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Would you feel the same way about other work social events? Some places of business also host going-away parties and retirement parties at work and it's held during work hours. Sure, it might make you seem unsocial if you don't attend but I doubt anyone gets fired over it.
On company time, and each attendee to bring a gift....
Admittedly, have never been to a baby shower (not my culture). I also am not close to the mom-to-be, and I feel that such things are best celebrated outside the workforce. In a setting with many young women of childbearing age, introducing this concept may get costly.
What are your thoughts?
No. Not on company time. Have them with your friends, not co-workers
Would you feel the same way about other work social events? Some places of business also host going-away parties and retirement parties at work and it's held during work hours. Sure, it might make you seem unsocial if you don't attend but I doubt anyone gets fired over it.
Do those events come with a list of place to gift shop off the designee's registries?
Do those events come with a list of place to gift shop off the designee's registries?
Most retirement parties don't have a registry, but there is usually a collection tatken up. The purpose of a baby shower is to "shower" the new parent with gifts they'll need. For a work shower, though, it needs to voluntary and low key. Come, have some cake, sign the card--no big deal.
Not appropriate.
I am tired of the assumption that employees and employers have that an employee can afford to contribute to a gift. There is more of the working poor and people are struggling to have very basic needs.
Most retirement parties don't have a registry, but there is usually a collection tatken up. The purpose of a baby shower is to "shower" the new parent with gifts they'll need. For a work shower, though, it needs to voluntary and low key. Come, have some cake, sign the card--no big deal.
Agreed! I would have happily signed a card, and contributed some funds to the cause for a collective gift.
It's one thing to give a party after hours so those who are invited can choose not to come. But no matter how you plan it, an office party almost always touches everyone in the office whether they want to be a part of it or not.
Even though people may be told attending is "voluntary", people will remember who participated and who bought a gift and who did not. That can affect working relations on the job and probably isn't the best thing for the company.
But the main reason I think office baby showers should never happen is because you never know who wants a baby and can't have one or who has miscarried a baby they wanted. I remember the one office baby shower someone tried to give (in a very small office) and one of the employees was found crying in the bathroom. Unknown to anyone, she had just miscarried her first child. She wasn't "forced" to attend this baby shower, but it was in the lunchroom and obviously the whole place knew about it as it was going on.
I can't think of anything crueler to do to someone than to make him/her an involuntary participant in a baby shower when they themselves want a baby so much and know they aren't going to be able to.
I used to attend a lot of these at work during the lunch hour usually or in a smaller office close up a little early and have it then late afternoon. I noticed in the past 10 years or so they’ve fizzled out , but mostly due to the societal rule now that every single event must be over the top. The showers are now simply too big and fancy to have at work anymore, so now it’s a venue outside of work.
Do those events come with a list of place to gift shop off the designee's registries?
The wedding showers do.
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