I was just wondering if anyone else here has an issue in the workplace with a culture that tries to make everyone who works on a team (I work in a very large corporation, but on a smaller specific team within it) join in regular social activities and "bond" as teammates.
This is something that is encouraged in the company at large, but especially so on my team, which tends to skew young (20's to 30's). There are maybe 25% percent of us who are in our 40's and 50's, and I don't think anyone is in their 60's yet.
Anyway, they are constantly setting up Happy Hours, Trivia Nights (in which certain hyper-competitive people dominate), Lunch Walks (even though most of us aren't back in the office yet), Golf Outings (at least half of us aren't golfers), and other social events that tend to revolve around partying and group socializing.
My problem is that I am very much an introvert and while I get along with mostly everyone (especially the older people), I really have no interest in merging my social life with my work life. During lock-down, many of these events were virtual and I would attend some of them, but now they are becoming more physical and I don't really care to be involved at all. The problem is that I am afraid I am going to be seen as someone who isn't a "Team Player".
There are a few other people who rarely join in these events (mostly the older people), but they have families, live out in the suburbs, etc. However, I am single and live right in the city so I don't feel like I have a good excuse other than "doctor's appointments" but I can't keep using that one over and over.
Anyway, just wondering what your experiences are with this where you work or worked and if you have any sage advice. Thanks in advance!
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