Workplace events

[senthilkumar]

We have these occasional events at my work place, aimed at providing fun at workplace and increase the interaction between the employees. I do not like participating in these events, but my manager insists that I participate. He says, "Everybody is having fun. You will get to know more about your colleagues. You can make new friends..blah..blah..blah". I was like, "I would rather make friends first and have fun than pretend having fun with people i hardly know"

What do you guys do about these events?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

If you constantly think to yourself that it's unlikely you'll have fun or find anyone worth meeting there, then you probably won't. Making new relationships and changing how others see you is so dependent on how you think of yourself and the situations you're in. If you keep feeling like you don't belong or you don't want to be there, people pick up on that and they'll treat you accordingly.

So basically, just go, and try forget that you don't want to.

 

[senthilkumar]

If you constantly think to yourself that it's unlikely you'll have fun or find anyone worth meeting there, then you probably won't. Making new relationships and changing how others see you is so dependent on how you think of yourself and the situations you're in. If you keep feeling like you don't belong or you don't want to be there, people pick up on that and they'll treat you accordingly.

So basically, just go, and try forget that you don't want to.

But why is it being considered the norm? It is not like that everybody should enjoy these events. I have attended a few of these events. They are lame, poorly organized and to top it off, most of the conversation will be in the local language, which i cant understand.

 

[gorcorps]

People have fun where I work without these things. That's where I met most of my current friends. If you're so miserable that you can't even have fun with the people you work with then I'd get the hell out of there.

 

[Raghu]

Please learn the gult language. These fun meetings are a good opportunity.

Meet new ppl at the event. Then have fun.

 

[highland145]

But why is it being considered the norm? It is not like that everybody should enjoy these events. I have attended a few of these events. They are lame, poorly organized and to top it off, most of the conversation will be in the local language, which i cant understand.

Suck it up. Not organized enough for you then help/volunteer. Don't get the language/jokes/inside comments? You never will if you don't join.

Years ago, dated a girl that started to hang out with my friends. Most of which I have known all of my life. She regularly complained that she "didn't get it" because we'd laugh/make comments that outsiders would never get. After a period of time, she did because she had spent a lot of time with us.

 

[Wyndru]

I have serious anxiety issues, so these kind of events are torture for me, I usually awkwardly try to talk to people I don't know anything about while sweating profusely.

I often have other plans when this kind of stuff goes down.

 

[Blackjack200]

I have serious anxiety issues, so these kind of events are torture for me, I usually awkwardly try to talk to people I don't know anything about while sweating profusely.

I often have other plans when this kind of stuff goes down.

I'm guessing you've tried beta blockers? If not, they might help.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

What do you guys do about these events?

It depends. If they're during work hours and required, I have to suck it up and go. We have a yearly "retreat" that is mandatory (unless you have a vacation scheduled or are sick) and I've found that the best thing to do for those is to volunteer to help with putting it on, as you avoid having to do a bunch of the useless crap.

Our Christmas party is during office hours and is in our building and we have huge buffets of catered food and booze. I'll generally go grab a plate and some beer and go to our area and shoot the shit with friends.

In terms of events not on company time, I don't go. The biggest example is our company picnic. It used to be in the middle of the day during the work day, but last year they moved it after hours and offsite and the same is true this year. It isn't my idea of fun spending a Friday night in the middle of August at the zoo (or anywhere, for that matter) with my coworkers. I have a feeling that they might eventually move the Christmas party offsite as well; apparently, at one time, they did have a big formal party offsite and I could see them doing that again. If so, I'll pass on that too.

 

[moshquerade]

We have these occasional events at my work place, aimed at providing fun at workplace and increase the interaction between the employees. I do not like participating in these events, but my manager insists that I participate. He says, "Everybody is having fun. You will get to know more about your colleagues. You can make new friends..blah..blah..blah". I was like, "I would rather make friends first and have fun than pretend having fun with people i hardly know"

What do you guys do about these events?

sounds like you have some social anxiety. relax, join in, and don't be so up tight.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

People have fun where I work without these things. That's where I met most of my current friends. If you're so miserable that you can't even have fun with the people you work with then I'd get the hell out of there.

Most of my friends were guys that I worked directly with and company parties played no role. Those are the guys I still meet for beers on occasion and once in a great while, game with. The odd thing is that the company I am currently with is one where I really haven't made any close friends; it is really a different environment and while I get along with everyone well, this is the first time in my career where I've experienced this kind of thing.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Please learn the gult language. These fun meetings are a good opportunity.

Meet new ppl at the event. Then have fun.

Wow, lurker alert!

 

[Blackjack200]

It depends. If they're during work hours and required, I have to suck it up and go. We have a yearly "retreat" that is mandatory (unless you have a vacation scheduled or are sick) and I've found that the best thing to do for those is to volunteer to help with putting it on, as you avoid having to do a bunch of the useless crap.

Our Christmas party is during office hours and is in our building and we have huge buffets of catered food and booze. I'll generally go grab a plate and some beer and go to our area and shoot the shit with friends.

In terms of events not on company time, I don't go. The biggest example is our company picnic. It used to be in the middle of the day during the work day, but last year they moved it after hours and offsite and the same is true this year. It isn't my idea of fun spending a Friday night in the middle of August at the zoo (or anywhere, for that matter) with my coworkers. I have a feeling that they might eventually move the Christmas party offsite as well; apparently, at one time, they did have a big formal party offsite and I could see them doing that again. If so, I'll pass on that too.

Company I used to work for would throw a Christmas party at a hotel. People would treat it like their HS prom, wear suits/gowns, arrive in limos, take out rooms for the night etc. Friggen weird.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Company I used to work for would throw a Christmas party at a hotel. People would treat it like their HS prom, wear suits/gowns, arrive in limos, take out rooms for the night etc. Friggen weird.

Yeah, the company I worked for two companies ago did the same thing. They rented a ballroom in a hotel and served dinner and it was a very formal event where you were required to wear a suit or tux. The company was full of suck ups so I'm sure they had a pretty nice crowd. Me? There was no way in hell I would go to something like that -- I didn't go to my proms in high school when it was acceptable, and I wasn't going to go to what amounted to an "adult prom." The reason my current company stopped doing it was because people just stopped going, but that was years ago so I can see them trying it again.

 

[Riverhound777]

My company throws events all the time and they are awesome! Of course I like most of the people I work with and the events are at places I'd never be able to go to outside of work and they have open bars and amazing food. What's not to like? Our summer party last year was at Neverland Ranch and we were the first group invited to see it after he passed. Got a tour of the whole place, watched a movie in his theater, and swam in the pool. I love our parties

 

[Kntx]

Love work parties. Everyone gets loose. Single HR girls hit on all the guys. Last summer a big shot had a pool party at his house. Interns got naked and went skinny dipping. Some accounting girl was giving favours in an upstairs bedroom. 2 people got fired. What a night!

 

[spacejamz]

Love work parties. Everyone gets loose. Single HR girls hit on all the guys. Last summer a big shot had a pool party at his house. Interns got naked and went skinny dipping. Some accounting girl was giving favours in an upstairs bedroom. 2 people got fired. What a night!

are you guys hiring???

 

[shortylickens]

Every time my boss asked my why I didnt fix as many units as normal I try to give him a running inventory of all the interruptions.
Eventually he got a clue.

This was at Tektronix in the repair depot.

 

[SamQuint]

Have you ever noticed that the "loners" and "non social" ones are typically the first ones to go when there are layoffs. They are also the ones that typically are not promoted because they are viewed as trolls. :hmm:

Play the game people, who knows you might go farther.

 

[Wyndru]

Have you ever noticed that the "loners" and "non social" ones are typically the first ones to go when there are layoffs. They are also the ones that typically are not promoted because they are viewed as trolls. :hmm:

Play the game people, who knows you might go farther.

I've never seen this to be the case. I mean if they are weird and creeping people out, that's another situation. But in most jobs I've had, the quiet ones are the keepers. Bosses don't want people that are constantly checking their phones, babbling to all their co-workers, causing HR nightmares because of gossip and harassment, etc. I'd rather have a staff of loners than employees you can't get to do any work because they are too busy chatting it up all day.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Have you ever noticed that the "loners" and "non social" ones are typically the first ones to go when there are layoffs. They are also the ones that typically are not promoted because they are viewed as trolls. :hmm:

I've never been laid off and in my entire 15+ year career, I've gone to exactly 1 company picnic and the only Christmas parties I've gone to were the ones held in the office during the day (2 or 3 total). I've also received a couple of promotions and get awards just about every year.

Play the game people, who knows you might go farther.

Depends on the company. Sucking up and playing the game definitely works at some, but has no effect at others. Instead of trying to shove square pegs into round holes, the smart companies realize that people are different and have different strengths, desires, and abilities. Believe me, over my career, there have been plenty of "forced socialization" events that I couldn't get out of and frankly, they didn't benefit me at all. The coworkers I care about and want to see outside of work are the ones that I eat lunch with, game with, or have a beer outside of work. I don't really care about Jim from accounting or Bob from HR in a personal capacity; I just want to ensure that they can do their jobs and if that is the case, my work is done.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Love work parties. Everyone gets loose. Single HR girls hit on all the guys. Last summer a big shot had a pool party at his house. Interns got naked and went skinny dipping. Some accounting girl was giving favours in an upstairs bedroom. 2 people got fired. What a night!

Ok, this WOULD be a fun company event. :awe:

 

[The_Dude8]

Love work parties. Everyone gets loose. Single HR girls hit on all the guys. Last summer a big shot had a pool party at his house. Interns got naked and went skinny dipping. Some accounting girl was giving favours in an upstairs bedroom. 2 people got fired. What a night!

What company do you work for? facebook?

 

[nanette1985]

You think YOU hate office parties? I used to be the boss. It was fun when I started the company to go out with the handful of employees to celebrate milestones like "finally got the damned accounting software loaded" or "yay, you can actually cash your paychecks this week". We had legendary parties. As the company got bigger the new employees bought into the "legendary party" stories, but you can't do the same thing with a couple hundred people that you can with a dozen or two.

It was great to sell the company and let the new owners have to deal with that.

 

[Blackjack200]

Ok, this WOULD be a fun company event. :awe:

Yeah, can't say that I've ever been to a work event that turned into a quasai sex party.