Don’t “S” where you “E”
August 5, 2022
Written By: Jay Looch
Here we go, the final stretch of Summer. The first full week of August is in the books. Q-3 in the corporate world is crunch time for companies. Essentially the “make it or break it” point of the year. With work stress at an all time high and the pockets hurting from that thing called inflation, we can all agree that a stiff cocktail is needed more often than not. As we creep up on recess for the week, we can smell the liquor. But let's be clear, many do not wait until Friday for that first sip. That first sip comes well before Friday more often than not.
Today we put the focus on an event that happens weekly. An event that has the capability to do damage to the reputation for the better or worse. An event that can dig you in a hole so deep that you find yourself applying for a new job and a name change the next morning. An event we know as happy hour. This is where the quiet ones in the office show their true colors of not being so quiet after all. The lightweights and the former frat stars are thrown on the forefront of every good story. Office happy hours are an absolute scene. Everyone you are with is going through similar situations and dealing with the same bull shit you see every day.
Office happy hours create relationships in the office. Both the good kinds and the bad kinds of relationships. You can make some of your best friends while at an office happy hour. Friendships that go deeper than just co-workers. You can build relationships with managers and higher-ups that always benefit you in the long run. Afterall, it's all about who you know in this world. However, you can also make poor decisions that will have you hiding your face next week when you return to the office. That of course, is if you do return to the office. Office hook-ups are a thing clearly frowned upon in the corporate world. Something that is never planned, but something that is bound to happen at these happy hours. These hook-ups never do end with two riding off into the sunset. They tend to end up in an awkward conversation with HR and many laughs from bystanders at the coffee machine on Monday.
Office happy hours could be great, but also could be one's downfall. The golden rules to stick by when attending an office happy hour are simple. Do NOT be the drunkest one…Do NOT be the office flirt,...And certainly do NOT go to the second bar. Nothing ever good happens when you go to the second bar.
One thing I was told when joining corporate America and is something one should keep on their minds during these events…
Don’t shit where you eat