Work drinks socials-do u go?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Depends....

sterlingstash

Work is half your life. Being able to enjoy spending time with people you wouldn't necessarily choose to is really something worth putting some effort into. And for the miserable gits who don;t, best not moan when the more sociably minded guys end up achieving much more and progressing far quicker.

If you can;t find anything at all to make some sort of connection/common interest with a work colleague or client, whatever their background - then you really must look deeply at yourself

EDIT: probably a biased view due to generally having a good working environment with a decent bunch of people. But really being so averse to having the occasional social with the people which I will inevitably spend as much time with as my family, I would definitely be looking for a change in working environment.

rjhammond91

I will go out every now and again but at my place, everyone goes out (on the p**s) like 3 times a week.. past all that now. I've got responsibilities and priorities and going out all the time is not my top concern.
If it was for a nice sit down meal, I'd be more than happy to go. But also, like a someone has already mentioned, I see these people 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. Sometimes that's enough for me!

AlexLK

I am self-employed, just me and my business partner in my company. We sometimes discuss things over a pub lunch but I have recently given up drinking during the week. I previous employment, we had socials which I often attended.

My wife's work only has about 6 or so socials a year including a Christmas party which I am expected to attend with her. Usually, we enjoy it.

skivenov

Reminds me of going to see a mate (self employed mechanic) at work a week before Christmas. Him and the painter next door were chilling out in his workshop doing a few beers and eating a pizza. I was greeted with a cheer and a can thrown my way.

Due to a low number of staff, they'd combined their Christmas parties. :T

AlexLK

skivenov: My business partner and I always have a "Christmas party", just us two and our wives.

skivenov

Hehe - they didn't go as far inviting their wives.

coolcait

If I enjoy being in company with my workmates, then I will go on social evenings with them. And I generally enjoy those evenings.

Sometimes, there are reasons why I can't go on those social evenings. Bummer.

There have been times in my long working life where I haven't always enjoyed being in company with my workmates. There have been reasons why I couldn't go on social evenings with them :cool::).

No one has to go to these kind of team events.

It's up to the individual how to decline the invitation.

"I wouldn't spend ten seconds with you losers" might be honest, but it's unlikely to help teambuilding.

A generic "Oh, I'd love to, but I won't be able to make it", with a big sad:( smile usually passes muster.

If pressed, then "family reasons" :eek::mad: often works.

Basically, if you feel that way after spending time with your colleagues, but still like your job, find a way not to go to the social evenings.

Assuming that a simple 'No thanks' is not an option.

Netwizard

Used too but don't bother now.

Starts off in work social club. All conversation is work, work and more work!

Then into town where they end up in a huge, loud club where you can't socialise anyway!

Crap night out!

Treevo

I did because I think it's important that you build social relationships with the people you work with. At my old place it was very much a once weekly after work drink, and a monthly meal/night out so it wasn't too much of a commitment.

Having said that I do think it's important to keep it limited to whatever you're comfortable with. After I left the business and took my clients with me, the other sides of the business were very good to me (considering) but after I refused to return, it was made very clear to their staff that I was persona non grata and so I lost a few friends for that. If they had become the main part of my social life, then that would've been devastating and probably would have influenced me in ways that weren't in my career's best interests.

As long as you behave appropriately, join in and be genuine, it will only benefit your career.