Do you like your coworkers? Are you friendly with them?

Question

I prefer not to socialize with my coworkers because I've learned not to mix work with my personal life. In my experiences, I've found that when money is a factor, people can be real snakes and ultimately screw you. Are you actually friends with your coworkers (meaning hang out outside of work, visit each others homes, chat on the phone, etc.?)

I know it is necessary to have allies and network if you want to move up. How do you balance the two?

Answer 1

I have a few choice girlfriends from work with whom I go shopping or out to lunch with. Allies is a good term. At work we are a well-oiled machine, getting our work done well and on time!

Answer 2

I am friendly with everyone at work, whether I actually like them or not. However, I learned long ago that socializing outside of work with co-workers is a bad idea. That person that seems to be a loyal friend at one time, can become your worst enemy as situations change.

The key is to be friendly without disclosing too much information. Stick to discussing work related topics and general chit-chat about tv, sports, music, etc. Never confide into any personal matters that you wouldn't want everyone at work to know and/or anything that could jeapodize your position at work.

This doesn't mean you can't socialize outside of work at all. Try to do it with those you think are, or you would like to have as allies. It's ok to socialize in public with co-workers, provided you stick to the same topics of conversation you would have at work. If drinks are involved, know your limitations. If you tend to blab about things you shouldn't after a few drinks, then make sure you excuse yourself before you get to that point. NEVER become intoxicated in front of your co-workers. Leave before you get buzzed. If you still want to stay out, leave and go where your non-work friends hang out.

Avoid having any of them in your home. If you do talk to any of them on the phone, stick to the same topics you'd discuss at work. REMEMBER, just because someone seems to be confiding in you, do not confide in them. Never ever ever have a relationship or a friend with benefits situation.

Stick to these rules, and you will be fine.

Good Luck :-)

Answer 3

Yeah we all play at work, sit outside and talk about dumb stuff on break. We don't visit or go to eachother's home but my buddy who was my friend before she started working there well we do stuff but we were friends first and will be after working there. Besides this job isnt that important anyway lol we all make crap for money so they cant really screw me if they wanted to

Answer 4

I'm a camp counselor in the summer and I actually like the people I work with haha...we have fun and play jokes on each other...sometimes they might get on my nerves cause they just sit and don't do anything but they're all nice and I like most of them lol =)

Answer 5

Mine are cool. I like socializing with them but I seldom hang out with them outside of work. I seldom get invited to go anywhere with them. Oh well.

Answer 6

i work at a company which employs over 300 people so obviously i dont know all of them however im friendly with a huge majority of them but i dont necessarily "like" all of them.

Answer 7

I hang out with a select few people.

the rest of them I hate.

I hate lots of people.

Answer 8

yes I am friendly with them but don't hang out with them often

Answer 9

not really. i only like a few. i only socialize with one.