Feds--how often do you socialize with your colleagues?

[Anonymous]

Just curious as to how common, from never, to occasional happy hours, to dinner parties/brunches at people's homes. (Also would be curious as to GS level.)

[Anonymous]

It's varied over the years. Probably 1-2x per month pre-kids, but maybe only every 2 months now. We have a young office of people I like though.

[Anonymous]

Never, ever. Did lots of socializing when in private industry though.

[Anonymous]

Never. We socialize during work hours.

[Anonymous]

I've been in 4 different groups. The first one was right out of college. I socialized with them until they turned out to be awful jerks. The second group I never socialized with outside of work. The next group I made a few friends and socialized with 1 or 2 outside of work regularly. The next group I socialized with a few times a year outside of work and we regularly ate lunch together (everyone in the whole Branch was always invited.....it is a great group of people). I just switched and it appears that no one socializes outside of work, but I haven't been there long enough to know.

I started out of school and these jobs are listed in order.

[Anonymous]

Daily coffee break with about 4-6 coworkers. One of my coworkers became one of my best friends in DC so we see each other weekly for girls night outs, plus play dates because our kids are the same age. Agency softball team also led to other family friendship meet ups. Love my coworkers!

[Anonymous]

Never. I work with miserable people. I also think the federal government isn't conducive to team work or friendships. We don't have a break room or coffee shop or cafeteria in our building so we don't even eat lunch together. No money for Christmas parties or team building exercises anymore. I've worked in two different bureaus over 7 years. Just depressing.

[Anonymous]

My husband is a fed. He has happy hour with his previous or current branch once a month, and sometimes extra for people's birthdays. We have his coworkers over for parties and go to theirs.

[Anonymous]

I have lunch with a couple every other week or so. I am actual friends with a couple and see them on weekends for baseball games, , at parties, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never. I work with miserable people. I also think the federal government isn't conducive to team work or friendships. We don't have a break room or coffee shop or cafeteria in our building so we don't even eat lunch together. No money for Christmas parties or team building exercises anymore. I've worked in two different bureaus over 7 years. Just depressing.

NPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. I work with miserable people. I also think the federal government isn't conducive to team work or friendships. We don't have a break room or coffee shop or cafeteria in our building so we don't even eat lunch together. No money for Christmas parties or team building exercises anymore. I've worked in two different bureaus over 7 years. Just depressing.

NPS?

Close! Same Department!

[Anonymous]

One thing that works against Feds socializing is that in this region they are not the highest paid (esp compared to law/lobbying/contractors/consultants). And lower pay translates into cheaper housing, and thus most likely long commutes for decent housing options.

Thus, most Fed offices have people commuting an hour plus, so socializing after work is too big a sacrifice since it means getting home super late, and co-workers are far flung so hard to meetup off hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that works against Feds socializing is that in this region they are not the highest paid (esp compared to law/lobbying/contractors/consultants). And lower pay translates into cheaper housing, and thus most likely long commutes for decent housing options.

Thus, most Fed offices have people commuting an hour plus, so socializing after work is too big a sacrifice since it means getting home super late, and co-workers are far flung so hard to meetup off hours.

Obviously this wouldn't apply to the young 20 year olds living in cheap but hip housing on H Street,but at that age socializing is a like another full time job.

[Anonymous]

Happy hours a few times a year (there are more frequent ones but I can't always make it). We go out for lunch a few times a year. A party at someone's house maybe once. A year.

My husband is also a fed though, and socializes way more. Mainly going out for drinks after work, but also parties/bbqs, etc. less of his coworkers have kids, so it's easier for them to go out after work.

[Anonymous]

When I was young and single working in an office with lots of other single people, a fair amount.

Now I am older with kids, but am working in an office with lots of young and single people, almost never. But many of my friends that I do socialize with are former colleagues.