There’s a strange taboo involved with hanging out with your workmates. Particularly, if you have children. Shouldn’t you be spending time with your family? Haven’t you already spent too long in their presence? When you socialise with your co-workers away from work (even if you work remotely) it is actually really beneficial, and here are the reasons why.
Why You Should Socialise with Your Co-Workers Away from Work
1. Your Co-Workers Understand
It is relieving to vent to your friends from outside work, but they simply cannot understand exactly what you are talking about.
When socialising with your workmates, they will be able to empathise.
Is work stress getting to you? They will express understanding and help you laugh it off. This is especially comforting in high-stress jobs like healthcare. This will also bring you some sense of belonging and acceptance which is very important in a workplace. If you feel like this is something that can be improved in your own workplace, you may visit this page https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/belonging-at-work/ to learn how to improve employee engagement.
2. They’ll Be There For A Long Time
The chances are, many of your co-workers are settled in their careers.
With you seeing each other every day, it makes a solid ground for a life-long friendship.
Yes – work should be a place where you work, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy the company.
3. Work Activities Will Improve
If you don’t have close friends at work, you probably sigh when you hear about bonding activities.
If you do have mates there, however, trips with your work pals or even trainings like Reskilling will be something to cheer about.
Yurtel offers excellent staff trips like glamping, so you can share a fun experience that’s vastly different from the normal working day.
When you have work friends, it’ll be even more exciting, but if you don’t, it’s a great opportunity to bond more with the people you work with. An office putting set is a great tool to bond with colleagues.
4. When You Socialise with Your Co-Workers You’ll See a Different Side to Them
If you’re someone who’s always stayed away from making friends at work, you’ll be surprised at what you’re missing out on.
Most people have a different personality outside of work compared to the way they act when they’re in work.
That professional-looking, quiet guy from IT? He might be the biggest thrill-seeker you’ve ever met!
By cutting off the chance for workplace friendships, you might be giving up the opportunity to hang out with some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet.
5. The Days Will Go Faster When You Socialise With Co-Workers
Workplace chatter can transform a day from a dull one to a hilarious one.
While you shouldn’t prioritise laughter over work, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t catch a few minutes to catch up with your workmates, especially at lunch.
When you have someone to talk to during your downtime, the minutes will speed up.
Before you know it, your work will be done and you’ll be packing up to tell your other half all the stories you heard from your co-workers.
6. They Will Be Honest
When spending 40 hours a week around someone, it’s not easy to sugar-coat conversations.
While some friends are always kind, it helps to have honest friends, too. If you’re worried about doing something wrong, they’ll be the first to tell you if it’s the case.
Not because they want you to feel bad, but because they know you can do better!
7. After-Work Drinks
Planning drinks with your friends after work is a challenge, especially when everyone is on a different schedule.
Sometimes, it’s easier to grab a quick drink with your workmates.
It saves the hassle of scheduling, and you always have the opportunity to see your mates from outside work over the weekend!
A quick ‘fancy a drink?’ is all it’ll take to have a few hours of relaxation post work.
8. There’s Always Lots to Chat About
A lot goes on in the workplace, so you’ll have loads to chat about with your workmates.
If you are in separate departments, then there’ll be even more to offload on each other!
Whether you want to complain about the new printer, or fill someone in on your home life, there’s going to be lots to chat about.
9. You Will Build Each Other Up
Most importantly, having a workmate means having someone who has your back, and vice versa.
Having no connections at work means you have no one to build you up and pull you out of a rut when you need it.
When you’re having a hard day, your workmates will make it their mission to ensure your bad mood doesn’t last long.
No one can be there for you during those eight hours, so their friendship is invaluable.
There’s no limitation to who you form bonds with, and with people from work, you already have a solid foundation.
By learning how to come together with your workmates, you will find that both your work and home life improve.
Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Lucy Clarke