Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I feel like the older I get, the more I want to keep a professional relationship with the people I work with. Almost as if I don't want to be friends with them outside of work...am I the only one? Just from personal experience, I would hate for people to know my personal business at work.

Don't get me wrong, I chat, laugh and joke around with the ladies and men I work with, but there is that privacy/personal line that is never crossed.

ETA: I guess I should add that I realize that the responses here are going to vary since we all work in very different environments. I work in a very black/gray suit corporate environment (if that would help the scenario).

Message edited 4/17/2007 1:28:18 PM.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Only professional relationships. I like to keep it this way.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Some of my work friends are my closest friends. We spend about 10-14 hours a day together and we're all a pretty lively, social group of people in general.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I used to be really close w/my co-workers that they did become friends that I still keep in touch with, but now in my new position and like you said (the older we get) the less I'm inclinded to be friends w/people.

In this group now, everyone's the same age so we have a lot in common, but there are only one or two that I "mingle" with outside of work, and even then it's very limited.

ETS: I also feel like I don't want my job to become my life - kwim?

Message edited 4/17/2007 1:26:51 PM.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

When I was younger, I would hang out with people from work....we would go drinking after work and sometimes on the weekends. but now, I have friends at work but they don't go beyond the work environment.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I'm a dance teacher and although I'm friendly with the other moms and we will chat at class or when I call for registration, I do not socialize with them outside of work.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Posted by Lisa

When I was younger, I would hang out with people from work....we would go drinking after work and sometimes on the weekends. but now, I have friends at work but they don't go beyond the work environment.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Professional friendships- the ladies I work with are 50 and OVER!

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I have limited personal relationships with very few people at work. And by "personal" I mean they know more about me than my name, like my other colleagues.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Posted by Smileyd17

Professional friendships- the ladies I work with are 50 and OVER!

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

At my former job I did and still have those friendships. Now, even though we're similar in age, I like to keep things professional. I joke around but don't socialize outside of work. I had an experience that makes me guarded of letting people, work people, into my personal life. I like to set boundaries - work is work - my life is my own business. I also hate having to sort of be "fake" with people at work just to keep it a congenial environment, but I do.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Posted by MST9106

Posted by Smileyd17

Professional friendships- the ladies I work with are 50 and OVER!

Lucky you!

Message edited 4/17/2007 1:36:27 PM.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Yep- and thats prob why I am in the situation I am in

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I'm in a corporate Engineering environment, and I have a lot of personal friends at work. Bike riding with several of them. B-day parties with one who has kids about the same age as mine. I've been to their houses, they've been to mine, etc. Maybe not "best friends", but definitely more than just socializing at the office.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I have become friends with my coworkers, we have kids the same age so that has been a factor too.

One was even in the delivery room with DS... that was not planned but since I went to the hospital from work she brought me and things sort of happened quickly. Doesnt get more "personal" than that

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

we work as a big team
we al drink together, visit each others houses and go to each others weddings


were all definitely friends

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Honestly, I like to keep most of my relationships at work professional only, however, one of my good friends started working here after I did, so she was already my friend, and I made another good friend since working here. Other than that, I don't mix work and personal life.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

There are a couple of people that I became close at my new job. We bonded through a tragic event I faced here.

There are a few people I became very close with at my prior job. I see them on a personal level.

I work in a very laid back atmosphere, so 99% of the time we are all hanging out, being inappropriate and laughing.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

only professional relationships, nothing outside the office

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I have a few friends at work, who I socialize with after work and on the weekends. My cointern from last year became one of my closest friends.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

Yes I am friends with the poeple at work. We don't get together much outside of work as much as we used to but we care about each others lives.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

i used to...i had a friend at my old job that became one of my best friends and was even supposed to be in my wedding, but we had a falling out during my wedding planning and we dont speak anymore. so i dont like to get personal with people anymore. but all that is irrelevant now since i work from home!

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I used be friendly with my coworkers. Especially right out of college. Some of my closest and dearest friends today were my coworkers early on in my career.

But as I've gotten older, I've kept my work life separate from my personal life.

In my current position, there is very little socializing going on AT work, so socializing outside of work would never happen. We don't even go to lunch together at work. It's sad some days, but for the most part, I like it this way.

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I am but to a point. I know/feel that if it came down to it I wouldnt trust ANYONE here with anything personal.

Would you believe I know there are some coworkers that live together?

Re: Spinoff to "Friend Question" - Are you "friends" with people at work?

I have a "crew" at work that I am very close with, but we're all starting to go separate ways (I'm going on maternity leave in a month and a half, 2 have left for other jobs, etc.).

I can't see myself becoming close with anyone else here, not that I don't like the other people, it will just be different.