No, not THAT kind of politics (we have about 465,217 threads on Trump and AOC elsewhere). I want to ask how you deal with people and petty politics in your workplace. Because ... one of my colleagues asked me to lunch today to celebrate my birthday. I said "Sure, thanks, and as far as I'm concerned, everyone is welcome!" I secretly prayed it would be an intimate luncheon "à deux," because I like her, but I hate groups, especially group lunches, and this group will not include some support staff whose company I prefer. But, to my horror, she took me at my word, and now a whole mob is forming to go out to celebrate my birthday. Worse, we have to go to a certain outdoor rooftop place, not in easy walking distance, this to accommodate the covid concerns of one, and only one, of my colleagues. He's got this heavy duty mask on ALL the time. Worse still, I don't like him anyway. But no one knows this. So, shall I punish myself by grinning and bearing an outing I dread in order to accommodate the covid obsession of someone I don't even like? On MY birthday? Uh, no, I shall not. But I can't tell the truth about all this, see, because Covid guy outranks me and is popular. So I've decided to inform colleague #1 that, as much as I appreciate the thought, I will unfortunately have to work through lunch today and will eat at my desk with the door closed. "The rest of you go on ahead and have fun!" "Oh come on, live a little!" she'll say. To myself: Yes, that's exactly what I have in mind. How would you have handled this or any other social get together with workplace colleagues that you dreaded?
This is easy. When she started welcoming everyone was the point in time to have told her, You know the part about welcoming everyone? I changed my mind. Where are you and me going for lunch? So, if she brings u p the lunch say it now. You're being honest and she's probably going to lunch with you for your birthday.
Go. Be nice and be generous (ladies like that). Buy a few rounds but surreptitiously dump yours (or tell the waiter). Wait until everyone is well-lubed then pull your paramour aside, tell her what you just told us and what Falena said you should have told her. Good luck.
Sure, but the Hallmark movie format dictates you have only about 10 minutes to cause turmoil. Then this whole birthday ditch and switch, ends with happiness.
In my fantasies, I would go with the group while donning a full Tyvek suit, NBC gasmask and UV dissinfectant equipment and compliment Covid-guy on his dedication to public health while passive-aggressively suggesting that he's only in it for the attention, otherwise he would be taking more effective steps at actually preventing the spread of dangerous disease instead of just putting up appearances with a useless mask. ...but in reality, I would just do what you did.
I'd go and sit next to mask man and then proceed to fart continuosly to see if the mask saves him (might want to consider several hard boiled eggs for breakfast). Do it for science. You'll never be invited anywhere again. No need to thank me.
