Project hosts clash over ‘boring’ employees’ right to skip out on work drinks: ‘We should be paid!’

The hosts of The Project have butted heads over the etiquette of attending after-work social functions and whether employees are still on the clock. 

The debate on Sunday night’s program was sparked after a segment discussing a French citizen who took his employer to court after he was sacked for not taking part in ‘fun’ office activities.

A Paris court ruled the man, known only as ‘Mr T’, was within his rights to refuse invites to after-hours events including weekend drinks and he was rewarded $5,000 in compensation, though he also intends to sue. 

The man’s mini-uprising caused The Project’s Hamish MacDonald to label him ‘an absolute bore’ but other panelists weren’t so quick to agree.

Hamish MacDonald (left) was all for the work drinks tradition but Rachel Corbett (right) said they should be avoided at all costs

‘It’s a win for those of us that don’t want to do these kinds of things… the drinks and the parties they’re just not my jam,’ co-host Rachel Corbett said.

‘Yes they are… I’ve been to one of these things with you and you made us drive there in convoy,’ MacDonald said.

‘Only because then I make everyone get to the door at exactly the same time so I don’t have to go into the thing alone,’ Corbett fired back.

Celebrity Letters and Numbers host and occasional Project panelist Michael Hing then argued it was his ‘firm belief work drinks count as work’.

‘We should be paid… It’s a labour-relations issue for me,’ Hing said.

‘If bosses think there is some team bonding experience that can happen at work drinks they should pay you and it should happen during lunch.’

The debate was sparked after a French national ‘won the right to be boring’ after he took his employer to court for firing him when he wouldn’t attend work drinks (stock image)