"Shall We Have a Company Dinner After a Long Time?"... Reluctant Office Workers Despite With-Corona Policy [Heo Midam's Youth Report]

7 out of 10 Office Workers "Concerned About the With Corona Era"... Worried About the Revival of Company Dinners
Office Workers "Increasing Fatigue from Late-Night Company Dinners"

Since the implementation of With Corona, the revival of company dinner culture has caused office workers to sigh deeply. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Pixabay.

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[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I wish the company dinners would stop.", "Isn't a company dinner just an extension of work?"

Since the phased return to normal life (With Corona) measures began on the 1st, complaints have been pouring in mainly from young office workers in their 20s and 30s. Company dinners, which had been virtually halted due to social distancing, have resumed after the implementation of With Corona. Office workers sigh deeply, saying "the life with evenings has disappeared" due to company dinners that last late into the night. Some point out that since severe COVID-19 cases have surged and quarantine indicators have worsened after With Corona, a more restrained company dinner culture is necessary.

Jung Mo (27), a third-year office worker, said, "Before With Corona, I had been working from home continuously," adding, "Since I didn't go to the office, there were no company dinners, so I could enjoy hobbies I wanted in the evening. Also, not commuting reduced physical fatigue."

He continued, "However, With Corona ended remote work, and after returning to the office, my boss immediately said, 'Let's have a company dinner,' as if waiting for me," expressing, "I don't understand why unwanted company dinners are forced. If you want to socialize, wouldn't it be enough to have lunch together?"

Like Mr. A, many do not enjoy the company dinner culture. According to a survey by Saramin of 1,460 office workers, 68.9% of respondents said they are 'concerned about the implementation of With Corona,' citing concerns such as ▲increased risk of infection (83.8%, multiple responses allowed) ▲revival of evening drinking company dinners (53.3%).

Following that were ▲revival of in-house events like workshops and team-building (38.8%) ▲increase in unnecessary face-to-face reports and meetings (29.2%) ▲resumption of commuting wars due to reduced remote work (25.4%) ▲resumption of group lunch meals (20.1%). A significant number of office workers worry about the revival of company dinner culture along with the risk of COVID-19 infection after With Corona implementation.

Many office workers feel fatigued from company dinners that continue late into the night. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Many also feel fatigued by company dinners that continue late into the night. Choi Mo (26), a first-year employee at a startup, said, "I wish we could just eat dinner and part ways, but sometimes there are second and third rounds, which is problematic," adding, "The boss says, 'You don't have to come to the second round,' but if you don't attend, they nitpick later asking why you didn't come, which is stressful."

He continued, "If there's a company dinner once during the week, the fatigue lasts until the weekend," and said, "I hope those who don't want to attend company dinners can be excluded, and only those who want to participate gather. I wish the atmosphere was free enough that you don't have to feel pressured if you skip the company dinner."

Some also criticize the increase in company dinners after With Corona, suggesting that awareness of COVID-19 may have become too lax.

One netizen expressed frustration on the anonymous office worker community 'Blind,' saying, "I feel sorry for business owners, but I really hate With Corona," adding, "Before, company dinners would end by 10 p.m., but now they say, 'Ah, let's go to the second round, right?' Who will take responsibility if breakthrough infections occur?"

Other netizens also showed critical responses such as, "It's not like COVID-19 is over yet, but bars are full of people in suits," "Our company scheduled company dinners as soon as With Corona started," and "Having company dinners when there are many confirmed cases seems premature."

On the 7th, citizens continued to visit the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station for testing. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing as the number of severe COVID-19 patients continues to hit record highs after With Corona. The number of severe COVID-19 patients reached 411 on the 6th, exceeding 400 for the first time since late August. From the 6th to the 12th, the daily numbers were 411 → 405 → 409 → 425 → 460 → 473 → 475, showing a clear upward trend.

Given this situation, there are forecasts that transitioning to With Corona phase 2 may be difficult. The transition to With Corona, which began on the 1st, is planned to proceed in three stages over six weeks, including four weeks of implementation and two weeks of evaluation. The second phase, scheduled for December 13, will include increased numbers for events and gatherings and the lifting of time restrictions on entertainment facilities, among other additional easing measures.

Regarding this, Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, appeared at the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee plenary session on the 11th and said, "If the current situation continues, we may maintain phase 1 or strengthen quarantine measures," adding, "We are closely monitoring the increase in severe cases, and since it has only been about 10 days since phase 1 of the return to normal life started, we will review the progress and consider the transition or measures accordingly."