Your spouse's response when you are asked for help?

I don't think it was right for them to expect you to leave work to help prepare for a party, especially one that was not for 2 more days. Leaving work without a good excuse would not make your boss very happy and you could loseyour job over it if it happened too often. Would that same friend have been willing to support your family if you'd lost your job for leaving to help him? I doubt it. I think you were completely right to refuse to come home to help although perhaps for the sake of the friendship you could offer to help during a tie when you aren't busy working. I don't work outside the home right now but I would never ask my partner to leave work early unless it was an emergency. Even then I would make sure I really needed him home before I would call. I had to take our child to the hospital emergency room once while he was at work. I called him so he would know but didn't ask him to leave work because of it.

I think that it was inconsiderate of them to call you and tell you to leave work just to help set up for a party. I don't think that setting up for a party is as important as getting your work done. I would have explained that if I get done early then I would be home to help but I needed to finish my work first.