# Birthday Party Gone Wrong

> Colleague's DUI arrest after wild birthday party leaves writer guilt-ridden.
- Title: Birthday Party Gone Wrong · Slate Magazine | Shortify
- Summary: Colleague's DUI arrest after wild birthday party leaves writer guilt-ridden. A writer invited a work colleague to their birthday party, leading to her DUI…
- Keywords: birthday party, dui arrest, workplace, colleague, guilt, workplace etiquette, gen z, nfl, Birthday, Party, Gone, Wrong
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/advice/2026/10/career-advice-colleague-birthday-party-drunk-email-gen-z.html?via=rss
- Author: Slate Staff
- Published: 2026-10-03T09:45:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: birthday party, dui arrest, workplace, colleague, guilt, workplace etiquette, gen z, nfl
## My Birthday Party Invitation
I invited a work peer named Stella to my 33rd birthday party for the first time in years after the pandemic.
## Stella's Party Experience
Stella downed shots at a tiki bar, avoided a guy sending her shots, and refused to leave her car after drinking too much.
## Stella's Absence
Stella didn’t show up to work for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday after her DUI arrest.
## My Guilt
I feel terrible for not preventing Stella from driving drunk and am relieved she didn’t get hurt.
## Stella's Reaction
Stella hasn’t spoken to me or replied to any contact attempts since the party.
## Expert Advice
Jenée Desmond-Harris says Stella’s life isn’t imploding because of my birthday invite but because of her drinking problem.
## My Responsibility
I did everything I could short of throwing my body in front of her car to help her.
## Guilt Release
Jenée Desmond-Harris says I should release guilt and continue enjoying birthday parties knowing acquaintances are in charge of their decisions.
## Gen Z Workplace
Gen Xpert describes younger colleagues acting like sullen teenagers with flat affect and contempt.
## Gen Z Stare
Laura Helmuth says Gen Z colleagues might be overwhelmed, not contemptuous, and need better communication.
## Workplace Conflicts
Night Shift reports colleagues turned against them after reporting a coworker to HR for inappropriate behavior.
## Lunch Policy
Lunch Lady describes a supervisor's rule that coworkers must invite everyone to lunch, leading to group lunches.
## Toilet Paper
Tree Hugger in Distress asks how to politely suggest coworkers use less toilet paper and turn off faucets.
## Workplace Etiquette
Anxious in Austin asks about email etiquette after missing a response to their email.
## Colleague Benefits
Uncertain describes a relationship with a co-worker who is 20 years their senior and in the middle of a divorce.
## Career Secret
Grandma’s Career Secret shares that they got their first big promotion by sleeping with their boss 40 years ago.
## Key takeaway

A writer invited a work colleague to their birthday party, leading to her DUI arrest and three days of absence from work.