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.
I’m happy to pack up on my time and work right up to the buzzer…
…if that means on the other end, the clock starts when I start my commute.
Because that’s crazy talk to any employer, I’ll prepare to leave on company time.
Back in the day of time cards, that was more or less how it worked (minus the commute part) the machine was either at the front door or in the break room, and you’d punch in, then go to your station, set up and start. End of day, you’d pack up, then punch out on your way out the door.