Yay or nay to socialising with your colleagues after hours?
We spend so much time with our work colleagues so naturally bonds and friendships will form in the workplace. But is it ever a good idea to associate with them outside of working hours?
Listen as KZN shares their views on the topic below, or read the details under the podcast.
Being friends with work colleagues can be tricky. Being friends would mean that you are choosing to spend time with them outside of your normal work day. The Violet Fog reports that on average we spend about 90,000 hours with our colleagues, which is more time with them than with our partners.
Besides the obvious positives like having a support structure, or someone to confide in at work, blurred boundaries between the work role and the friendship role can be the biggest problem, because friendships can cause distractions, anxieties, and diminished work performance, and if a close relationship comes to an end, the wheels can literally fall off. It just becomes awkward.
What if this person, your colleague who you socialise with after hours, is promoted ahead of you? This would definitely change the power dynamic between you two, or would it? What about making yourself vulnerable and then a work colleague uses that against you if conflict arises?
I'm not saying it's wrong not to be chatty and friendly at work. It would become a very boring place and a dull work environment without office chatter. A recent study has said that random chats improve and increase productivity.
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I must be honest, for me, I only spend five hours at the 'office' (or studio in my case). While I have a good working relationship and have fun with many of my colleagues, I choose not to hang out with anyone from work after hours. But perhaps it would be different if I worked 'normal' hours like most people? Hmmm...
One of my colleagues is the complete opposite, however. She does pizza night, coffee dates, and even goes to the movies with a group of friends from work. But I must add that they all work in different departments to each other. Does that even make a difference?
So the big question is - yay or nay to socialising with your colleagues - and why?