44 ms·

Should you socialise with your colleagues outside work?

10 points by open-source-ux 10y ago

Fr0ntBack 10y ago
From what I've read, start up workers seem to socialise exclusively with one another.
- EliRivers 10y ago
  Sometimes starting at the interview. First round interview, a bar in the evening. Sorry, was I looking for a job or a date?
  - gpderetta 10y ago
    clearly you are not a good 'culture fit'. /s
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
novia 10y ago
>Indeed, talking to your colleagues may help your work rate. A study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers found that workplace chatter, even the idle kind, can increase productivity. No mention in the link of introverts vs extroverts. It's studies like this that make businesses feel justified in saving money by making the workplace one big open office hell.
convolvatron 10y ago
if you want to? i can't understand why the usual social rules don't apply. we all get to choose who we hang out with, whether they be from work or from the neighborhood or...wherever for everyone else there is a very clear social contract where we are expected to exchange minor pleasantries and act nice, but no more when did this system break down? i liked that system
rokosbasilisk 10y ago
Sure, but treat it like HR is standing right behind you with an evil eye.
erroneousfunk 10y ago
While I'm married and never developed any office romances (also, what a bizarre example to use -- a couple who got married...), I've often found that the classic "drinks after work" scenario works wonders in tense situations. Sometimes, if I'm dealing with a stressful situation, maybe I get angry at someone who I think is stalling the project, or making bad decisions, it sucks. It can be awkward, or seem insincere to apologize in the office, or really have a heart-to-heart chat and figure out your differences. Tensions build up, the situation gets worse, after a while, the "professional enemies" relationship just cements itself for stupid reasons. But hey, a couple of rounds in the bar can be amazing! Is it healthy? Eh. Does it work? Absolutely. I'll be the first to admit, my social skills aren't the best, and that's where bars come in! "Man, I am so sorry I got so worked up over which HTTP code to return. I really, really don't care. I was just stressed out over the project in general" seems way more sincere and less cheesy after a couple of beers.

Fr0ntBack 10y ago

From what I've read, start up workers seem to socialise exclusively with one another.

EliRivers 10y ago
Sometimes starting at the interview. First round interview, a bar in the evening. Sorry, was I looking for a job or a date?
- gpderetta 10y ago
  clearly you are not a good 'culture fit'. /s

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

novia 10y ago

>Indeed, talking to your colleagues may help your work rate. A study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers found that workplace chatter, even the idle kind, can increase productivity. No mention in the link of introverts vs extroverts. It's studies like this that make businesses feel justified in saving money by making the workplace one big open office hell.

convolvatron 10y ago

if you want to? i can't understand why the usual social rules don't apply. we all get to choose who we hang out with, whether they be from work or from the neighborhood or...wherever for everyone else there is a very clear social contract where we are expected to exchange minor pleasantries and act nice, but no more when did this system break down? i liked that system

rokosbasilisk 10y ago

Sure, but treat it like HR is standing right behind you with an evil eye.

erroneousfunk 10y ago

While I'm married and never developed any office romances (also, what a bizarre example to use -- a couple who got married...), I've often found that the classic "drinks after work" scenario works wonders in tense situations. Sometimes, if I'm dealing with a stressful situation, maybe I get angry at someone who I think is stalling the project, or making bad decisions, it sucks. It can be awkward, or seem insincere to apologize in the office, or really have a heart-to-heart chat and figure out your differences. Tensions build up, the situation gets worse, after a while, the "professional enemies" relationship just cements itself for stupid reasons. But hey, a couple of rounds in the bar can be amazing! Is it healthy? Eh. Does it work? Absolutely. I'll be the first to admit, my social skills aren't the best, and that's where bars come in! "Man, I am so sorry I got so worked up over which HTTP code to return. I really, really don't care. I was just stressed out over the project in general" seems way more sincere and less cheesy after a couple of beers.