"Social Space"

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So. At work we have a staff room. It's quiet, comfortable and warm. People sit there quietly and eat their lunch or have a cup of tea. For me it is a respite from my office mates - a place where I can spend an hour at lunch time in relative solitude (it's a big room and not heavily used, and those who use it are generally those looking for a quiet space away from office mates).

But now they want to make it "more attractive as a social space" to try to get it used more fully. They are doing this by removing some of the comfortable chairs and putting in "funky furniture" and also sticking a Wii in there.

Where the hell are those of us who need a quiet respite space supposed to go now?

And the kicker? This "social space" is right next door to my office. So now, during lunch and break times where I'll now be reduced to eating at my desk because my comfortable, safe space has been taken away, I will have to contend with the noise of people socially playing a Wii (shouting, cheering, booing... etc).

Just f*cking great.

I'm currently off sick. This doesn't make the idea of going back when I am well any easier.

I guess I just don't understand this need for socialising at work. What is the point? I go to work to work ... not to make friends and "hang out".

To be honest, I feel that many NTs have been over-emphasizing socialization, but I hope that the Wikipedia article that I share here can answer "Why NTs need to socialize at work"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_organization

Have you thought about raising the idea of a quiet space as well as a social one? I'm sure there's lots of people who maybe need to get on with some work, make some personal phone calls, want to read a book etc at lunch.

I've been at my job now for 12 years and over that time we went from 40 employees to 500 (plus 400) more in two new locations. The once quiet lunch room is now 4 loud and annoying lunch rooms. I had to resort to eating my lunch at 11:30 am before most other on my floor then I take off and go for a walk. I can't eat at my desk because people will stop by "for quick questions".

I spend lunch and breaks in my car. Nobody ever disturbed me there.

i never carry lunch to workplace........so as to avoid the social hub there..

maybe you can write a letter to HR asking for a zen type of room instead of funky space...