Should my partner come to my work Christmas party even though they hate it?
The complainant says
My workplace has one partners-invited party a year. Everyone brings their other half and it's genuinely important socially, especially as I'm up for promotion. My partner came once three years ago, said it was the most boring night of their life, and has refused every year since.
This year I've asked them to come for just two hours, then they can leave. They said no again and told me I should be able to go to a party on my own like an adult.
The other side says the partner, as the complainant tells it
They say they have nothing in common with my colleagues, they spent the whole evening being asked what they do for a living, and they'd rather not waste a Saturday night being polite to strangers. They say they support my career in plenty of other ways.
Jury discussion (5 comments)
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Being asked what you do for a living twenty times is genuinely awful though.
Once a year, two hours, when you're up for promotion. That's a small ask.
Deal: two hours at the party in exchange for two hours at something they love that you find boring.
Plenty of people go alone. Your promotion should not depend on your partner making small talk.
Should not, but in some workplaces it absolutely does. That's reality.