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Social Disease

Written by: Gary Silverman

Article Overview: I have always subscribed to the philosophy of “work hard - play hard”. But I always separated my play FROM my work. What I am referring to is my resistance to socialize with my employees or management peer groups as I worked my way up the corporate ladder. There is an inherent danger in creating a social environment within the workspace that spreads to the after work space. This almost ALWAYS ends badly. Here is my list of No-No’s:

Social Disease

DO NOT hold company parties at the bosses house. It creates resentment and everyone will request a raise immediately following the party.
NEVER serve alcohol at any company function even if it’s in a public place like a restaurant.
DON’T go out to drink after work with fellow employees.
DON’T date fellow employees. If you feel that this is the only person on earth for you than one of you get another job.
Keep spouses away from each other. (This is a tough one). Wives or husbands socializing with each other while their respective spouses are at work is a losing proposition.
DON’T invite co-workers to play a sport with you (like golf for example) if you are super competitive or a poor sport.
DON’T go hunting with Dick Cheney. (Oops, that was a slip up).
DON’T hire your best friend or your spouses best friend’s spouse. (follow?)
DON’T vacation with co-workers or employees.
DON’T have a weekend company outing unless it is with trained professionals and requires rock wall climbing, trust falls, and ropes courses like the “team building exercises” of the 90’s.
DON’T subject your employees to a weekend “team building exercise” (see above).

So what do you have left? Find your own friends rather than hiring them...and be selective. The friendships you make outside of work can offer valuable insight as to who you are as a person and can lead to better networking for yourself in the future. Be multi-dimensional.

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Article Tags: alcohol, best friend, co workers, company outing, company parties, dick cheney, earth, fellow employees, friendships, hunting, insight, job, losing proposition, networking, poor sport, resentment, ropes courses, team building exercise, team building exercises



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