Office happy hours, client dinners and other after-hours work gatherings lose their luster as more people feel the pull of home

Patience for after-hours work socializing is wearing thin.

After an initial burst of postpandemic happy hours, rubber chicken dinners and mandatory office merriment, many employees are adopting a stricter 5:01-and-I’m-done attitude to their work schedules. More U.S. workers say they’re trying to draw thicker lines between work and the rest of life, and that often means clocking out and eschewing invites to socialize with co-workers. Corporate event planners say they’re already facing pushback for fall activities and any work-related functions that take place on weekends.

    • @[email protected]
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      62 years ago

      It’s a serious fucking challenge. Which is why I’ll switch jobs if my employer starts demanding that I come in more than my current 2 days/week.

    • Baron Von J
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      1032 years ago

      I absolutely loathe expressions like “days off” and “personal time.” It just has a connotation that your life is by default your employer’s. That kind of subliminal messaging can get fucked.

      • @[email protected]
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        2 years ago

        In the same vein, ‘long weekend’ is another that can drop dead as well.

        To the point where I’ve started calling a ‘normal’ weekend a ‘short weekend’.

    • rastilin
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      192 years ago

      I’ve started suspecting that a lot of people get through it by just avoiding their family… which, why get married then?

      • @[email protected]
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        12 years ago

        Some, definitely. Others don’t have hobbies. Others don’t sleep much and try to pack everything in.

        I’ve been considering adding massive amounts of amphetamines to my life so I can accomplish all I need to and do all I want to.