It is rare these days, but here I am on a bus. I am not against using public transport, but the difference for me to get to work is 1.3h or 20 mins by car. I opt for the car. However, the office location looks set to move toward the end of 2023 into the city, which vastly improves bus options and I think I will try to make it a habit to take the bus, or in 2024 (maybe) a tram that is being built out my way. There will still be free parking available at the office though, so driving is always an option too.
Great for the weekends.
Today though, the reason I am slumming it, is because of the staff holiday party. Since I "may" have a drink, it is better to leave the car at home.
It is a theme party with "Black and Gold" the prompt. We are unfortunately doing a team costume and unfortunately, in a small team, I was outvoted, so we are going as black gold, - oil spills.
Yes.
Garbage bags. With dead fish cut out of paper and pinned to them.
Sexy.
In general though, I like that the company tradition is to have costume parties, and that people actually get into it, with some people going all out, planning for months ahead. It is culturally interesting however, as employees are coming in from other locations around the world and in general, they aren't as "spirited", which is partly because of them having one suitcase and partly because they come from smaller or remote working offices, so they don't see colleagues as often. It can be uncomfortable to let loose in front of colleagues up and down in the organization that you don't know so well. Those working in the head offices in Finland, have no such issue.
Finland is generally a pretty relaxed working culture in terms of hierarchy, which in itself causes challenges when dealing across locations. The North American organizational is far more formal for example and they can struggle to come to terms with how "familiar" strangers can be, not to mention how non-PC the discussions and teasing become.
I far prefer the Finnish structure in this.
The workplace is full of funny contradictions, where people both take it seriously, yet simultaneously act like children. Some demand to be respected, yet expect even the simplest of issues to be taken care of for them, as if they are incompetent and unskilled toddlers. While it happens in this company too, I am glad that it is much further from the norm than I have experienced in some other places I have either worked for or consulted at. Some companies have major issues with the social immaturity of their working culture.
I think that low-hierarchy and non-PC culture actually shows a type of maturity, where there needn't be a rule for everything. Instead, general sense gets used and when problems arise, they are dealt with case by case, rather than blanket generalizations. It requires social sense and the development of trusted relationships. However, when there are lots of rules and standardizations, it is easier to get people who have no connection to work together and get the job done - like in the military, where soldiers have their processes and protocols that dictate consistent behavior across the group.
There are to types of "disciplines" in play here, with one about sticking to the environment of rules, the other about sticking to the environment without rules. One of these doesn't require self-directed decision making, or the responsibility of when things go awry.
Speaking of going awry though, the company splashes out on the entertainment for the holiday party and generally has very well-known artists perform, kept as a surprise and under wraps until they actually come onto the stage. Tonight's entertainment however is now known, because they cancelled due to illness. So instead of them, there will be an in-house cover band, which is actually pretty good and does the pre and after shows typically. Considering the headliner, I am not overly disappointed.
It is only a few hours to go before we start heading off and there are a few things still to do before that, but I am going to be glad when I can push the "STOP" button on this week and get off the work bus for the weekend. It has been far too intense for the last few weeks and this week has been packed morning to night with colleague engagements with no rest between. I can be very social, but I also need some recovery somewhere - even if it is just enough time to write a post.
The next stop - Back into the fray.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]