To feel left out of a social clique at work

[RhyTim]

I don’t whether I’m just being silly or but I don’t know how to fix this.

I work in a fairly large office, and there is a group of people who I work with I feel I get along with well. We do all the small talk, and have quite good chats in the passed when I work in their area. However, I’ve noticed recently and there have been stuff going on for a while.

I don’t know whether it’s that I’m older, but not by much just a few years. We all work full time.

But I feel that there is a socially clique going on that I’m not apart of. I follow them on social media, know bad thing to do. But they have all been on nights out together and have also been on staycation together.

There’s inside jokes, and i’m pretty sure that there’s a WhatsApp group that’s out. I would love to be apart of it, but have never been invited.

I know this can come across as being silly, but I’m feeling rather excluded and lonely. I would like to be apart of the inside jokes, not feel awkward about. I have tried to hint, asking all the right questions, but nothing seems to come of it.

Does anybody have any advice? Or should I just ignore them, be polite and get on with work.

should I just ignore them, be polite and get on with work

Yes you should.

You say 'when I work in their area' so they are usually in one area and you aren't?
That would be why.

It might well be an age thing. I’d assume they like you, but you aren’t part of their inner circle, this is usually due to externals (age, working area), than anything to do with you. Be friendly, build up your life outside.

I probably should of wrote this differently, when I mean i ‘work in their area’ i mean that I often do cover for their area. Not just once or twice in a blue moon, but usually multiple times a week. So, I see them quite often.

What area do you usually work in and are you/do you want to be friends with everyone else in these areas?

Ive been in this situation. One woman went out of her way to ignore me.

Unfollow them all and the set about reconnecting with friends wh do see yr value.

So, i mainly work in let’s say Area 1 for the most part, we are a big department and are all split into individual teams. Most of the people who are in this clique are in my team, but there are few from other teams. Than there’s area 2 which is where the clique work and i usually cover for them when they are down a member, whether is annual leave or they of sick. Which is usually multiple times a week. The other members of this clique usually come into area 2 a lot of time also. If that helps.

Ignore! And don’t follow on SM

Is it a 'clique' or a group of friends who happen to work at the same place? They're not all in the same team? Are you the only person in the whole company not in the chats/nights out?
If not what's your thoughts on the others who aren't?