A recent survey conducted by the SuperJob service, which helps people find high-paying roles, reveals an intriguing pattern about how Russians connect with their colleagues beyond the standard working hours. The data, summarized by socialbites.ca, shows that four out of ten Russians do not limit social interaction with coworkers to the workplace. Those earning higher wages are more likely to extend their workplace relationships outside office walls, suggesting a link between income and the value placed on social ties at work.
In concrete terms, 40% of respondents reported meeting colleagues outside work. Their experiences span from past to present, indicating a relatively stable habit rather than a temporary trend. Looking back to the pandemic era, there was a clear drop in regular after-hours meetings, but even then some people kept up social contact. A small portion, about 2%, only recently began connecting with coworkers beyond the office, signaling a gradual return to pre-pandemic social patterns for a minority.
When it comes to where these gatherings happen, cafes and restaurants emerge as the most popular venues for informal get-togethers among employees. This preference highlights a cultural inclination toward relaxed settings where work friendships can deepen through shared meals and conversations outside the formal context of projects and deadlines.
On the flip side, 31% of workers say they have stopped meeting with colleagues after work. Personal life changes are the main catalysts: shifts in education, starting a family, welcoming a child, or picking up a side job. These life events naturally reshape boundaries between professional and private time, reducing opportunities for after-hours connection.
Additionally, a quarter of respondents, about 27%, report never engaging in post-work socializing with coworkers. The reasons are practical and personal: limited time, a conscious effort to separate work from home life, and a lack of warm connections with colleagues in the workplace. This segment underscores that after-hours socializing is not universal, and individual circumstances strongly influence behavior.
Income appears to correlate with after-hours interaction. Those earning less than 50,000 rubles monthly show a 27% rate of after-work socializing, while the group making more than 80,000 rubles shows a substantially higher rate at 45%. Age also seems to matter: respondents over 45 are more inclined to meet with colleagues outside work than those under 34 (35% vs. 26%), though recent trends indicate some retraction from these levels as personal and professional lives evolve.
One notable takeaway is that Russians are more likely to walk away from a job after the interview stage than at other times in the process, reflecting a cautious approach to career decisions and a desire to evaluate fit before making a long-term commitment. Taken together, the survey paints a nuanced picture of how work, income, age, and life events shape the social dynamics between colleagues beyond the office, with meaningful implications for team cohesion, employee satisfaction, and workplace culture.