Employee Questions Saturday Office Holiday Party After Working More Than 40 Hours Weekly

Employee Questions Saturday Office Holiday Party After 40-Hour Workweek

A post shared to Reddit’s r/office community on Nov. 5, 2026, asked whether employees should be expected to give up part of their weekend for a company holiday party after completing a full workweek. The discussion had received 79 upvotes and 144 comments at the time of publication.

The original poster said coworkers were excited about an upcoming celebration but questioned the expectation that employees would attend on a Saturday. The employee objected to spending additional personal time with colleagues after already working more than 40 hours during the week.

“I already spend 40+ hrs at this job a week and now they want my Sat too,”

The employee also asked Reddit users how they felt about workplace holiday parties and happy hours, prompting commenters to compare their own office celebrations and expectations.

Reddit Users Describe Different Office Party Experiences

One commenter said they attended an office holiday party primarily because they felt obligated to go. Although the employee appreciated the food, drinks, decorations and coworkers they considered friends, they said the professional setting made it difficult to relax.

“I attend the office holiday party out of obligation,”

The commenter added:

“[…] I am also aware that I need to be on my best behavior. I feel like I can’t be myself at an office holiday party.”

Another employee said their employer held celebrations at the workplace, including a large event venue, which made participation easier. The gathering began at 4 p.m. on a workday and offered food and drinks before employees could head home.

“Mine is held at my workplace,”

The commenter wrote:

“Decent food, a couple drinks, and either on your way home by 7pm,”

Employees could also continue socializing elsewhere if they wanted to, rather than having the office event take over their entire evening. The commenter said the quality of the experience also depended on relationships with coworkers.

“It is important to mention I like the people I work with, though, if I didn’t, I’d probably feel like you do,”

Public-Sector and Private-Employer Parties Draw Contrasting Responses

One woman compared her own workplace celebrations with holiday parties organized by her husband’s employers. She said those events had included open bars at five-star hotels, transportation and accommodations, while her experience in the public sector was considerably more modest.

“Depends,”

The commenter replied:

“My husband’s workplaces have had great holiday parties.”

She then described her own office gathering:

“I’m public sector so my last office party was a potluck at the office so I really didn’t want to go lol,”

Another commenter praised an employer that scheduled celebrations during the workday and allowed employees to leave early. The company hosted catered events at the office beginning at 11 a.m. on Fridays or the day before a holiday.

“So I love the company I’m currently at,”

The employee explained:

“[…] everyone goes home between 2 and 3,”

The arrangement preserved employees’ evenings and weekends while still creating time for workplace socializing. The commenter said the events sometimes included light alcoholic drinks and that employees generally enjoyed attending.

“No commitment outside the work day/work week, plus a little ‘early release’ and yes, we do sometimes have light adult beverages during those events,”

They added:

“It’s great and no one feels put out, plus we really enjoy being around one another”.

Why This Matters

The Reddit discussion highlights how the timing and structure of an office holiday party can shape employees’ willingness to attend. Celebrations held during working hours or attached to an early release may feel different from events scheduled on Saturdays, when employees may expect to have personal time away from work.

The comments also show that workplace relationships, event quality and employer resources influence how employees view holiday gatherings. However, the discussion represents individual accounts rather than independently verified evidence about the employers or events described.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Reddit employee question the Saturday office holiday party?

The employee questioned whether it was reasonable to give up part of a Saturday for a company celebration after already working more than 40 hours during the week.

What types of office holiday parties did commenters describe?

Commenters described events ranging from office potlucks and workplace gatherings to catered daytime celebrations, hotel parties with open bars, transportation and accommodations.

Were the Reddit accounts independently verified?

No. The Daily Dot said it was unable to independently verify the accounts. The identities, employers and usernames of the poster and commenters were not confirmed.