WWYD-Work-related party

MommyAtty

So I'm stuck inviting my group to my house for a social function. I really can't not do it, though I hate crap like this. My group is small. 3 people who all report to me, plus me. One of them is married with 2 kids, one is single with a kid, one is single with no kids. That seems like a really teeny party to me. I'm thinking about inviting others from our group, but to invite our entire group would be just too much. So is it okay to invite just some people? So long as I had some sort of logical breaking point? Am I totally overthinking this and should just invite who I want to?

bethann3181

What is the purpose of the get together?

MommyAtty

This is a very informal barbeque-type party. I'm doing it because my Chief Legal Officer was appalled that the attorneys who work for me had never been to my house. And as a thank you for them really stepping up while I was on maternity leave. (Though given my druthers I would give them gifts for that, not a party.) I can comfortably have about 20-25 people in my house, and we have a nice backyard area as well. But my personal limit is about 20.

BabyHope2013

I would just keep it to your small group. You might have a logical way of picking who to invite and who not to---but someone else who isn't invited might not see it that way. Personally---I think smaller groups are better anyway, as opposed to a ton of people. Also count on the fact that the weather may or may not cooperate which means that you might be stuck with a bunch of people inside your house if it rains. 

VOR

What is "your group" vs the "entire group"?  I need to undrestand that before I can go and say "sure- it's ok to invite some but not others!"

Pips09

I'd keep it to the small group. Makes the most sense, easiest on you. Also, as thrilled as you are to have to be hosting this party, unless it's on a workday, your guests are probably equally thrilled about having to attend. 

*sparky*

Another vote for keeping it small. 

MommyAtty

We have sort of concentric circles. My group is about half the legal staff in my department. Eventually, all the legal staff with report to me. (Just as soon as my totally worthless jerk coworker retires.) so draw another circle around "legal team. Then, the biggest circle around the technical department we are in, made up of scientists and engineers, which is quite large. I think I'm going to invite the whole legal team since that's really only one more attorney and one paralegal who are local. And their families. And just for clarification, my CLO didn't tell me to do this as a thank you. He told me to do it because our company culture demands leaders open their homes to their teams fairly regularly. So damn it, I can't be mad because he really is helping me further my career here. And I'm invited to his house at least once a year with all the other lawyers and our families.

bumpuser10331514

I guess pizza, beer, and bubbles for the kids is underachieving, huh?

MommyAtty

SomebabiesMom said:

I guess pizza, beer, and bubbles for the kids is underachieving, huh?

Not by much! I'm doing barbeque, the appropriate sides, and beer. And the kids can color and blow bubbles. I may get buck-wild and break out the sidewalk chalk!