Remember the old Dagwood and Blondie comic strip? Dagwood was forever bringing the boss home for dinner and Blondie would have to scramble to come up with some impressive dinner.
The days of dinner with Mr. Dithers are over, but we still entertain our bosses, employees and coworkers with some regularity. In most cases, interacting with coworkers in a more casual setting outside the workplace can help to improve working relationships inside the office. Interacting with each others' families and in someone's home can help your back at the office, but it can hurt you if you become overly familiar.
When mixing business and pleasure, there are some do's and don'ts to remember:
Be Fair
Be fair to your entire department if you’re throwing a party and inviting coworkers. Don’t invite one boss but leave out another. If you’re close friends with some of your coworkers, it’s OK to invite just them to a party you’re having. However, don’t invite everyone in the office except for a few. They’ll feel slighted and it could mar your working relationship.
Watch the Alcohol
Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. Drinking with coworkers is fine, as long as you don’t overdo it. Remember, you have to see these people on Monday morning and you may have a hard time earning or keeping their professional respect if you’ve just been carried home. If you’re hosting an office party, be a responsible host and keep alcohol to a minimum, don’t let your guests drive home if they’ve been drinking, or serve a fun non-alcoholic drink instead.
Don't Talk Shop
Try not to talk shop the entire night, especially if spouses, guests and non-coworkers are present. When entertaining coworkers, remember you’re outside the workplace now and you can loosen up and get to know each other better. There is a delicate balance of being more personal in a setting outside of work, without being too personal.
Know the Difference Between Coworkers and Friends
No matter how comfortable you feel with your coworkers, remember that they are, in fact, your coworkers. According to the advice of "Crabby Office Lady ,"the Microsoft Web site’s office etiquette expert, “these are not your best friends; these are people you work with.” Even if they have their hair down and their necktie’s loosened, it doesn’t mean you can all act like you’re back in college. “You are still representing the company you work for, as are your coworkers,” she says.
Don't Partake in Office Gossip
Leave office politics and gossip behind. Be the one who steers the conversation away from idle gossip and mean-spirited rumors, Keep conversation positive. What you say can be just as damaging as what you do when you’re with coworkers in a social setting.
