4 ms·

> at an informal employee gathering at a bar ... Why don't companies just get rid of these "informal" but sanctioned employee gatherings, particularly in a bar

> at an informal employee gathering at a bar ... Why don't companies just get rid of these "informal" but sanctioned employee gatherings, particularly in a bar environment where intoxicating substances are likely being administered as well? That's just a magnet for these sorts of problems as are detailed in OP's blogpost. The workplace should be a temperate environment.

zaroth 8y ago
It occurs to me that could be precisely the goal of these groups. It certainly adds a new element of risk to hosting any kind of event whatsoever when you can face such an organized PR campaign for something that may have happened between two people at your event.
- belorn 8y ago
  I understand that alcohol culture can vary drastically in different nations, but I find it a very valid question to ask why drinking excessively should be part of any professional work environment. The theory people have given me as validation for such event is that such social activity outside of work make people cooperate better and form some kind of kinship. Personally I would like to see some research if money invested in event at bars is worth it.
  - chrisseaton 8y ago
    > to ask why drinking excessively How did we go from just 'an informal employee gathering at a bar' to now 'drinking excessively'?
    - DanBC 8y ago
      Because in this case the executive has been told to limit his alcohol consumption at these events.
    - belorn 8y ago
      Let me give an example of a professional gathering last December, where CEO's, marketing, and people responsible for the technical operations meet yearly from several companies. First there is the presentations with coffee breaks. normal stuff. A mix of technical, legal and marketing changes for the industry. Then we go down to the bar and have a beer or two and a glass of sparkling wine before we get seated. Two large glasses of wine while eating, white and red, more beer, and offer for refilling several times through. Once everyone has finished their meal it is time for hard liquor and desert as is traditional near Christmas. Four, five, six additional rounds, with singing. This is why I address the alcohol culture as being important factor. Professional gathering like those sets the norm when people meet in informal gatherings.
  - AlexTWithBeard 8y ago
    Very few companies may have excessive alcohol consumption as part of their informal culture. However, unless any two employees of the same company are explicitly banned from meeting in a place where alcohol is served, there will be incidents. People will find ways to get drunk and sooner or later someone will do something stupid.
    - teddyh 8y ago
      > Very few companies may have excessive alcohol consumption as part of their informal culture. Except, of course, say, the whole of Japan. See also: Our Culture of Exclusion (from 2012): https://web.archive.org/web/20130413021020/http://ryanfunduk.com/culture-of-exclusion/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130413021020/http://ryanfunduk...
- teddyh 8y ago
  > It occurs to me that could be precisely the goal of these groups. Far be it from me to discourage suspicions of ulterior motives, but I really don’t think so. Paraphrasing George Orwell, the object of outrage is outrage. The object of power is power.
mschuster91 8y ago
Because people are (mostly) of the socializing type. Even if you don't provide them by corp or ban using corp resources, people will socialize and that in many Western cultures involves copious amounts of alcohol.

zaroth 8y ago

It occurs to me that could be precisely the goal of these groups. It certainly adds a new element of risk to hosting any kind of event whatsoever when you can face such an organized PR campaign for something that may have happened between two people at your event.

belorn 8y ago
I understand that alcohol culture can vary drastically in different nations, but I find it a very valid question to ask why drinking excessively should be part of any professional work environment. The theory people have given me as validation for such event is that such social activity outside of work make people cooperate better and form some kind of kinship. Personally I would like to see some research if money invested in event at bars is worth it.
- chrisseaton 8y ago
  > to ask why drinking excessively How did we go from just 'an informal employee gathering at a bar' to now 'drinking excessively'?
  - DanBC 8y ago
    Because in this case the executive has been told to limit his alcohol consumption at these events.
  - belorn 8y ago
    Let me give an example of a professional gathering last December, where CEO's, marketing, and people responsible for the technical operations meet yearly from several companies. First there is the presentations with coffee breaks. normal stuff. A mix of technical, legal and marketing changes for the industry. Then we go down to the bar and have a beer or two and a glass of sparkling wine before we get seated. Two large glasses of wine while eating, white and red, more beer, and offer for refilling several times through. Once everyone has finished their meal it is time for hard liquor and desert as is traditional near Christmas. Four, five, six additional rounds, with singing. This is why I address the alcohol culture as being important factor. Professional gathering like those sets the norm when people meet in informal gatherings.
- AlexTWithBeard 8y ago
  Very few companies may have excessive alcohol consumption as part of their informal culture. However, unless any two employees of the same company are explicitly banned from meeting in a place where alcohol is served, there will be incidents. People will find ways to get drunk and sooner or later someone will do something stupid.
  - teddyh 8y ago
    > Very few companies may have excessive alcohol consumption as part of their informal culture. Except, of course, say, the whole of Japan. See also: Our Culture of Exclusion (from 2012): https://web.archive.org/web/20130413021020/http://ryanfunduk.com/culture-of-exclusion/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130413021020/http://ryanfunduk...
teddyh 8y ago
> It occurs to me that could be precisely the goal of these groups. Far be it from me to discourage suspicions of ulterior motives, but I really don’t think so. Paraphrasing George Orwell, the object of outrage is outrage. The object of power is power.

mschuster91 8y ago

Because people are (mostly) of the socializing type. Even if you don't provide them by corp or ban using corp resources, people will socialize and that in many Western cultures involves copious amounts of alcohol.