Valentine's Day at the Office?
Diane Ellis ·
February 9, 2011 at 9:22pm
Do you have a "work spouse," or a colleague of the opposite sex with whom you share a close emotional, but purely platonic bond? A work spouse, says Sue Shellenbarger of the WSJ, is someone with whom "you talk about boss problems, co-worker problems, office politics, home life...and is someone you feel a little closer to than just your average co-worker." According to a survey that Shellenbarger highlights, nearly two-thirds of white-collar workers have or have had a work spouse.
So if you do have a work spouse, or even if you don't, do you think it's appropriate to honor him or her with a gift or a card on Valentine's Day, which is just around the corner? Or is that just too weird?
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Comments:
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Aaron Miller
Katie O
I feel the same way about "furry children".
That's a pet peeve of mine as well. · Feb 9 at 4:10pm
Really? Why? Considering Kenneth's recent post and all of the incredibly moving comments, it's apparent that a lot of people develop incredibly strong bonds with the animals in their lives. And animals share some characteristics of children: namely their dependence, innocence, and lavish affection. As long as people don't treat their pets better than their human children, I don't have a problem with them simply calling them their "furry children."
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Aaron Miller
Katie O
I feel the same way about "furry children".
That's a pet peeve of mine as well. · Feb 9 at 4:10pm
We called our feathered and furry friends our "practice kids."
Nov '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Geez, does anybody actually work at The Office anymore? And we wonder why American businesses have become less globally competitive...
Edited on February 10, 2011 at 1:40amMay '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Jimmy Carter
Kennedy Smith
Is there an office where this occurs in real life? Dear God. · Feb 9 at 1:08pm
I agree. It appears that another holiday's intent is being hijacked. · Feb 9 at 1:12pm
Maybe people could draw names, though office spin-the-bottle is fraught with peril. Still, for every loser, there's an equal and opposite winner.
When it really gets weird is when all the guys toss their car keys into a big ashtray and the girls pick at random. That can create some tense moments, which is why some sticks in the mud in HR have tried to phase out that particular tradition.
Oct '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
FeliciaB
Aaron Miller
Katie O
I feel the same way about "furry children".
That's a pet peeve of mine as well. · Feb 9 at 4:10pm
We called our feathered and furry friends our "practice kids." · Feb 9 at 4:25pm
If you're an arborist, does that make you a fir parent?
Jul '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Kennedy Smith
Maybe people could draw names, though office spin-the-bottle is fraught with peril. Still, for every loser, there's an equal and opposite winner.
When it really gets weird is when all the guys toss their car keys into a big ashtray and the girls pick at random. That can create some tense moments, which is why some sticks in the mud in HR have tried to phase out that particular tradition. · Feb 9 at 5:07pm
What ever happened to the traditional office mistress?
Oct '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Jimmy Carter
Kennedy Smith
Maybe people could draw names, though office spin-the-bottle is fraught with peril. Still, for every loser, there's an equal and opposite winner.
When it really gets weird is when all the guys toss their car keys into a big ashtray and the girls pick at random. That can create some tense moments, which is why some sticks in the mud in HR have tried to phase out that particular tradition. · Feb 9 at 5:07pm
What ever happened to the traditional office mistress? · Feb 9 at 5:16pm
Feminism.
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Mike LaRoche
Jimmy Carter
Kennedy Smith
Maybe people could draw names, though office spin-the-bottle is fraught with peril. Still, for every loser, there's an equal and opposite winner.
When it really gets weird is when all the guys toss their car keys into a big ashtray and the girls pick at random. That can create some tense moments, which is why some sticks in the mud in HR have tried to phase out that particular tradition. · Feb 9 at 5:07pm
What ever happened to the traditional office mistress? · Feb 9 at 5:16pm
Feminism. · Feb 9 at 5:18pm
You see? I've said elsewhere and often that feminism is not entirely bad and unjustified.
It had its valid claims.
Not completely sure that "office spin the bottle" is the answer, though. I like spouses working together--like on the homestead or in the shoe shop.
Sep '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Jimmy Carter
Kennedy Smith
Maybe people could draw names, though office spin-the-bottle is fraught with peril. Still, for every loser, there's an equal and opposite winner.
When it really gets weird is when all the guys toss their car keys into a big ashtray and the girls pick at random. That can create some tense moments, which is why some sticks in the mud in HR have tried to phase out that particular tradition. · Feb 9 at 5:07pm
What ever happened to the traditional office mistress? · Feb 9 at 5:16pm
I think Don Draper has taken them all.
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Mike! I have a militantly pro-choice feminist cousin who calls her houseplants her "children". It's a slippery slope people!
Diane, please don't get me wrong. I have an amazing Golden Retriever. Not only is he smart and obedient, but brave, joyful, and totally guileless in his affections. I don't know how to adequately put into words my feelings for him. He has been my comforter, protector and truest friend for ten years. But, he is not one of my children. Just as my children are not dogs. Thanks for linking to Kenneth's post. I missed that one. It's a very moving thread.
Jul '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
I can't think of any reason why not a person would treat their dog better than their children.
Sep '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Mike LaRoche
Jimmy Carter
Kennedy Smith
Maybe people could draw names, though office spin-the-bottle is fraught with peril. Still, for every loser, there's an equal and opposite winner.
When it really gets weird is when all the guys toss their car keys into a big ashtray and the girls pick at random. That can create some tense moments, which is why some sticks in the mud in HR have tried to phase out that particular tradition. · Feb 9 at 5:07pm
What ever happened to the traditional office mistress? · Feb 9 at 5:16pm
Feminism. · Feb 9 at 5:18pm
Punitive damages.
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
FeliciaB
We called our feathered and furry friends our "practice kids."
I'm part of a generation that treats the choice to have or not have kids like a choice between buying a coupe or a sedan. Some people I've known seem to believe pets are truly substitutes.
"Practice kids" are not a problem. The countless ways people willfully avoid reality are the problem... "furry children" among them.
Though I don't currently have a pet, my family had at least a dozen as I was growing up... of almost as many species. I have nothing against furballs.
Incidentally, active pets (as opposed to reptiles, birds in cages, rocks or gizmos, etc) are a great way to teach kids responsibility. The needier, the better.
Now, to get this thread back on track, I'm going to go give that lizard outside a valentine.
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Must have me confused with someone else. (And yet, if true--I mean hypothetically--it would be a sign of a healthy marriage, right? I mean, if one were to purchase such things for one's wife, that could, if handled properly, be OK? Right? I mean, am I wrong? Hypothetically, I mean.)
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Scott, as Hallmark says, "Valentine's Day is not for saying 'I love you'. It's for saying 'I love us'." Those..um.. Secret presents are definitely about "us", right? So they must be excellent Valentine gifts.
I mean, Hallmark would never lie!
There's nothing like a gift for yourself under the guise of a gift for someone else.
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Scott Reusser
Must have me confused with someone else. (And yet, if true--I mean hypothetically--it would be a sign of a healthy marriage, right? I mean, if one were to purchase such things for one's wife, that could, if handled properly, be OK? Right? I mean, am I wrong? Hypothetically, I mean.) · Feb 9 at 8:03pm
Well, hypothetically speaking, I strongly favor married romance. But when, up above, Valentines Day was limited to kids and the unmarried, I knew that you would be on the wrong side of the law.
Personally, I am fine as a lawbreaker. I think I'll go upstairs now.
Jan '11
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Yes. I have had many "work spouses" during my office career. I have never heard this term but I think it is an fairly accurate word choice. In the old days I was among many others who spent more waking hours at work than home. In my case it seemed only equals or superiors (is this too hierarchical) fell into this relationship. The common element was the female helping to remind me to eat my vegetables and iron a shirt once in awhile. "work mothers?"
A valentines greeting is not appropriate. One year I did send flowers (to everyone) and I still feel foolish to this day.
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
I think a package of colorful accordion Post-It Notes is far more appropriate.
Jan '11
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Bill Buckley would've given Nancy Reagan a card and flowers on Valentine's Day - and he would've addressed the note to "Cherie."
May '10
Re: Valentine's Day at the Office?
Duane Oyen
Scott Reusser
Must have me confused with someone else. (And yet, if true--I mean hypothetically--it would be a sign of a healthy marriage, right? I mean, if one were to purchase such things for one's wife, that could, if handled properly, be OK? Right? I mean, am I wrong? Hypothetically, I mean.) · Feb 9 at 8:03pm
Well, hypothetically speaking, I strongly favor married romance. But when, up above, Valentines Day was limited to kids and the unmarried, I knew that you would be on the wrong side of the law.
Personally, I am fine as a lawbreaker. I think I'll go upstairs now. · Feb 9 at 8:49pm
Duane, you complete me; you're my soul mate; it's like you know me as no other man has ever known me. Happy Valentine's day.