My husband works at a remote job that has an office location. For a few weeks he has received emails about a seemingly optional networking event. There was no indication that this was mandatory, as it asked for RSVPs and seemed to be more a “get to know each other” event. His boss is emailed the day the event was occurring and asked if he could make it to the local office for the event. My husband indicated that we have only one car for the time being and I , his wife, had to use it to get to the office, but that he could attend remotely.
His boss emailed him back stating that almost everyone was attending this event and that my husband should have asked if it was mandatory. Therefore, he would have to be reprimanded for not meeting the “most basic functions of an employee.”
Would a good boss indicate to his employees if an event was mandatory?