Some people believe that spending extra time with colleagues on top of working hours is good, while others argue that separating working life from social one is essential.
Many people prefer socialising with colleagues after work or during the weekends. They argue that spending more time together in informal settings might be beneficial for developing trusting relationships. It might help to improve communication within the group and encourage previous strangers to unite in order to achieve a common goal, as they start caring for each other. For example, a small evening event that involves solving a puzzle might show traits of character that people usually do not demonstrate at work, such as empathy or jovialness, which humanises the colleagues, warming the relationships between them.
Other people are convinced that it is vital to separate working and social life. They believe that having relationships outside of work is essential, as the closeness with people a person trusts can help to reduce stress and anxiety. However, maintaining it requires time, which is sacred, as the majority of it is already spent on work or other adult responsibilities, such as taking care of kids or doing chores. As a result, some people prefer to save extra time in the evenings and the weekends for socialising with people outside of their everyday circle. For instance, going to a restaurant with an old friend might positively improve a person’s emotional state, as they can talk with them about their problems and concerns. Spending time with their colleagues, however, still requires setting specific boundaries and filtering conversation topics in order to keep relationships more professional, which increases the mental load.
To conclude, there are people who think that spending extra time with colleagues is a good idea because it helps to warm relationships, resulting in a better working environment. Others believe that it is important to keep a work-life balance, as it helps to preserve mental health.