Hi,
Looking for advice on this. I went out on a work social last night that I initially suggested we do, because we've done it before with the team I'm in and it went fine. In previous companies, I've always ended up choosing to keep work and social separate for my own sanity, but this new job of 18 months seemed to be such a good group of people, it's hard to say no.
Anyway cut to the night out and we were in a pub, and suddenly conversation turned to work, and then turned to X, Y and Z that I do at work using tools that we have been asked to use by work, and that my use of these really annoys people. It felt incredibly personal, and two of them started bitching about me as if I wasn't there, telling me how they really dislike how I do X, Y and Z. Noone has brought this to my attention in work, so this made me really angry, that people wait until they have a bit of confidence to say hurtful things. There is stuff my colleagues do that I don't like, but I don't bitch about it after a drink. After this, I just disappeared quietly and text to say why and left it at that. Not heard anything since.
Long story short, do I stop socials with work colleagues at this place, and just keep them as work mates and dont investigate friendships with them anymore. I have a decent social circle without as it is. And how do I handle dealing with the awkwardness at work if so?
Thanks