I read an article that argued that a corporate happy hour was a means by which organisations could encourage employee mental well being. The argument was that a drink after work was good for team bonding. Calling it a happy hour did seem to reinforce the idea that lots of alcohol would be involved.

This brought to mind those stereotypes images of a group of mainly men, mostly white, city traders quaffing champagne to celebrate another big deal and another bonus in a trendy crowded cocktail bar. The behaviour is boisterous verging on the inappropriate defiantly sexist and homophobic and occasionally racist. Bonding for some alienating for others. 

But there is another version,  not a corporate happy hour but a Friday night curry.

Every Friday after work the younger members of the team went for a curry with the boss. We always went to the same balti house. No alcohol, no football talk  no work talk, a little office gossip but always a good laugh. We were a very diverse group in terms of faith, and sexuality. Something I hadn’t realised until people relaxed away from the office and the conversation became more wide ranging and lively.

I said younger members of the team but their was one regular team member who attended who was older than all of us and when the conversation turned to other teams and place we had worked he always had some interesting stories about his time in Africa. There was also the partner of one team member who had been in the SAS not that he told us this or ever refers to it but we knew. Basically the boss recruited and knew a lot of interesting people which all contributed to interesting and relaxed end of week.