Drinking At Work Event

[Guest guptkhalis]

WJKK WJKF

Daas is amritdhari and at work we are having many events at pubs for christmas get together. I am getting much pressure to attend these events as my work says they are for professional development to spend time with coworkers. I don't want to single myself and make a big deal why I can't go, but i am also wondering if it is wrong for me to go? It doesn't feel right to go...

I go to restaurants all the time, but pub seems like its more dedicated to alcohol/beer...

Any input in how to deal with these situations...

[Guest sikh]

just say you have a family commitment that you can't get out of, e.g. looking after your elderly grandmother.

[Shamshere]

Just make an appearance for work's sake but when people start getting drunk go home.

[Guest]

Stay for a hour and then leave to go to the gurduwara.

[skaur8888]

don't go if you feel uncomfortable with it - just to fit in at work, its more important to fit in with Guruji

[savinderpalsingh]

WaheguruJiKaKhalsa!!WaheguruJiKiFateh!!

i never goto a place like that with my collegues

i dont eat anything from outside to start with so , its saves lot of troubles for me

[tuhintuhin]

WJKK WJKF

Daas is amritdhari and at work we are having many events at pubs for christmas get together. I am getting much pressure to attend these events as my work says they are for professional development to spend time with coworkers. I don't want to single myself and make a big deal why I can't go, but i am also wondering if it is wrong for me to go? It doesn't feel right to go...

I go to restaurants all the time, but pub seems like its more dedicated to alcohol/beer...

Any input in how to deal with these situations...

same situation, I never attend.....I went once long time ago, that was just watching others drink and drunken dancing..food mostly non-veg.....then they ask you to dance with them......too much to take..........just tell them you are not a party goer....

[sukhi077]

if it becomes possible then go and give your haajari and sit for 5 mins...and come back to home....

[luckysingh99]

Just make an appearance for work's sake but when people start getting drunk go home.

I agree here !

It sounds like you in UK and I can imagine the pressure and talks going on.

The christmas party/pub culture or hotel bars...etc.. is VERY popular at this time of the year, and because it is the whiteman's culture,-everybody feels inclined to attend.

It's a good way to meet the people higher up and even potential clients.

In terms of professional development, It's sad to say that if you don't attend then it may have a negative impact in the future. This is because, people in power can easily single you out and kind of omit your presence in any future plans.

Therefore, it is wise to attend, obeserve, interact and like Shamshere says above,...leave when they start getting drunk.

It's usually in the first 45min/1hour, that any sensible conversation takes place have and after this they just want to have some intoxicated fun.-SO, it's also a very wise time to make your exit.

Everyone will appreciate that you made the effort to attend even if you didn't stay too long, compared to losing 'office respect' for not bothering.

P.S.- You should NEVER lie or make some excuse about looking after so and so, as someone mentioned above. I know it's a harmless excuse, but a sikh should never have to make excuses or exaggerate some event for the sake of explaining.

[Singhstah]

I am shocked by the manmat advice being given here. Under no circumstances should you go to any such event. Countless gursikhs who do kirat kamai are invited to these events and don't attend. You are not answerable to any of these people, your rozi roti is in the hands of Guru Sahib alone. It is strictly forbidden for Gursikhs to go to such places. To even step foot inside such an environment is compromising your sikhi and naam abhiyaas.

Bhai Rama Singh Ji has compared going into such places like walking into a room full of soot - it is impossible for anyone who enters to leave without some level of being covered in it!

Just think - just as going into sat sangat makes your bhagti easier and gives you an environment condusive for guNs (virtues) to increase within, going into kusangat (bad sangat), gives your vikaars (inner bad qualities) an environment to become stronger.

The ideal would be to explain exactly why it is against your rehat, but if thats not possible, there is no harm in using a sensible excuse, this does not count as speaking jhoot.

Bhai Gurdas Jee says:

ਕਾਹੂ ਦਸਾਕੇ ਪਵਨ ਗਵਨ ਕੈ ਬਰਖਾ ਹੈ, ਕਾਹੂ ਦਸਾਕੇ ਪਵਨ ਬਾਦਰ ਬਿਲਾਤ ਹੈ ॥
ਕਾਹੂ ਜਲ ਪਾਨ ਕੀਏ ਰਹਤ ਅਰੋਗ ਦੋਹੀ, ਕਾਹੂ ਜਲ ਪਾਨ ਬਿਆਪੇ ਬ੍ਰਿਥਾ ਬਿਲਲਾਤ ਹੈ ॥
ਕਾਹੂ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਕੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਪਾਕ ਸਾਕ ਸਿਧਿ ਕਰੈ, ਕਾਹੂ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਕੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਭਵਨੁ ਜਗਤ ਹੈ ॥
ਕਾਹੂ ਕੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਮਿਲਿ ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਹੁਇ, ਕਾਹੂ ਕੀ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਜਮੁਪੁਰਿ ਜਾਤ ਹੈ ॥549॥

1. Air of some direction is such that results in rainfall and air of some direction is such that disburses the clouds.

2. Some kind of water results in making the body healthy but drinking some kind of water results in the person crying in pain.

3. Fire in some houses helps in cooking food and fire in some houses burns the whole house down.

4. Company of some (people) results in making one Jeevan Mukat and company (Sangat) of some (people) takes one to Jampur (hell).