Mental Illness

[monster]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

I don't know if this applies, or even true, but we thought we saw
it actually happen during business trips in several cities of Japan.

We were told that "after work" gatherings with the boss were part of normal business,
and excess alcohol was permitted or encouraged because
it permitted underlings to say all sorts of things to their overlings.

On a couple of occasions, I felt there was some "fake" drinking going on,
followed by remarks to the boss that could have otherwise been career-enders.

Custom then required that nothing be remembered or amiss at work the next day.
All was ignored on assumption that any improprieties were alcohol-induced.

I think it was a very good system for communication with the boss.

There's an element of this in the UK. Or at least there used to be. I'm sure it's been tempered by the American influence by now. I used to be Saturday staff in a store and we'd often all go to the pub after work (no Sunday opening then). It's open season on the boss in the pub. And they get the first round. Same when i worked in Market reasearch at Uni and we went away for weekends. Once the day was done Saturday night in the bar the boss baought the first round and heard the complaints and let it ride. Sunday we all went back to work.

Same thing with office christmas parties.