Without passing comment on the case, this guy appeared to go to 3 further work events including alcohol after the incident.
Why do people put themselves in these situations at work? I'm nervous having even 1 drink with work colleagues in todays day and age, let alone getting plastered 3 times with the same people after an incident.
There are some positions that require you to follow set of unspoken rules just to belong. It’s both proof of inclusion and signaling.
Depending on place there might be different factors. It can be as simple as attendance, but it might also be about attire, jewelry, watches, presence during cultural events, who knows who etc. etc.
American Psycho’s business card scene is a nice if overdrawn example. Seemingly unimportant object is fetishized. In reality those behaviors are usually much more subtle and can take form of: don’t attend when invited, you won’t be invited ever again.
If you’re a competent and reliable engineer (at the level senior or lower), then social events are optional. No one will care if you do or don’t go.
Sadly for many other fields (especially sales/marketing) or for management positions, social events are essentially mandatory. Sure you can skip one every once in a while, but if you start skipping too many your career prospects in the company will be impacted.
Why do people put themselves in these situations at work? I'm nervous having even 1 drink with work colleagues in todays day and age, let alone getting plastered 3 times with the same people after an incident.