How close are you to your co-workers? Do you"shoot the shit" with them or mind your own business?

Mostly mind my own business. I don't mind the odd bitching about work session though as I prefer to get that out in the place that causes it rather than to bring it home.

I haven't any interest in socializing with them outside of work though. Nor do I speak about my personal life much.

At the moment in my work place we have 2 people who have had loved ones pass away and one more with a death impending. It's hard for them of course but the workplace isn't a place to conduct therapy and it is difficult to always have to tip toe around them.

Our current boss as well is big on the group activity bonding shit as well. I guess it is easier than actually making the place better.

I really like my co-workers and they like me (I work with some of the finest people in NYC...they are lovely people)
Our work is very difficult but we do get paid well and the benefits are quite fair, it's tough but NO complaints

I keep my door open all the time so my people can come and vent...they lay their stuff on me, heavy stuff!
Affairs, addictions, illnesses, child problems, all of the heavy stuff

I just offer kind advice and lock it all in the vault, I'm known for having 'A Vault,' so my work peeps trust me...sheesh! the things I know!

I'm a large Irish looking guy but they are all calling me The Rabbi now LOL😂

I respect your 'professional distance' way, but I make myself available to my work peeps...they need to vent to someone and I can take it
Plus, I really do love them all, annoying as they can be😃

Having run the business for twenty years, I now have an amazing crew around me. We all get on, we all socialise and we all have each other’s back.

Everyone gets paid exceptionally well, they can start and finish whenever they want and take as much holiday as they like. It’s a unique business model built totally on trust, but somehow it works (although there were a few challenges in reaching this point).

A work day is more enjoyable when shit is shot but it's not a prerequisite for having a good day.

I've worked at a place where it was an awkward fit. I'm Asian and was 28 years old. Small office of about 10 people of mainly white, middle-aged women. The boss was the only other male and he was older too. Needless to say, it felt awkward at morning time during the huddles where everyone would be shooting the shit and I would just be in the corner not really saying anything. They probably thought I was odd and snobby/ stuck-up. And these women worked together closely for many years. The truth is that I (being introverted in nature) get uncomfortable being around a large group of people especially a demographic I have nothing in common with (middle aged white women). They're all married and have kids. I'm single and no kids. There was NOTHING for me to relate to them. I didn't want to be that guy that disrupts office relations and make other people uncomfortable by being so silent but that's what it was. It makes me feel bad. I like one-on-one interactions because it's not overwhelming and it's what my job entails. I only lasted there for 8 months.

Thankfully, I'm currently working two jobs at offices where it's a good fit. Been there for about 3 years now. It's HUGELY important finding that "fit" because it makes your workday so much easier and smoother. Sometimes you have to go through multiple jobs to find it though. #Life

I mind my own business and keep that distance of you which you speak. I know it hurt me at times, so I had to better at my job to compensate for the lack of benefit from water cooler talk and schmoozing.