Company Christmas Party

I will be attending my husband's company Christmas party tonight.

I don't enjoy this annual event because of my ear issues. I only have hearing in my right ear so I can only hear people close to the right side of my body.

My deaf, left ear reacts to all sound and parties are loud. Thus, my deaf ear will be all ramped up with noises, swishing, thumping, etc. That will make it even harder to hear with my right ear.

I have been dealing with these ear issues for more than five years and I am now fairly comfortable in these situations when I am with close friends or family. They don't expect me to keep up with conversations very well and they help me. I don't know my husband's co-workers well and they don't understand my problems. I feel stupid when I can't keep up.

I am just venting here. I know the dinner will be delicious. I know I will get through tonight and I will feel relieved tomorrow to have it over with.

 

I am going to a xmas party tonight as well, with a bunch of screaming and cute gals. Protect your ears, I will be. Enjoy the food, enjoy the smiles and then go home... These types of situations are a bit out of my comfort zone, but I still do it at times because, I don't feel that tinnitus should stop me from living.

 

I also have a company Christmas party tonight. I wasnt thinking about it but I will probably need to take earplugs just in case.

 

@Lorac,
Have a great time.

love glynis

 

Can you imagine if some poor schmuck had hearing damage at the 1988 Nakatomi Christmas Party?

 

I just had mine a week ago, bring a sound meter and it will reassure you that things are not as loud as it really feels like. Have a great Christmas, and hopefully santa will bring you a few quiet moments this month =]

 

My standard procedure is bringing my calibrated industrial decibel meter and earplugs. People sometimes look at them funny but after a brief, smiling explanation no-one gives a second thought. The decibel meter is very important because it provides objective feedback; if the volume is low enough it keeps anxious thoughts away, and if it gets too high (cutoff is 85dB - I'm not risking any damage, even in earplugs) it gives an unassailable reason for leaving. This duo (plus leaving early if necessary!!) has seen me through many dinners and even weddings without even temporary spikes.

 

Why wouldn't you want to stay home instead?

 

Mine was last night at a restaurant and I stayed home. New it would be loud and couldnt bring myself to spend the entire night in anxiety. Hope you have a good night tonight though

 

I would be careful if the noise level is loud and if one has physical conditions associated to tinnitus.

Medical costs are rising with no limit in sight. According to a recent Fidelity study with an article on Fox business today, a 65-year old couple retiring in 2018 would need $280,000 to cover medical expenses during retirement. This does not include nursing home or home healthcare which is very expensive. These figures will sky rocket in coming years.

The US government has estimated that someone who's 65 years old today has a 70 percent chance of needing long term care at some point and Social Security - Medicare will not be there for you beyond the first few months.

We need for Social Security and all insurance plans to accept tinnitus as not being a rare disease so that all costs associated with tinnitus are covered.

 

My husband is the company president so we don't have the option of not going.

 

Update...

The party was not well attended, probably because of weather conditions. It was a fairly quiet event and I was able to participate in conversations pretty easily (with my husband's assistance). I am feeling relief today to have it over and done with.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Happy Holidays!

 

??? Unlike the other people who were there, you and your husband are the ones who can do anything you want - including cancelling the party. If someone doesn't like it that you were not there - fire them.

 

I survived. The black bass was salty too.

 

What the... So just fire people left and right a week before Christmas? I don't even...

 

In life you ALWAYS have an option. Your husband could go to the party, but you don't have to go. It is all up to you on what you do. If you are not happy about the party, simply do not go.

PS- Don't take @Bill Bauer advice and don't fire the people for xmas, that would suck hardcore!

 

Wait until it is convenient for the company to fire that employee (e.g., until a replacement is found) and then do the firing.

Of course the employees know this, and won't make a big deal out of the wife of the president being absent during the party. My point was that she was one of the few people who could actually miss the party and not worry about the consequences.

 

You are freakin funny! Yes, lets just press the button and all people are fired! Booya!

 

Are you saying that people are irreplaceable? We press a button and ask HR to look for a replacement. When they are successful, we ask our security guys to escort the fired employee out of the building.

 

That employee ought to be fired not because someone's feelings got hurt. That person should be fired because their judgement can't be trusted any longer.

 

My husband does not enjoy firing people, even when it is necessary. None of the employees would suffer consequences for not attending and I am not concerned about what they might say if I did not attend. I go to support my husband. There is no live music at the Christmas parties and the volume is loud but not extreme. I don't worry about ear damage. It just makes it hard to socialize because I cannot hear well. It's challenging.
I don't visit the forum often nowadays but I have read enough of your posts to know that we think very differently about life. I love your quirky personality though. I am glad you are here.

 

Kim Jong Un, is that you?!

 

How is demanding that a firm keep employing a person who had demonstrated a lack of judgement any different than a firm demanding that an employee work despite the company demonstrating that they have no ability/intention to pay the employee's salary? Are you saying that one has to be the dictator of North Korea in order to be against not forcing employees to work when they don't expect to be compensated for it?

 

Bill, it was a joke... Have you two met before? Secondly, appearances are important for morale of the company. You don't fire someone just because they express concern over the disappearance of the boss 's wife... If that was the case nothing would ever get done. Training and hiring new employees cost money and time, and for that reason you don't fire people for differing opinions lol.

 

Like I said, fire them when it is convenient. In other words, record what has happened, and the next time a position has to be downsized, take this information into account when deciding who it is going to be.

No, we haven't.





Kidding.