Do you have friends at work?

winampmom · 21st September 2004, 13:49

Do you have friends at the place you work or do you just go to work, do your job and mind your own business?

I am really lucky to be able to work with my very best friends at times and it makes my job so much more fun! This past week I was working at the Miss America Padgent and 3 of my very best friends were with me. We had a blast! We worked really hard but at the same time having them with me made it exciting.

Mr Jones · 21st September 2004, 14:11

Depends what kind of enviroment you work in, most office based people will quite happily stab you in the back as soon as look at you.

I see it all the time here with people I work with, they hang in little groups, going for a ciggie or for a coffee, and then as soon as they come back to their desks they start bitching about each other "ooh, you'll never guess what, such and such is seeing such and such person" or "can you belive they get away with this and that and no one notices, they are such slackers"

So to that end, I tend to keep my work colleagues and friends seperate, I wouldn't class anyone here as a 'friend' , I'd say hello in the street if I passed them by, but wouldn't go out of my way to cross the road to have a conversation with them.

ScorLibran · 21st September 2004, 17:06

I'm a consultant. I don't get chummy with the locals.

But seriously, when I was working in tech support and system engineering roles 10+ years ago, there was no "heated political atmosphere", so making and keeping friends at work was easy. But now I'm in IT management, and it's all about the empire building. I have friends in my industry outside the companies I work for. And I do have several business partnerships with good friends as well.

But in any 9-5 role, everyone around me with any authority is a target, especially the ones with more authority than me. I'm a very easy-going, nice guy outside of work, and I never bring my work home with me, but in the office it's all a different story. There are no rules, there are no friends, there is no trust. To believe otherwise has resulted in some nice scars that I've learned quite well from. You do have to "put on the show" every day, though...I smile, I build confidence in others, then I expand my area of influence, often leaving the blood trails of other people's careers in my wake.

The only exception are entry-levels, or "innocents". I'll either take them under my wing, or step around them. I'd never target someone who couldn't possibly defend themselves from political assault. If they've screwed up somehow and their team or department needs to be confronted, I go after their manager or director.

So basically, "friends at work" is something I don't have a lot of, and don't really want that many of anyway, because it's impossible for me to annihilate someone who I'd consider a friend.

Edit: If it's not apparent, I'm not in a good mood today...my back hurts (pulled a muscle the other day), I miss my g/f, and the IT market is in turmoil at the moment. I'm not nearly so bad-sounding any other time. Sorry.

Widdykats · 21st September 2004, 17:10

I work alone at a lot of my "Jobs"! I go in, do script, brochure work and make ad decisions and *poof* I'm gone!
Works for me!

Mrs_Mia_Wallace · 21st September 2004, 17:21

I go to college so of course a lot of my friends go tehre as well, I met many great people during the last year and I can't see why you can't have friends at work later on as well. Well, it'd always depend on how competitive the field is but I'd say that it's most of the time possible and it makes your work more enjoyable as well.

Mia

CaboWaboAddict · 21st September 2004, 17:47

I am friends with everyone I work with (about 20 people) in my office. I have made friends with several people in our overseas offices too.

Smeggle · 21st September 2004, 17:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Mrs_Mia_Wallace
I can't see why you can't have friends at work later on as well. Mia

heh heh heh You shall learn......Tis a cruel world

sometimes....

Me I, I work from home, It's my own business (just

) , I have 1 employee - Me.
I'm good friends with myself and have a chat to myself all the time, and then I have my doggy, cats when I'm bored....
I have no rush hour traffic, The most amazing view of Bantry Bay, from the window, no political ' I feel harrassed - he/she looked at me and smiled - he/she wants sex (fook - what am I working at home for

)

I get up when I want, Do pretty much as I please, and have a fun day/night whichever it's fun....

~

winampmom · 21st September 2004, 19:42

Quote:

Originally posted by ScorLibran
I'm a consultant. I don't get chummy with the locals. [Image]

Edit: If it's not apparent, I'm not in a good mood today...my back hurts (pulled a muscle the other day), I miss my g/f, and the IT market is in turmoil at the moment. I'm not nearly so bad-sounding any other time. Sorry.

I am sorry you are in a bad mood today. I am sure you will have a much better day tomorrow. It always gets better.

apollos · 21st September 2004, 22:41

I am slightly disconnected from my work friends... it's true the reason I say in the Safeway coffee shop is becaue of the people, but the closest I really have with any of them is messaging Michelle via AOL.

There is bitchness there, but it's mostly the old and bitter people that do that, everyone 30- is cool

Oh and Danny is gay and we kissed the other day on a shutdown together which was really nice...
hmm maybe I do take work pals a little seriously

Bilbo Baggins · 21st September 2004, 22:43

I only have one real friend at work, though he has just left. The others I either hate, or get on with because its easier to do so.

Work is not a happy place.

ertmann|CPH · 22nd September 2004, 02:32

I do, a friend of mine who worked at my office before me recomended me to my boss, and i got two of my friends hired here too...

We have like private parties every 2 or three months where usualy some 10 - 15 people from works shows up, besides that i see 3 people, that i didn´t know before i started here, regulary outside the office.

ryan · 22nd September 2004, 02:37

Remind me in a week or so. I'll have a job then.

ShyShy · 22nd September 2004, 03:30

I invited two of my coworkers, one I consider a very good friend of mine, to the wedding! They're what has made the past couple of months bearable to go to work with.

fwgx · 22nd September 2004, 19:57

I'm moving a long way to a newish city and am starting with 5 other graduates, plus some existing grads, so I hope to make some friends there. Otherwise I'll be a bit of a loner. I'll hopefully make friends with my flatmates - who I haven't met yet.

winampmom · 22nd September 2004, 20:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Phily Baby
Otherwise I'll be a bit of a loner. I'll hopefully make friends with my flatmates - who I haven't met yet.

Phily I am most positive that you will make lots of new friends. You are a sweetheart and will have no problems!

beanboy89 · 22nd September 2004, 23:41

I don't work.

The Big Andowski · 23rd September 2004, 02:57

I'm friends with everyone I work with...(except the girl who likes to balltap me..I'll get her back..) One of my good friends works with me; I've known him since I moved here. I get along with my manager really well, too. He's got a similar smart ass sense of humor and we're able to joke around. In fact, we all mess around there. Then again, it is fast food..kind of. I'm going to homecoming with a girl I work with also..probably not the best idea but who cares.

Twilightseer · 23rd September 2004, 09:09

No friends at work. I tolerate my colleagues and my boss just because I have to.
Sadly, that kind of attitute is frowned upon, especially since I'm in a big firm which is supposed to be a "big family". Family, my ass, so to speak. I lunch alone, I don't go and have coffee with them, I reply politely if they ask me something but that's about all.
I wonder where most people get the idea that the workplace is supposed be friendly. Heck work itself is a torture, why should the people related to it be any different ? Fortunately, I have a well-established reputation of cynicism here. One day, I told my boss I was "only in it for the money" and this imbecil thought I was joking

yenerich · 23rd September 2004, 17:19

yes i have, i think we have to be nice with other people and friendly.

21st September 2004, 13:49	#1
winampmom Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: winamp forums Posts: 94	Do you have friends at work? Do you have friends at the place you work or do you just go to work, do your job and mind your own business? I am really lucky to be able to work with my very best friends at times and it makes my job so much more fun! This past week I was working at the Miss America Padgent and 3 of my very best friends were with me. We had a blast! We worked really hard but at the same time having them with me made it exciting.

21st September 2004, 17:06	#3
ScorLibran Resident Floydian Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,222	I'm a consultant. I don't get chummy with the locals. But seriously, when I was working in tech support and system engineering roles 10+ years ago, there was no "heated political atmosphere", so making and keeping friends at work was easy. But now I'm in IT management, and it's all about the empire building. I have friends in my industry outside the companies I work for. And I do have several business partnerships with good friends as well. But in any 9-5 role, everyone around me with any authority is a target, especially the ones with more authority than me. I'm a very easy-going, nice guy outside of work, and I never bring my work home with me, but in the office it's all a different story. There are no rules, there are no friends, there is no trust. To believe otherwise has resulted in some nice scars that I've learned quite well from. You do have to "put on the show" every day, though...I smile, I build confidence in others, then I expand my area of influence, often leaving the blood trails of other people's careers in my wake. The only exception are entry-levels, or "innocents". I'll either take them under my wing, or step around them. I'd never target someone who couldn't possibly defend themselves from political assault. If they've screwed up somehow and their team or department needs to be confronted, I go after their manager or director. So basically, "friends at work" is something I don't have a lot of, and don't really want that many of anyway, because it's impossible for me to annihilate someone who I'd consider a friend. Edit: If it's not apparent, I'm not in a good mood today...my back hurts (pulled a muscle the other day), I miss my g/f, and the IT market is in turmoil at the moment. I'm not nearly so bad-sounding any other time. Sorry. I'm a psychosomatic sister running around without a leash.

21st September 2004, 17:47	#6
CaboWaboAddict Forum Sot (Major Dude) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Marietta, Ga. U.S.A. Posts: 3,916	I am friends with everyone I work with (about 20 people) in my office. I have made friends with several people in our overseas offices too. Idiot's Advocate My site (under construction)

22nd September 2004, 19:57	#14
fwgx Rudolf the Red. (Forum King) Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 9,314	I'm moving a long way to a newish city and am starting with 5 other graduates, plus some existing grads, so I hope to make some friends there. Otherwise I'll be a bit of a loner. I'll hopefully make friends with my flatmates - who I haven't met yet. "We think science is interesting and if you disagree, you can fuck off."

22nd September 2004, 23:41	#16
beanboy89 (Major Dude) isn't very custom Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 2,004	I don't work. Site \| Help us count

21st September 2004, 14:11	#2
Mr Jones Nothing to say... Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: UK Posts: 23,098	Depends what kind of enviroment you work in, most office based people will quite happily stab you in the back as soon as look at you. I see it all the time here with people I work with, they hang in little groups, going for a ciggie or for a coffee, and then as soon as they come back to their desks they start bitching about each other "ooh, you'll never guess what, such and such is seeing such and such person" or "can you belive they get away with this and that and no one notices, they are such slackers" So to that end, I tend to keep my work colleagues and friends seperate, I wouldn't class anyone here as a 'friend' , I'd say hello in the street if I passed them by, but wouldn't go out of my way to cross the road to have a conversation with them.

21st September 2004, 17:10	#4
Widdykats The Forum Slut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A place that invites a post pumping whore from NY Posts: 15,787	I work alone at a lot of my "Jobs"! I go in, do script, brochure work and make ad decisions and poof I'm gone! Works for me!

21st September 2004, 17:21	#5
Mrs_Mia_Wallace has a crush on Bilbo (Forum Queen) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: The starting points at a racetrack. Posts: 3,060	I go to college so of course a lot of my friends go tehre as well, I met many great people during the last year and I can't see why you can't have friends at work later on as well. Well, it'd always depend on how competitive the field is but I'd say that it's most of the time possible and it makes your work more enjoyable as well. Mia

21st September 2004, 22:41	#9
apollos Forum King Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canterbury & Plymouth Posts: 4,176	I am slightly disconnected from my work friends... it's true the reason I say in the Safeway coffee shop is becaue of the people, but the closest I really have with any of them is messaging Michelle via AOL. There is bitchness there, but it's mostly the old and bitter people that do that, everyone 30- is cool Oh and Danny is gay and we kissed the other day on a shutdown together which was really nice... hmm maybe I do take work pals a little seriously

21st September 2004, 22:43	#10
Bilbo Baggins Wind Chime of the Apocalypse Join Date: May 2000 Location: The Forest Posts: 17,228	I only have one real friend at work, though he has just left. The others I either hate, or get on with because its easier to do so. Work is not a happy place.

22nd September 2004, 02:32	#11
ertmann\|CPH Forum Viking (Forum King) Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The North Posts: 3,541	I do, a friend of mine who worked at my office before me recomended me to my boss, and i got two of my friends hired here too... We have like private parties every 2 or three months where usualy some 10 - 15 people from works shows up, besides that i see 3 people, that i didn´t know before i started here, regulary outside the office.

22nd September 2004, 02:37	#12
ryan not fucked, not quite. (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Missouri via Tennessee Posts: 8,813	Remind me in a week or so. I'll have a job then.

22nd September 2004, 03:30	#13
ShyShy Amazon Bush Woman Forum Queen Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Sticks, Queensland Posts: 8,066	I invited two of my coworkers, one I consider a very good friend of mine, to the wedding! They're what has made the past couple of months bearable to go to work with.

23rd September 2004, 02:57	#17
The Big Andowski Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: willowick, oh Posts: 318	I'm friends with everyone I work with...(except the girl who likes to balltap me..I'll get her back..) One of my good friends works with me; I've known him since I moved here. I get along with my manager really well, too. He's got a similar smart ass sense of humor and we're able to joke around. In fact, we all mess around there. Then again, it is fast food..kind of. I'm going to homecoming with a girl I work with also..probably not the best idea but who cares. -andy

23rd September 2004, 09:09	#18
Twilightseer Frenchoderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Lavabo, fond du couloir, 3è porte à droite Posts: 6,309	No friends at work. I tolerate my colleagues and my boss just because I have to. Sadly, that kind of attitute is frowned upon, especially since I'm in a big firm which is supposed to be a "big family". Family, my ass, so to speak. I lunch alone, I don't go and have coffee with them, I reply politely if they ask me something but that's about all. I wonder where most people get the idea that the workplace is supposed be friendly. Heck work itself is a torture, why should the people related to it be any different ? Fortunately, I have a well-established reputation of cynicism here. One day, I told my boss I was "only in it for the money" and this imbecil thought I was joking

23rd September 2004, 17:19	#19
yenerich Banned Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 295	yes i have, i think we have to be nice with other people and friendly.

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