What was normal in your workplace in the noughties that would be outrageous now

[Shhhhivegotasecret]

My example - all the men going off to continue business meeting at a Stringfellows leaving all the women behind…. Would be the stuff of tribunals nowadays, back then it was 🤷‍♀️

Being bought a suggestive pair of knickers from Secret Santa, ( knew it was from a male 20+yrs older than me) whilst working in one of our emergency services. He would be sacked now !

Wine at meetings every Monday, then DRIVING back to work.
We were also not allowed to wear trousers as the MD liked to see a lady's ankle
Being chased round and round my desk by one of the directors.

I thought 360 appraisal was when subordinates also appraised their managers? In that case, not people outside the team.
Pointless anyway, but who's realistically going to tell the truth about their manager when their manager could read it. Even if anonymous, they'd recognise your style of writing.

Pub lunchtimes is still a thing 💃🍷

Been banned in a few workplaces.
I once did an office drone type job I could have done in my sleep and apparently we weren't allowed to drink at lunchtime. Not sure what they thought would happen or why they thought they could regulate what I did during my unpaid break.

High up male managers with adult children divorcing their wives and having a second family with a female member of their staff in her 20s.

Not at work but I did get to do this at a do, as it happens on day I met my other half (online). Sent him a video of me sabering champagne in a ball gown and he still ridicules me now years later that I seemed very posh

when did lunchtime pub stop? That was still a thing where I worked till covid! It’s not a thing at my new job but I presumed that was just because most people drive.

I used to get work submitted by someone on floppy disc up until about 2010 (when he retired). He couldn't fathom how to update his computer knowledge past what he first learned years before.

My first job in 2000 people smoked in the office.

We do it where I am. I can't see the issue.

Obviously don't get pissed, just a cheeky drink and good chat

And not just On a Friday either. It's great for staff morale

What kind of workplace was that??

Interesting thread!

1998 office was still full on smoking and everyone smoked in the pool cars as well.

Pool cars! Do businesses still have them?

Paid for Xmas parties! So much alcohol.

Alot of sexism and “banter” that would be totally unacceptable now.

i worked in a predominantly male work place before proper lone working etc cane in and was put in potentially vulnerable situations but didn’t complain because I felt that I couldn’t.

Different times!

A drinks cabinet in the office. First drinks were served from 11.00am onwards.
Bosses smoking cigars and pipes in the office.

There were endless penises drawn in all birthday cards. Very male dominated environment, but for all that I do have great memories of working there. All genuinely nice and fun people, just obsessed with drawing penises!

Smoking at my desk. Whole afternoons spent in the pub. Tricking the apprentice / work experience kids into swapping clothes then leaving them. Friday afternoons spent eating food and drinking vodka then off to the pub (Russian company). Michael hunt calling for the various new (Russian speaking) starters.

Having strippers come to the office on mens' birthday. Jeez, that was grim.

Jesus Christ 😂😂😂

I remember in my first job all the girls were obsessed with diets and cup a soups and gossiping about Supersize vs Superskinny, that was toxic!

I had this too! Women weren’t allowed to wear trousers in the office. When the big guys went off on travel a memo would go round the office letting us women know on what dates it was safe to come in wearing trousers.

Getting absolutely smashed at lunchtime and either go back to work pissed, staying in the bar and not going back or going home because you were smashed. City job. Probably still the same culture in sone places, I'd imagine!

Major supermarket in the early 00’s, we still had a work canteen with a smoking section.

Not in the 00s

In a telecoms store: if someone was taking out a phone contract and had a funny name, or forename and surname combination I was told to photocopy their drivers licence twice - once for the contract and once for the board out back. There must have been 10-20 drivers licence copies in the staff room of people deemed to have funny names.