One of the widespread “ask the readers” posts final yr was on uncommon however enjoyable workplace traditions. Right here’s a few of what bought shared final yr:
• We had The Staff Plant. It was a pleasant bizarre workplace houseplant in a basket, and it didn’t belong to anybody specifically. More often than not it lived on a credenza in the midst of our open area. However typically the staff would simply determine that you simply deserved or wanted to have The Staff Plant in your desk for some time. You may discover it in your desk in the event you bought a promotion or had a brand new grandchild, or in case your automobile was broken in a fender-bender or somebody in your account staff left the corporate, or in the event you had a chilly and had been dragging. It appeared on my desk the week my father died and stayed there for some time, after which considered one of my co-workers accomplished a troublesome undertaking and I handed it on to him.
• My ground has all the lights off. We don’t like fluorescent lights. New individuals get a handful of poop emoji erasers to make use of as weapons to toss once you want somebody’s consideration however they’ve headphones on.
• I labored in a really informal office (shorts, denims, principally something goes so long as it’s not too revealing), and we might often have a “Formal Friday” (like informal Friday, however the reverse, get it?). Some individuals would simply gown workplace snazzy, some would put on one thing you’d put on to a cocktail get together, and a few individuals used the chance to bust out their 80s/90s attire with shoulder pads and chunky gold jewellery. Good enjoyable. (And, in fact, completely non-compulsory.)
•. We now have interns who graduate into everlasting staff after ending their PhDs. We now have an odd custom of creating individuals recite their thesis matter in iambic pentameter.
• I’ve simply joined a staff the place individuals have large grownup terry fabric bibs to put on at lunch time. (The type that may be purchased in bulk for nursing properties.) Mine was bestowed on me this week and I’m surprisingly completely satisfied about it.
There was a clamor to share uncommon workplace traditions once more this yr, so have it at: please share within the feedback!