How social is your workplace

[Participant]

I used to get involved in office socials, but would rather now leave the office in the office and spend the time with friends (and colleagues that are genuine friends) and family, rather than colleagues.

Some work nights can be a good laugh, but I'm mostly too fed up with their stupid faces from the working day to then go and drink with them and force small talk.

Charming, I know.

 

[Mark1989]

My old job we did quite abit even just going to pub on dinner for food only of course

Where I am now not really massive company, people just do thee shift and go home, kinda miss the old job for this reasons despite its pay and benefits being far less

 

[Chojin]

My first job was basically on a sinking ship and it was quite sociable from all the leaving events. My current place is not very social and people don't even bother with a leaving event. It's very much like what I imagined working as a contractor would be like, but without the pay.

 

[ivrytwr3]

I don't need to play the promotion/brown nosing game anymore; I'm also the only specialist in my place ie a different role to everyone else.

Therefore when it comes to the socials, i either use that time to catch up on work or just head home.

 

[dan958]

I don't mind a few drinks after work every now and again, but hanging out on a weekend is not something i'd be interested in doing.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

I'd consider some of my colleagues to be some of my closest friends. We just get on really well. Maybe 5 of them came on my stag do, few more came to my wedding (some out of courtesy), and I've had a number of them over for dinner. I love hanging out with them.

There are some that I really wouldn't want to spend any more time with than I have to, but I just don't see them socially.

Anyway, you spend 1/3rd of your day at work, why not enjoy it?

 

[thegreysquirrel]

Used to be in a small office (around 20 people) and though there were always "events", like watching the world cup in the meeting rooms, volunteer days that were basically an hours work and then a BBQ, and a pretty fun Christmas party with big breakfast and quizes the next day then a midday finish, this was all pretty much in work time and nothing happened at weekends or outside of work. Everywhere else I've worked has never been all that social but then I've always been in very small departments (sometimes just me) and am usually the youngest by at least 20 years.

 

[Lopéz]

I don't need to play the promotion/brown nosing game anymore; I'm also the only specialist in my place ie a different role to everyone else.

Therefore when it comes to the socials, i either use that time to catch up on work or just head home.

Neither of your first comments have any relevance to your "therefore"

We have someone in our company who does a different role to everyone else - they still come to events.
Why does socialising hand up be "brown nosing"?
Our company has a pretty much flat hierarchy/structure - there's not really a promotion to be had, so people don't attend things with that in mind.
They go because they want to.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

I don't need to play the promotion/brown nosing game anymore; I'm also the only specialist in my place ie a different role to everyone else.

Therefore when it comes to the socials, i either use that time to catch up on work or just head home.

Oh, so you're Milton. Well, I've got your stapler and now your office is in the basement so if you could just go ahead and start being a bit more social that'd be great.

 

[ivrytwr3]

Neither of your first comments have any relevance to your "therefore" : confused:

We have someone in our company who does a different role to everyone else - they still come to events.
Why does socialising hand up be "brown nosing"?
Our company has a pretty much flat hierarchy/structure - there's not really a promotion to be had, so people don't attend things with that in mind.
They go because they want to.

Oh, so you're Milton. Well, I've got your stapler and now your office is in the basement so if you could just go ahead and start being a bit more social that'd be great.

In my place of work, there is the "forced fun" and also if you don't attend, although they would never say it, you are thought less of not going - not a team player etc.

I work to pay bills.

 

[Admiral Huddy]

It used to be pretty good. I pay into a social schemes and the events have been fantastic but numbers have dwindled down the years. I put this down to peoples social habits, in particular "the gym" and healthier lifestyles...

 

[ttaskmaster]

NVM

 

[krooton]

I've been meaning to check if there is a correlation between posters who are grumpy on here and those that have naff working environments, but I'm too lazy.

 

[ivrytwr3]

I couldn't even name more than 50% of the people in our place, and I'd certainly not want to be around them at a social event if I have the choice. I didn't even tell them about it when my daughter was born.
They try and be social, but usually organise something at the cheapest, chavviest townie bars. The older crowd like hideously cheap pub food and won't try a better venue (company pays, so it wouldn't even cost them anything). Younger crowd just want you to know they went to Uni and are important. I usually duck out and go play computer games.

A few years ago we tried to organise a Xmas function - a nice hotel/restaurant venue, partners invited and loads of other Xmas functions going on at the same place; we're paid decent, away quite a bit and so why not get partners a nice night out too? Wow..............

Too expensive
Several different venues offered
Don't want partners
etc etc

If you have such an opinion, organise something yourself! I cancelled the whole thing, took family out for a xmas meal and haven;t bothered organising anything since

 

[tom_e]

We're pretty social normally organise nights/days out with the team/department every couple of months. It certainly makes the job much easier if you get on with and enjoy spending time with your team.

 

[pre]

How important is it for you lot to have social (eg drinks/nights out/etc) relationships with your immediate team in office environments? Over time I've realised I rather work with people who are professionally responsible than given the former or the latter.

 

[jaybee]

Since working in London I've found it less social since people commute in from far and wide. They just generally want to get home after work. It's very easy to walk outside into one of hundreds of pubs all around you, yet people are more reluctant to do so these days with busy life styles, not to mention cost.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

I've been meaning to check if there is a correlation between posters who are grumpy on here and those that have naff working environments, but I'm too lazy.

Let me help you out there my dude: yes.

 

[Lopéz]

How important is it for you lot to have social (eg drinks/nights out/etc) relationships with your immediate team in office environments? Over time I've realised I rather work with people who are professionally responsible than given the former or the latter.

Your post isn't clear but I'm going to guess what you meant.
Assuming I have understood you correctly, I must be lucky - I have colleagues who are both sociable (in, and out of work) and professionally responsible. One does not preclude the other...

I don't understand "than given the former or the latter", you might want to rephrase that as it doesn't read very well.

 

[krooton]

Let me help you out there my dude: yes.

Empirical level over 9000!