Work drinks socials-do u go?

Umistboy

I get on well with my colleagues - they're a nice bunch and friendly. However, whenever it comes to socials I simply don't bother.

As nice as they are and despite that fact we get on perfectly well they're not my friends. I only see them because I work with them and that amount of time is enough for me.

I like to spend my time out of work with my young family and my friends not with the same people I spend most days with.

I appreciate that many will think "it's only for one evening" and they're entitled to an opinion but I don't see how this would make me ( or people with similar attitudes) boring/negative etc like some have suggested.

lady1964

Where I work there's only the 2 of us with management coming to our office once a week, all other colleagues are spread over a wide distance many miles from us.

We have a 'social' tomorrow which I am going to as it's a chance to catch up with those who I don't really know and will give me the opportunity to get to know them on a social level. I'm looking forward to it now but was initially thinking to go because I should.

We also have a Xmas party but I missed it last year through being unwell so will go this year, for the same reasons. Actually, the people I've already met are nice people and due to working distances involved, aren't people that I spend any time with.

The two of us at the office don't go out together at all, we're very different people with very different opinions and I would only spend time with this person outside of work in a large group where I didn't have to socialise with them as such, if you get my drift.

bitemebankers

I'd tread very carefully regarding workplace socials, and avoid if possible.

There's an old saying: never mix business and pleasure. It's sage advice. After a few drinks people quickly forget the difference between work colleagues and friends, sometimes with predictably tragic consequences.

I'm not saying people shouldn't be friendly towards their colleagues. Just remember, they're not your friends - especially not your boss, HR or anyone else senior to you. Keep them at arms length, socially.

hgotsparkle

We have a Christmas meal arranged every year which is a sit down event with 100+ people and their partners but there are the usual friendly groups that plan social outings, me and my friend within work tend to arrange a night out every 3 months which includes going to a restaurant and then a few bars.

Gloomendoom

bitemebankers wrote: »

I'd tread very carefully regarding workplace socials, and avoid if possible.

There's an old saying: never mix business and pleasure. It's sage advice. After a few drinks people quickly forget the difference between work colleagues and friends, sometimes with predictably tragic consequences.

I've been socialising with my colleagues for getting on for 25 years with no untoward consequences, I'm married to one of them.

I must admit that mixing business with pleasure can be very enjoyable.

annie_d

You only live once, yes thats a cliche but don't be doing anything that makes you feel empty.

sukysue

Just go at christmas too busy to go any other times .

mandatory

With only around 10 people working in my office (and we're the head office!) I occasionally get invited to the pub by my boss and a couple of others, with me being the honourary man in the group, a title bestowed to be after a few weeks of being in the job. They never expect me to buy drinks but I did demand that I buy a round one day and they really appreciated it. Naturally I'm quite quiet and more of a listener, but I go along as we're all into similar things and we work quite closely together. I remember after my first Christmas do with work I stayed until quite late and someone commented in the New Year that my efforts to be sociable were noticed. We have parties in summer and Christmas and I always attend them, with the exception of the summer party this year - despite organising it a forced change of date meant that I could not attend. I was also invited out to see the Christmas markets when I started, and my boss bought me my first ever beer!

I suppose it depends on the size of the company you work in - there are few formalities at my office and we're all quite friendly with each other. We never stay at the pub for too long, maybe for a couple of drinks, and it's not every week either. (Maybe once every six to eight weeks? At least when I go, my boss goes a bit more often. :rotfl:) My colleagues make me laugh and I'm glad I work with such nice people.

grousescot

When I started full-time work a decade ago I enjoyed the office do, Christmas or whatever. I don't know whether I've become wise or cynical or something else lately but I have resolved not to bother with them. For a couple of Christmas dos I had too much to drink (and I certainly wasn't alone in that) so I couldn't remember how I'd behaved throughout the night. Since I am not the most socially-adept of people I was really paranoid it was going to have repercussions at work. It didn't but it still unnerved me.

When I go out socially I want to be able to let off steam knowing it won't go beyond the company I'm with. Having to mind what I say because my boss or senior people are around removes that important aspect. I'm actually quite uncomfortable just meeting these people outwith the work environment, like on the bus home. I don't want to be asked about work or try to figure out how to make small talk with a senior person when all I want to do is sit back and daydream or listen to my mp3 player. The formal work environment is sufficiently challenging for me to cope with, the idea of being expected to attend a "social" environment for work-related networking purposes fills me with horror.

I've already missed this year's Christmas do because I'll be in another office by then and the Christmas stuff generally gets booked up in August. I intend to keep it that way from now on.

System

Personally i'd steer clear myself, i just prefer to keep work and my private life seperete. Hence why i don't have any of them on facebook. Thankfully its not really a company that has work nights out very often. The "me" who goes into work, is a very different "me " during my time off, and i don't want those two "me's" to colllide. Its the only wy i can cope with work tbh.