I think it can be a great idea for a biz to require attendance at company social events.  I worked for an organization for 4 years, and it was this way.  You didn't have to bring your wife, but you had to attend.    It was always the first question I asked, I wanted to know if Shelby or Mandy was attending.   If either one were there, it meant 100% attendance...You "Shall be" there or this is "Mandytory".  I never wanted to go, but I always had a great time and was almost the last to leave.    This helped build stronger teams with higher profits.  It also helped weed out the fluff.  Drunk, hitting on other wives, embarrassing behavior, Bigger bonuses for those who mess up, don't show, or whatever.  More in kitty to split.  

3 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

Bet you it's Japanese

Maybe D****n, the famous A/C manufacturer.

This may not have been just another regular social or company annual event. This year, almost every company has cancelled or changed the theme of the year end party in order to mourn the passing away of the Queen Mother. As this particular event was held on 5th December (Birth anniversary of late King Rama 9), social etiquette would have required all employees to attend.

Extreme reaction from a company that probably holds very boring parties. I didn't go to my company's party as I was tired and prefer to wish them luck (my assistant won an iPad in the lucky draw). Got a text from my CEO asking me to do some simultaneous translation and I said I had decided not to go. The story was dropped.

Some CEOs have common sense, others are psychopaths. 

Okay this is not right

But would have thought the Employee would have advised he was not attending the Company party in advance for what ever reason as a courtesy 

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

It comes down to lack of labour laws or enforcement... if companies can get away with it, they will.

Sorry that is complete rubbish. Thailand has very strong labour laws that and the labour court usually come down heavily in favour of the employee.

Back home almost everyone attended our Christmas party, always at a nice top-end restaurant (food and drinks all paid for), and they handed out the bonus checks at the party. Not to mention we had pretty impressive raffle giveaways, and if you wanted to, they even had a huge Golf tournament earlier in the day before the evening Christmas party. Not many people were absent 😉

3 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Sorry that is complete rubbish. Thailand has very strong labour laws that and the labour court usually come down heavily in favour of the employee.

So we'll wait and see what the outcome is....

 

The Thai labour lawyers would have a feild day with that.

8 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, for 40 Baht an employee can get a "sick certificate" from any clinic around the corner confirming being unfit with diarrhea - problem solved.

 

Why would you need a doctor's note for your free time? A quick visit to the employment office will clear that up! If I were them, I'd look for a different job.

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

It comes down to lack of labour laws or enforcement... if companies can get away with it, they will.

 

Sure the employee can go through the labour law, but then they will be blacklisted. I have seen and heard about this many times.

6 hours ago, portisaacozzy said:

its fake news so no company name

 

I disagree. Mt workplace had very very similar ideas. We were "invited" to parties, "meetings? (social events) and if we refused , they wanted a valid reason. The only validity they accepted was illness with a doctor's certificate.

6 hours ago, khunPer said:

Asia has a different company-culture than we are used to in the West. You might need to follow the local company-culture and rules, if you wish to work here...

 

Absolutely! My work place had meetings, seminars, courses outside working hours and often on public holidays. Severe illness with a doctor's certificate was the only way out.

 

When I worked in the west, all meetings, seminars and courses were mainlt held in working hours.

14 hours ago, BerndD said:

Sorry, I can't believe this is true. 

nailed  it in 7 words

10 hours ago, portisaacozzy said:

its fake news

without doubt

On 12/16/2025 at 4:58 PM, WHansen said:

Unbelievable. Nothing here surprises me anymore.

you should have stopped after the first word, as the rest kind of contradicts your initial assumption, which I thought was spot on

On 12/16/2025 at 5:06 PM, johng said:

I suspect the Thai Labour department will have something to say about this blatant illegal  stealing of  overtime pay  !

bonus and salary increases  a bit debatable  but still despicable.

a rather suspiciously vague and unspecified end to salary increases don't you think. its a joke, well nearly 

14 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

Are you suggesting naming and shaming?

They should be named and shamed. 

15 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Sorry that is complete rubbish. Thailand has very strong labour laws that and the labour court usually come down heavily in favour of the employee.

And then what would happen to the employee within the company after the verdict?

You are very naive..

Very few people take their company to a court of law... those who do will be out of a job

10 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

nailed  it in 7 words

without doubt

you should have stopped after the first word, as the rest kind of contradicts your initial assumption, which I thought was spot on

Oh, you are a word counter and sentence recycler! Great!

Nothing else to do?

Just now, BerndD said:

Oh, you are a word counter and sentence recycler! Great!

Nothing else to do?

You do understand that I quoted you to express my agreement with your comment and the fact that you were not taken in by this rubbish?

Also The last quote which for some reason you chose to repeat was in no way aimed at or connected to you

 Are you oversensitive ?  or paranoid ?  Wtf is wrong with you 

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

And then what would happen to the employee within the company after the verdict?

You are very naive..

Very few people take their company to a court of law... those who do will be out of a job

Likely they will be fired... and recieve a severance payout.

36 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

You do understand that I quoted you to express my agreement with your comment and the fact that you were not taken in by this rubbish?

Also The last quote which for some reason you chose to repeat was in no way aimed at or connected to you

 Are you oversensitive ?  or paranoid ?  Wtf is wrong with you 

Sorry, that's my poor English skills. I'll delete it.

I tried, but not possible anymore.

9 minutes ago, BerndD said:

Sorry, that's my poor English skills. I'll delete it.

I tried, but not possible anymore.

no worries I don't actually take any of this, or myself, very seriously

17 hours ago, snowgard said:

 

Why would you need a doctor's note for your free time? A quick visit to the employment office will clear that up! If I were them, I'd look for a different job.

Yes, Sir, point taken but to facilitate matters I assume, that the medical certificate is much faster to obtain in the neighbourhood of where the accused lives - me thinks! 

On 12/17/2025 at 9:34 AM, Jim Blue said:

Diarrhea ? Is this before or after the New Year dinner?

Obviously the day before to validate the medical claim 😉 

Date 13 Dec 2025 but in the complaint is uses the Chinese/Thai date of 2568, strange. Like a few people have said, I'm not sure if this is real but it mentions taking 50 hours of pay from the December pay cycle. As it's 15 Dec when it was written are they saying they are taking money from the employee for OT already worked? Making that person work OT without paying? Bothh illegal under Thai law from what I've read. So if it was mandatory for the employee to attend the event, were they being paid to attend?

Crazy! Who would want to work for such a company.  They have won themselves loads of bad publicity over nothing.

Unemployment is quite low in Thailand, so it shouldn't be too difficult  to find another job.if said employee decides to leave.

 

 

On 12/16/2025 at 12:07 PM, ikke1959 said:

Modern slavery... Companies and businesses and school think they own the workers... They have to show up whenever they want and do as they are told... That is slavery....workers can do in their free time as they like, and if they have to show up the company has to pay them double wages at least, but they can't force you,.....

It's important to draw a line in the sand when working here in Thailand.

 

I have made it very clear to my employer, what is acceptable and unacceptable to me. I will walk away from the job, if they push.

 

Example, 'we are having a Xmas day English camp & you need to attend.' The answer is 'no' every year as I am a Christian & this is a significant day in the calendar. When they push, I ask why the Muslim teachers get numerous days off for their religious beliefs. They then back off.

 

Other example : There is an important staff meeting and you need to attend. Me - when is it? Answer- tomorrow. Response - 'Can't be that important if you're only telling me about it now. No.' The idea that some notice is to be given is lost with them. The Thai bosses clearly know that the meeting was scheduled many months before!

 

I am not an unreasonable person & as long as I get reasonable notice, I will attend what is needed. Similarly, if they ask me to come in on a Saturday & Sunday, the answer is 'No.' Organise the event on a school day & leave my free time to me.

 

Boundaries people, boundaries. 🙂 

2 hours ago, firemans35 said:

Date 13 Dec 2025 but in the complaint is uses the Chinese/Thai date of 2568, strange. Like a few people have said, I'm not sure if this is real but it mentions taking 50 hours of pay from the December pay cycle. As it's 15 Dec when it was written are they saying they are taking money from the employee for OT already worked? Making that person work OT without paying? Bothh illegal under Thai law from what I've read. So if it was mandatory for the employee to attend the event, were they being paid to attend?

The money will be taken in 2026. Read the thing.

2 hours ago, hughrection said:

It's important to draw a line in the sand when working here in Thailand.

 

I have made it very clear to my employer, what is acceptable and unacceptable to me. I will walk away from the job, if they push.

 

Example, 'we are having a Xmas day English camp & you need to attend.' The answer is 'no' every year as I am a Christian & this is a significant day in the calendar. When they push, I ask why the Muslim teachers get numerous days off for their religious beliefs. They then back off.

 

Other example : There is an important staff meeting and you need to attend. Me - when is it? Answer- tomorrow. Response - 'Can't be that important if you're only telling me about it now. No.' The idea that some notice is to be given is lost with them. The Thai bosses clearly know that the meeting was scheduled many months before!

 

I am not an unreasonable person & as long as I get reasonable notice, I will attend what is needed. Similarly, if they ask me to come in on a Saturday & Sunday, the answer is 'No.' Organise the event on a school day & leave my free time to me.

 

Boundaries people, boundaries. 🙂 

I never played it so hard, as you have to adjust to the Thai culture.. Last minute is normal here, for meetings, announcements and in fact everything. But indeed you need to give your opinion about what is acceptable and not. Thais like to be in control of everybody and everything. Here a few weeks back there was an announcement of the Amphur at 15.00 that there was a meeting at 17.00 with neighbourhood.. I told my partner, they could not do it tomorrow or let the people know a few days before, but the answer was this is Thailand..

Time to research another job.

Can you imagine the uproar in any other country, at a time when families traditionally spend time together, travel to get together or just even plan a party of their own at home and some R-sole company - because that is exactly what it is, demand that their employees will compulsorily attend their NY party?

Additionally, stating that failure to do so will result in disciplinary and financial consequences?

That is not a company worth working for!

Disgusting threats and even more so, totally dictatorial!

Sounds like N. Korea, Russia or China!