I'm autistic and one thing I really struggle with in office jobs is how performative a lot of workplace relationships feel.

[YourWaryPlumBalonz]

For example, at my workplace in the UK there's a big expectation that colleagues socialise together, chat constantly, go for drinks, ask about each other's weekends, etc. But then I'll hear the same people gossiping about each other behind their backs. Two people can act like they're best friends in a meeting, then complain about each other the moment one leaves the room.
I don't actually dislike these people. I don't hate them. I just genuinely don't care about having a personal relationship with most colleagues. To me, we're coworkers, not friends. I'm happy to be polite, helpful, professional, and work as part of a team, but I don't understand why I'm expected to act emotionally invested in everyone else's lives.
It makes me wonder whether I'm simply in the wrong type of job.
Are there careers where work relationships are more straightforward and less focused on maintaining a social atmosphere? Or is this just a normal part of almost every workplace and something I need to learn to tolerate?
I'd be especially interested to hear from other autistic people. Do you find office culture exhausting, or am I interpreting it too literally

You don’t have to be friends with anyone but not to want to engage beyond being polite is your autism. It’s not about the job you do it’s about your personality. Being social is a normal human trait .

Asking about someone’s weekend is just small talk. It’s not being friends with someone. It’s normal. I don’t go for drinks with colleagues with kids as I need to get back to my children. No one cares really.

some workplaces attract more ND people than others and some workplaces have/support a decent culture so you don’t have the silly backbiting. But in even the best places, things could change. I’m ADHD, so I do seek out other ND types in the office because the performative relationships and two-faceless is very tedious for me.

BUT there is an expectation in all workplaces, to trade pleasantries, so you will need to set up some scripts and patterns to deal with this. And if you want to progress in your career, just being good at your job won’t progress you to the next level. Instead, you will have to participate in the corporate game.

Honestly, that’s how I treat it. Like a game I can score. Personally, I never take part in any bitchiness. And I do develop genuine friendships alongside this.