, the office manager tried to assign me a secretary before my boss had to tell her that I won't need a secretary. The place is RIDICULOUSLY disorganized.
So, it's extremely likely that they were not actually empowered to invite me.
FWIW, last week, I was trying to schedule a meeting with my boss and proposed Thursday or Friday of this week. She said she couldn't on either day, and did not mention the holiday party.
I think I'd check with your boss to see if contractors are invited. I know some companies don't invite temps and contractors to the holiday parties (mine doesn't).
If you are invited, I think you should go since you've already kind of RSVPed and the networking can't hurt.