I once read a statistic that said the average person changes careers three to four times in a lifetime.  If motherhood counts I am on number 2.5.

In my experience as an "employee" I have met many different types of bosses; some good and some that needed lots and lots of work.  Some of my jobs have been very different from each other.  And in others only the people and location have changed.  But what never seems to change is my opinion of the employee/boss relationship.

My mother was a very conservative woman.  She ingrained in me certain fundamental lessons, among them that you don't drink (alcohol) at work/during work functions.  I don't know exactly how you go about teaching this lesson.  I mean, is it one of those things you tell your kids while you're teaching them to clean behind both their ears and brush their teeth or is it a more subtle lesson?

Regardless, I have always had this knowledge in my head so at office parties and events I've always stuck with nursing my one glass of wine or drinking a beer or two.  This behavior never seemed to bother anyone when I was younger (or maybe I just didn't notice that it did).  But now, for some reason, it serves to drive the boss' nuts!

My former boss' mission at the "holiday party" was to see who would get the most drunk and the most disorderly.  He reveled at the idea of his employees losing total control at his party.  Similarly, he openly jeered at anyone who didn't keep up.

I've seen rave parties thrown by companies where everyone gets trashed and no one is left standing.  These parties last all night and are generally held at large hotels with fully paid rooms.  Every year they try to outdo the year before with booze and entertainment.

Happy hour is common-place.  Employers and employees alike frequent bars together to discuss work and leisure.

I guess I understand that employers want their employees to be happy.  And I guess alcohol is one way to accomplish that.  But, is that what society dictates?  How has this come to be?  And why does management get visibly upset when you don't drink and party-it-up with everyone else?

Is it so wrong to show restraint?  When did restraint equal uptight?

Don't get me wrong, I've had my share of sleeping next to the toilet after a night of drinking.  I've woken up and not remembered how I got there.  I've vowed never to drink again, ever!  I like to drink and get buzzed just like the next gal. (1)

I simply can't agree that it's not total bad news to drink with your employer. 

They say that an interview is similar to a date.  Each party is working towards a match.  And I know that employer/employee relationships have evolved from what they once were (throughout the decades).  But, I still can't get drunk in front of my boss.  I see that as a total lack of respect, both for him/her and for myself.  And the fact that they want me to do it, makes me want to do it even less.

This has been on my mind recently and I am struggling with it.  Lately, I've had marvelous excuses for not drinking at my current job.  First, I was pregnant.  And then, when the baby was born, I was nursing. 

I am out of excuses.  So, do I risk become a pariah during work functions or do I simply opt out of them because I don't wish to make a fool out of myself?

What say you, readers?  Do you drink and be merry with the boss or not?  And why do the bosses want everyone to drink so badly?

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End Notes:
(1)  I gotta add here that I haven't been drunk in a long time.  I think I'm just not at that place in my life right now.  I don't really have an interest in getting wasted.  I do enjoy a glass of wine or a beer once in a while though...