Your Employer's Social Events: Anxiety, Boredom and More

Team-building retreats, happy hours, celebration lunches, client dinners, softball games and more. Participating in those social events tend to be expected for full-time employees. Most of you experience anxiety being around the higher-ups, boredom chatting with co-workers/subordinates and fear of consuming too much alcohol in order to feel comfortable. 

Rarely, though, are they mandatory. However, your absence can be noted. 

And they were for employee Lionel Lim at accounting firm ClintonLarsonAllen. In his lawsuit Lim v ClintonLarsonAllen the associate contends he was terminated for non-attendance. In this era when anxiety is the new common cold his reason for skipping the jolly good times might resonate.

Bloomberg Law reports:

"Lionel Lim accused CLA of showing a 'willful' and 'reckless disregard' for his well-being by not exempting him from non-mandatory events like happy hours after he reported suffering from social anxiety ..."

Yes, Lim went by the book. He disclosed his emotional disability to his superior Jon Trautman. He wanted permission to opt out. However, Trautman, Lim claims, told him to "move out of his comfort zone." Requests to HR to be excused from the events also were not effective. 

Another beef about interacting, although off-duty, is that that extra time is not paid for. Sure, the employee might be on salary and receive benefits but there is usually no extra compensation for an employment-associated activity. Frequently attendees also are dead tired.

Professional services firms are well-known for the off-duty get-togethers. On Reddit summer interns at prominent law firms make observations about all the expected socializing. Associates balk about the after-hours stuff, questioning how long should they consider staying at each event before bolting. Meanwhile in those top-down driven organizations social skills tend to be necessary to hold onto the job and be promoted. 

Overall, documents Bloomberg Law, there is an increase in formal requests for accommodating mental health conditions. So this lawsuit is bound to get attention.

Way back when I kept it under wraps that I was treated for anxiety and simply got through the socializing at the full-time job. One employer was a southern-based energy corporation so there were plenty of after-work get-togethers and multiple-day retreats. It was a relief to pivot from that to the rough-and-tumble auto industry in the midwest where we just hunkered down with the work per se.

In coaching I warn clients to size up the culture and the power system before requesting any accommodations. This is an era when employers have most of the power.

Careers? So Over. It’s about Earning a Good Living. No matter what.

Complimentary consultation. No Pressure. Street-smart Guidance. Contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.


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