If you involve HR, go prepared and stick to calm, factual points—this isn’t about personal preferences, but about being unfairly penalized over an event that didn’t reasonably accommodate you. Don’t let that review affect your confidence; it reflected control and optics, not your actual performance. Keep showing up as your usual professional self—do your work well, don’t over-explain, and let consistency quietly counter one unfair note.
At the same time, consider your options. Updating your CV or exploring the job market can be empowering, even if you don’t plan to leave. Trust your discomfort: the real issue isn’t a dinner choice, but being dismissed and punished afterward. If this behavior becomes a pattern, it points to a workplace culture problem—and it’s okay to take that seriously.
