4 ms·

We already single out certain social things as just not a good idea in the workplace/events even though its common socially: public displays of affection, havin

We already single out certain social things as just not a good idea in the workplace/events even though its common socially: public displays of affection, having lots of kids around, single-sex activities... Its isolating/disruptive if you can't/won't take part. Its unfair when based on things not in the job description (relationships/kids/gender respectively). I don't see why alcohol (excludes non-drinkers) or team-building activities outside of business hours (excludes those with family commitments) couldn't be one of those things.

stickfigure 8y ago
By the time you've excluded all the possible activities that someone could find isolating, you've got a pretty boring work environment. Here's the box you will be working in. Don't forget to turn off the light when you leave Friday.
- ben509 8y ago
  Where do I sign up?!
- myle 8y ago
  That's OK. We are also supposed to have private life. If work is not fun enough without those events, maybe it is not fun in general.
  - barrow-rider 8y ago
    I'll take it a step further -- why does work need to be fun? It's my meal ticket, not my hobby; it needs to be tolerable. The "fun at work" meme is, IMO, a way to keep people in the office longer a la the GOOOOG's Gilded Cage.
    - eriktate 8y ago
      I think it depends on how you define fun. For me personally, does a workplace need to have alcohol, video games, bowling alleys, and ping pong tables? Probably not. It does need to be interesting though. And my co-workers/team need to be enjoyable to be around, both professionally and personally. If I'm not consistently having a good time at work, which could be construed as having "fun", there's very little reason for me to stick around. Especially in the tech scene, there's always a better place to work, so it's competitively advantageous for companies to have "fun" workplaces.
  - stale2002 8y ago
    That might be ok for you, but not for me. I am not going to work anywhere that I don't enjoy. I will instead quit and go somewhere else. You are free to do otherwise. But just be aware that people have fun at work because they like to do so. And many people would quit if they didn't enjoy their work
- ofxartem 8y ago
  What is wrong with that? It keeps minds focused on what should happen at work: work.
  - icebraining 8y ago
    Nope, for some of us, taking breaks where we focus on other stuff is essential to perform better. In my case, that's taking occasional walks to the coffeeshop nearby, despite their lack of inclusiveness of people with mobility problems and those who don't like coffee.
  - stale2002 8y ago
    What's wrong is that I have the luxury of working at places that enjoy. I am not going to work at a place that I don't like. You are free to choose otherwise, but me and many other people have the ability of quiting and working in better work environments.
- philipodonnell 8y ago
  > By the time you've excluded all the possible activities that someone could find isolating, you've got a pretty boring work environment. Or you could list the attributes that you expect people to have during the hiring process and then decline to hire those that don't fit the company's culture.
zdragnar 8y ago
Having lots of kids around? One of my favorite jobs had a group of parents who would come in on the weekend for play dates (in designated areas). The company supported them, often organizing age appripriate maker type events.
- philipodonnell 8y ago
  Its not the thing, its the impact on the "normal" 9-5 worker. Its great that the company did that on the weekend, but they clearly didn't think it was good during the normal work week, which was my point.
Aeolun 8y ago
I don’t see how the presence of alcohol excludes others? Most places that serve alcohol are perfectly capable of serving juice.
- philipodonnell 8y ago
  Its not the presense of the thing or the ability to decline, its the impact on those not taking part. If colleagues consuming alcohol exclude non-drinkers by their intentional or unintentional actions or make them feel like less of a team member (by say getting real drunk which is always annoying to non-drinkers), and drinking is not in the job description, then companies should not make it a part of a work event (IMO).

stickfigure 8y ago

By the time you've excluded all the possible activities that someone could find isolating, you've got a pretty boring work environment. Here's the box you will be working in. Don't forget to turn off the light when you leave Friday.

ben509 8y ago
Where do I sign up?!
myle 8y ago
That's OK. We are also supposed to have private life. If work is not fun enough without those events, maybe it is not fun in general.
- barrow-rider 8y ago
  I'll take it a step further -- why does work need to be fun? It's my meal ticket, not my hobby; it needs to be tolerable. The "fun at work" meme is, IMO, a way to keep people in the office longer a la the GOOOOG's Gilded Cage.
  - eriktate 8y ago
    I think it depends on how you define fun. For me personally, does a workplace need to have alcohol, video games, bowling alleys, and ping pong tables? Probably not. It does need to be interesting though. And my co-workers/team need to be enjoyable to be around, both professionally and personally. If I'm not consistently having a good time at work, which could be construed as having "fun", there's very little reason for me to stick around. Especially in the tech scene, there's always a better place to work, so it's competitively advantageous for companies to have "fun" workplaces.
- stale2002 8y ago
  That might be ok for you, but not for me. I am not going to work anywhere that I don't enjoy. I will instead quit and go somewhere else. You are free to do otherwise. But just be aware that people have fun at work because they like to do so. And many people would quit if they didn't enjoy their work
ofxartem 8y ago
What is wrong with that? It keeps minds focused on what should happen at work: work.
- icebraining 8y ago
  Nope, for some of us, taking breaks where we focus on other stuff is essential to perform better. In my case, that's taking occasional walks to the coffeeshop nearby, despite their lack of inclusiveness of people with mobility problems and those who don't like coffee.
- stale2002 8y ago
  What's wrong is that I have the luxury of working at places that enjoy. I am not going to work at a place that I don't like. You are free to choose otherwise, but me and many other people have the ability of quiting and working in better work environments.
philipodonnell 8y ago
> By the time you've excluded all the possible activities that someone could find isolating, you've got a pretty boring work environment. Or you could list the attributes that you expect people to have during the hiring process and then decline to hire those that don't fit the company's culture.

zdragnar 8y ago

Having lots of kids around? One of my favorite jobs had a group of parents who would come in on the weekend for play dates (in designated areas). The company supported them, often organizing age appripriate maker type events.

philipodonnell 8y ago
Its not the thing, its the impact on the "normal" 9-5 worker. Its great that the company did that on the weekend, but they clearly didn't think it was good during the normal work week, which was my point.

Aeolun 8y ago

I don’t see how the presence of alcohol excludes others? Most places that serve alcohol are perfectly capable of serving juice.

philipodonnell 8y ago
Its not the presense of the thing or the ability to decline, its the impact on those not taking part. If colleagues consuming alcohol exclude non-drinkers by their intentional or unintentional actions or make them feel like less of a team member (by say getting real drunk which is always annoying to non-drinkers), and drinking is not in the job description, then companies should not make it a part of a work event (IMO).