Recently, there have been some changes here at Sixthman. As you may know, some people have moved on, and we have gained a few newbies here in the office. And I think that every time we make a change, Andy hurts a little inside. (Of course, you can never tell him I said that). Because as it turns out, Andy feels like we are one giant family. He has even mentioned before how those that are leaving can rest assured that we are still a family and we are still here for them.
So, this got me to thinking. Do other companies feel like family? Is it a safe business practice to get this close to your co-workers and associates? Is Andy just a little bit delusional? So, to answer these questions I of course asked my research partner, Google.
First, I asked Google for synonyms of the word co-worker where I found: colleague, associate, and accomplice. And next, I searched for co-worker, associate, accomplice like family. Surprisingly my search took me through a wave of little information to a plethora of intriguing ideas.
I found blogs where people said, “don’t go there.” I found blogs where people said that they found lifetime friends at their place of work. I found news stories, about how he or she (the coworker) “seemed completely normal, like family,” before committing horrendous crimes. I even found a Facebook page dedicated solely to the idea of co-workers being like family.
What I learned from researching, is that most people spend a lot of their lives with co-workers. I mean really, it’s 40 hours a week and a lot of the time, it’s even more. Especially when you work at a company that takes several weekend cruises together a year. I learned that yes, there are disadvantages to becoming close to the people you work with, that sometimes business gets in the way and feelings are hurt. Sometimes it’s surprising when your buddy has to now be critical of a project that you worked very hard on.
But, if you feel a human connection with another person, is it really something that you can put boundaries on? Maybe, but then I’d really like to think if Jill or Joy or May or even Andy were in need of a kidney and I had an extra, I’d be willing to give it up. A kidney? You say with surprise. Yes, a kidney.
Because when it comes down to it, as much as I love my mom and dad, I only see them a few times a year. But I see these mugs at Sixthman five days a week. We plan happy hours together. We go to see each other at bouts, or concerts, or ball games. We go on retreats together. We even take care of each other’s children and pets. Some of us even live together. So yes, even if some people think it’s silly or untrue, we here at Sixthman are like one, big happy family. Whether other companies feel that way, or if it is the safest route, or if Andy is a little bit delusional (that’s what makes him so creative) or not, we still find comfort in one another. And that, my friends, is what makes a family, a family.
-Lisa