Questions tagged [socializing]
Questions about talking to co-workers about non-work related materials. This can be talking on breaks, going to lunch or activities outside of working hours.
116
questions
116
votes
12
answers
35k
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Will declining my company's many social events negatively influence my career?
I've been working for this company in the Netherlands for 6 months now. When they said they valued get-togethers and game nights, I expected the occasional Friday afternoon gathering or a game night ...
- 5,988
110
votes
17
answers
28k
views
Is it reasonable for me to complain about an objectionable newspaper being ordered for the office?
Our office has had newspapers delivered for some years. I don't recall the staff were ever consulted on what newspapers they wanted, but staff read them during lunch or coffee breaks.
Recently the ...
- 3,537
110
votes
15
answers
21k
views
How to stop co-workers from teasing me because I know Russian?
I work on a team of 8 people for a U.S financial company, and a few weeks ago, a business meeting with some clients overseas was taking place. My manager asked us in an e-mail if anyone can speak and ...
user102377
102
votes
14
answers
48k
views
Do I have to attend a work Christmas party?
I've just started a new job, which I'm enjoying. I recently received an email, asking all employees to choose what they would like to eat at the work Christmas party. I personally would not choose to ...
- 1,130
100
votes
11
answers
22k
views
I don't want to pay for a work social event, how should I respond if asked why I declined?
My company wants to hold its first ever social event over the weekend at someone's house. At first I accepted the invitation, although I wasn't at all into it, but then I learned that all the costs ...
- 785
91
votes
11
answers
18k
views
Ramifications of not inviting a teammate I don't like to my personal function
I'm a female employee, and I have a baby shower coming up next week. I wish to invite my colleagues to the party. But there is one guy in my team I don't like, because he used to keep staring at me. ...
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74
votes
13
answers
19k
views
Is opting out of "fun" office charity activites socially and professionally acceptable in a small company?
Note: this questions is specifically about charity activity and not social events generally.
I work in a small startup which recently grew to 14 people which apparently seems to be enough for "...
- 1,540
72
votes
13
answers
18k
views
Informal Chat in Concluding an Interview; is it appropriate to ask about a hobby/interest?
As a senior software developer (based in UK), I help my manager arrange and conduct interviews. My boss used to conduct the interviews himself, but realised that he needed someone more tech-savvy ...
user34587
65
votes
5
answers
13k
views
Responding to social invitations with autism
So I have been told that there will be a Christmas Party happening at my work. I have autism I really do not like this sort of thing.
This is my first ever job and I am really enjoying it. I have ...
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63
votes
9
answers
17k
views
Is it appropriate to speak up for a team member who can't drink due to addiction recovery when a company event is being planned?
I am the team lead of a team of ten. One of my team members in the past has undergone counseling due to alcohol abuse / excessive drinking. He has since recovered, but no longer drinks. Senior ...
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61
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Declining welcome lunch invitation at new job due to Ramadan
I am starting a new position next month and I have been kindly invited to a team lunch. I would love to go, but due to the month of Ramadan I will be fasting during the day - no food or drinks allowed....
- 391
56
votes
10
answers
9k
views
Is there any way to appear sociable at a work social event without drinking?
I generally steer clear of sugary junk food such as beer, fruit juices, etc. I'm not really a fan of drinking alcohol either, as I like my sleep. So when I go out with a bunch of work colleagues and ...
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56
votes
8
answers
12k
views
Is it generally unacceptable to become close friends with colleagues?
I'm a young graduate fresh out of university just under a year ago. I went to an international school in my youth and did not establish many friendships during university due to the girlfriend in ...
- 1,267
53
votes
10
answers
12k
views
How do I explain that I am in the office to work, not to have fun?
Our office has a ping-ping table, and I am occasionally invited to play during work hours. Meanwhile my co-workers will often take a few minutes out of the day to chat about their homes, families, ...
- 3,897
53
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Boss Cheating at Fantasy Football
My boss started a fantasy football league this year with a $20 buy-in with winner-take-all. I don't particularly care for football, but I signed up thinking it would be a good way to socialize with ...
- 291
42
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Arranging drinks with laid off coworkers in close-knit team
I work in a close-knit team of about 20 that just suffered layoffs. Some of the surviving employees and laid off employees are friends, and several survivors have suggested arranging drinks with the ...
- 393
39
votes
9
answers
14k
views
How can I get my co-workers to have conversations with me in their native language instead of English?
I am an immigrant in Taiwan. All but one of my co-workers are Taiwanese. I expect to live here forever, I speak Chinese, yet many of my co-workers won't speak Chinese with me. Originally no one did ...
anon
38
votes
6
answers
12k
views
When taking clients out for drinks, how to behave when I cannot drink?
I will be spending more and more time with clients in the near future and we are encouraged to regularly socialize with and entertain them, especially by taking them out for drinks.
I wonder whether ...
- 489
35
votes
6
answers
9k
views
As an introvert, how do I connect with co-workers at a new job?
I just started a job at an insurance company.
The problem I'm having is that I don't talk to my co-workers unless it's work related. I'm new in the office and all of them are already friends.
As the ...
- 347
34
votes
7
answers
4k
views
What are some guidelines for appropriate social drinking in a work-related context?
Everyone or nearly everyone has at some point an occasion to drink either at work as part of a work function or with a group of friends from work. What are some ways to help avoid the pitfalls of ...
- 883
32
votes
9
answers
5k
views
Disagreeing with boss over personal topics when socializing
Is it bad practice to disagree with a boss on personal opinions, in the context of talking about things for fun? For example, if a boss is talking about how much corruption is in the Catholic Church ...
user8119
32
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How do I distance myself from a clique that's constantly mocking my colleagues?
There is a small group of people in the office who have formed a clique of sorts. They go out to eat together, constantly talk to or IM each other, have inside jokes, all sorts of fun stuff. When I ...
- 864
29
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How to handle awkward conversation with co-worker in gym changing room who is naked
I was at the gym (non work affiliated if it makes a difference) last week and ran into a co worker in the changing rooms. This would have been fine except she had just walked out of the shower ...
- 299
28
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Adjusting to a team with conflicting socialisation preferences for a group dinner
I started a new job half a year ago. I am very satisfied, there's just one thing. The team is pretty outgoing and they like to go out for a dinner together once or twice a month. I don't mind that, ...
- 713
27
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How much humor should I display in an interview?
In an interview, there is often this icy nervousness. Would it be appropriate to make a comment about something mundane, like the coffeeshop nearby, etc? Just to break the ice? How much humor can I ...
- 7,261
27
votes
7
answers
3k
views
How can I limit or avoid social faux pas when I have a disability that makes it hard
I have Asperger's syndrome which makes it difficult for me to navigate the social aspects of the workplace, and I understand that other conditions such as depression, anxiety, et cetera can also cause ...
- 159k
26
votes
4
answers
28k
views
What do you do/say to someone who has been off work because they lost someone close?
If you have a colleague or boss who is off work because a significant person (wife/husband/child/parent/grandparent) in their life died, what is the workplace norm for communication?
Should you ...
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24
votes
6
answers
4k
views
How can I not come across as uninterested or rude during an interview?
I've been told by many people (including my former boss) that I look unhappy or upset about something. This is almost always untrue when people point this out. I attribute this mostly to my anxiety. I'...
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20
votes
8
answers
10k
views
How can I drop a polite hint to a coworker to stop pestering me with daily questions about my lunch?
I have a coworker who, without fail, asks me the same set of small talk lunch-related questions.
Every. Single. Day.
For example:
(As I'm heading out the door)
Him: Where you goin?!
Me (usually ...
- 3,823
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How to react when superiors make fun of junior employees during informal/social events?
I am a junior manager (promoted from within) and recently started being invited to some social and informal events with senior management. It is good to know that I am getting closer to their inner ...
- 211
18
votes
4
answers
27k
views
Is not attending the company holiday party damaging to my job and/or my career?
Many companies I've worked for host company functions like a holiday party. I understand that these are suppose to serve as a bit of a morale booster and a thank you from the company to the employees. ...
- 199
16
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can I gracefully skip part of a work outing?
I have just started a job 4 days ago (hooray!). The model of my team is a "startup within a big corporation," so we work in a coworking space separate from the main campus, people are in and out a lot,...
- 271
16
votes
6
answers
5k
views
How do I unfriend a co-worker? [duplicate]
TL;DR; I want to unfriend a coworker for her overly attached behavior, but she is also a QA of some of the projects that I develop.
I was dragged into a group of 4 girls at work without me trying to ...
- 1,967
16
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How should I handle colleagues with very different work ethic?
I prefer to work intensively for eight hours with complete focus, then leave relax in the evenings - work hard, play hard. My colleagues on the other hand, prefer to be in the office for 10-12 hours ...
- 3,897
15
votes
10
answers
18k
views
Can my UK company order me to join a social event?
I like doing my job and with COVID I love working from home with meetings via Teams. After COVID, I'm continuing working from home. My productivity is higher than in the office and I often work (...
- 422
15
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Should we ban facebook or any other social network at workplace?
In our company we do not bother much about people using social networks such as Facebook. But I am realizing that people are misusing this now. They are engaged in it more than the real job for which ...
- 1,765
14
votes
3
answers
6k
views
How can I decline business-lunch invitations due to strict dietary restrictions?
I don't eat out at restaurants, I'm a strict vegetarian, and it's part of my faith. However, recently my manager invited me and other colleagues to a lunch. I don't want to be disrespectful and say ...
- 486
14
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How to exclude myself from informal activities with colleagues?
This may sound bad but please consider that I'm truly uncomfortable with these kinds of activities.
I'm a junior software developer, I work with an amazing team and I get along with everyone. I'm ...
user107596
13
votes
3
answers
6k
views
What's the most appropriate way to introduce my boss to friends and family?
There is an upcoming social event organized by my employer where friends and family will be invited.
The company is a fairly small company in the UK and I will inevitably need to introduce my family ...
- 149
13
votes
5
answers
31k
views
When is it appropriate to bring a Significant Other to an office function?
There are some events such as drinks in the office after work, where it is clearly inappropriate to bring a significant other, but others such as holiday parties where it is perfectly acceptable. I ...
- 141
12
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is it okay to turn down an invitation to my own retirement party?
I had to retire from work after 23 years to care for my ill husband. No breaks. I’m here 24/7. I order groceries on line for delivery. I’m his caretaker. With his dementia and disease he cannot be ...
- 131
12
votes
5
answers
19k
views
Responding to "Why are you the best person for this job" type questions
Note: In somewhat the same vein as this question.
I recently landed a new job, but I was asked during the interview "Why do you think you're the best person for the job?" and they mentioned that this ...
- 1,527
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
I want to avoid a 2-day social event organized by the company on working days
A company event is advertised with the words "attending is expected", which I assume means attending is obligatory. There doesn't seem to be anything work-related, but it seems to be a spirit building ...
- 400
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Soft-skills... how and why?
Intro: I'm originally a physicist, and I love programming since my childhood (primarily C++). After finishing my PhD in physics, I did a post-doctoral fellowship in a university for 2 years, where in ...
- 2,741
12
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Professionalism regarding sharing Steam account info
I've found myself in somewhat of an awkward situation, or at least it seems that way to me. Personally, I like to metaphorically wear two outfits: one for when I'm not at work and one when I'm doing ...
- 301
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What are some steps I can take to overcome social anxiety while working?
I recently started working in a midsize company as a software development intern. I really like the company and I really like the work.
The trouble I have is building relationships with people in ...
- 121
11
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Is it acceptable to politely decline to speak about one's personal life?
I've seen this answer, where the person says that one might present oneself poorly if they hide their personal lives from their co-workers.
In-spite of that, I believe that revealing information ...
- 950
11
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Company invites me to event after firing me [closed]
I worked for a development company 2 years ago. I was fired on my last day of probation, after 6 months. I wasn't really expecting it. I felt a bit bitter about it; The boss also behaved improperly ...
user14154
10
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Can my employer make me drink alcohol? [closed]
I work at a company with a rowdy atmosphere that includes pressure to drink alcohol. Multiple people at the company told me verbatim that I would even been judged negatively in terms of hiring ...
- 109
10
votes
6
answers
23k
views
How can I manage an in-person job interview when I have social anxiety?
So far I have been chatting with a potential employer over email. She will eventually ask to meet in person. The problem is that I am very nervous when around other people and thus I reckon the way ...
- 595