h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Some days that's exactly what I'm feeling.

We no longer have the "sales vs accounting" thing that apparently existed back when there were only 10 people at corporate. But people can still be kind of cliqueish. So why try to force people with disparate interests to socialize?

One of my suggestions was to alternate the typical fancy holiday aprty with something more casual. Last year's shidig took place at 7pm on a Thursday night, because it's cheaper than Friday. It cost $400K. Why not do a Friday afternoon luncheon at a more casual venue, and have it last through the end of the day?

Actually...I kinda miss socialisng with colleagues. Not in an official capacity - just general socialising. We used to have an office in the city centre, so after work drinkies (or even lunchtime drinkies ) were a frequent occurence. And we used to have a curry 'round the corner every Friday lunchtime. But now we're out at the shipyard where the only source of 'entertainment' would be to buy a wrap of smack.

In fact...this (of course!) was my main reason for wanting to go to Swedeland next week: for the craic. And the short metro ride from Copenhagen airport to Christiana. My Swedelish harem are good company!

PCandy, that bit about your family not being a family because you're not married is BALONEY. Your bosses need a sound thwack for that one. Your partner is family, whether you've formalized it or not, and it's great that you love spending time with each other, you and K. They should not be so dismissive.

Also, if you need to explain yourself, just say "I'm a morning person." and leave it at that. Because you are! If they insist on scheduling things in the evening, that's THEIR problem.

to JEllen.

>>PCandy, that bit about your family not being a family because you're not married is BALONEY.

Doesn't that go without saying?

Maybe it's different here in Yoorp. Here, marriage is no biggie. (But then we're all depraved commie liberals. ). For example, I only twigged today that my boss, who has two daughters, isn't married. Sure, marriage isn still the defauly. But anyone who'd find that odd would be considered...odd.

Oh, it wasn't a boss that said that, Jellen, just a couple of random officemates.

I've never been really big on socilaizing with co-workers. I have a couple of people here with whom I'm friendly, and we do stuff on our own time. But I usually skip the "a bunch of us are going for drinks after work". Partly because I leave work 2 hours or more before they do- because of that morning person thing- and partly because I'm not all that interested in watching them drink. I *always* go along when invited to lunch, though, if my workload permits.

Marriage is obviously enough of a biggie. It's enough of a sore spot for me because Illinois is not a common-law state and we have no legal rights. I've had to file to grant K Power of Attorney in case I should ever need medical care or something like that, and had to draw up a will so if anything happens to me he's not left in the lurch. Fortunately we can designate anyone we want as beneficiary for life insurance, but I can't put him on my medical plan. So it's all the more irritating when people find snide little ways to make me feel like we're less of a family.

Weird. Over here, being anti-choice and pro-religion would make *them* the ones that didn't quite fit in and wouldn't feel comfortable talking about their beliefs. At least in all the offices I've worked in.

Are there other corporations where you might fit in better, PC? Or are most companies in your neck of the woods like that?

It's not my company that is that way- it's a diverse company with over 1000 employees nationwide and I'm sure filled with people of all kinds of opinions.

What I was referring to in regards to anti-choice was that they sponsored participation in a mini-marathon which is sponsored by a multinational bank; the bank then donates all proceeds to charity. This year's charities were a religious organization and a medical research campaign. It's not my company that chose those. Our own philanthropic foundation this year donated its monies to organization which work with housing or youth outreach.

No one has ever discussed religion or anything like that, at least not to me. When I referred to the ecclesiastical definitions of marriage, that's my own (perhaps knee-jerk) reaction to the vague attitude that cohabiting couples aren't the same as married couples.

If anyone had approached me with unwanted religious or anti-choice comments to my face, I would address them with HR and that person would most definitely be reprimanded.

As for fitting in... I don't enjoy all the sporty stuff, but I really do like and get along with most of my co-workers. I've made a few good friends, too. I can fit in fine just about anywhere pretty much. If I made it sound like I was being singled out or that I felt I was in an environment inherently hostile to non-religious or pro-choice people, I explained myself poorly. My point of contention in that respect was with giving my time or money to charitable organizations which take those positions.

That said... I'm a lot happier at my current employer than I have *ever* been with any other company, and I don't think they're all evil, controlling b******s or anything like that.

My beef is when someone comes around work with a sponsorship form...and it turns out they're raising money to buy shirts for their kid's football team.

Buy your own 'kin shirt!!!

>>I don't think they're all evil, controlling b******s or anything like that

Mine won't let me go to Sweden next week.

heh, charity events nearly always pee someone off. My last place had a couple of such tie ins but every year they did the Jeans for Genes thing. And every year someone had a go about it. I can't remember what their specific complaint was with them but there was some fundamental they didn't like and it'd dissolve in email standoffs and 'well if you want to...' type emails.

That's why, aside from the foundation which is an independent entity from the company and employees aren't asked to contribute, I don't think there should ever be suggestions or pressure to donate to charity or purchase stuff for schools/scouts/etc.

I always drop off food for the annual food drive around Thanksgiving. K's employer gives each of them a grocery gift card, and we use it to buy dry and canned goods for the drive, usually a bag or two of stuff. And put in toys for the Toys for Tots drive and for the drive for children of police officers who are critically wounded or killed in the line of duty. And I'm the one who *started* the glass/plastic/aluminum recycling program (in which the whole building now participates).

I also really enjoy cooking for all the pot luck days, and some of us get together during lunch times, when we're free, and play card or board games. I like participating if it's something that I enjoy or that means something to me!

"enjoy cooking for all the pot luck days"

heh, maybe you should make that a more 'literal' title and see how they feel about some of your ideas

That'd solve all my employment related gripes in one shot.

I'm not expecting a personal response to my email but I let K read what I sent, and he thought it was quite well worded and not at all emotive, so thank you all for your help.

Today's my super-busiest day of the month, but I've got things ready to start as soon as I get in, so by lunchtime I'll have so much down time I won't know what I was complaining for yesterday.

Oh my - I've been reading this thread at work and I was going to say something when I got home.

And now I've forgotten what it was.

I really can't stand all that "team building" stuff - in our company there is huge pressure to get absolutely blotto and I really can't be doing that. Not only because I really don't want to be so drunk with colleagues/bosses, but also because it makes a huge problem for me either getting home, or getting to my car again to get to work or whatever.

And right after I read the thread - I got a mail about our next event.

I've just remebered the time, a couple of years ago, when In got in (minor) trouble for not wearing an official, project shirt. Obviously I'd have stong objections to having to wear a corporate uniform in any case, but this was even worse...It was a *polo* shirt!

As I said at the time:

'I don't do polo shirts.'

well, given my past, I can't say that I completely object to some uniforms. But... we are supposed to wear a company pin for VIP visits etc. And I really hate to punch a hole in a good blouse/jacket so I don't. And I have to put up with accusations of disloyalty.

Yes, I've put up with total carp from them for nearly 10 years...


But I have to say, I'd draw the line at a polo shirt too.

My mother once told off a German company at a convention - they didn't understand why the English-speaking women objected to wearing a pin with the name of the company on it (and only the name of the company), which was EASY...

(Sho - cut off the pin bit, glue on a strong magnet, put a second magnet on the other side of your lapel, et voilà )

Well, I would - but I don't want to be mistaken for a corporate drone...

(I'd like one of those badges, do you think your mum has one going spare...)