Ever been back to your old workplace?

[S1KRR]

Mate and I currently work together, and previously used to work together a few years ago at another employer.

Before Christmas he had some time off work and popped into our former employer. Partly cause he was nearby, partly cause he was bored. And spent 30+mins there chatting with everyone. Turns out my mate has numerous times re-visited this and other old employers. Several of my current work mates have also done similar at other places.

Seems I'm in a minority here. Having only visited 1 employer after I left because I got a "mates rates" discount on some things. I wasn't there just to chew the fat. Apparently our mutual former workmates asked after me since they'd not seen me since and most contact was the odd comment under a picture on InstaBook or the generic "Happy birthday" post

Apparently this is a bad thing, but tbh who really wants to have a forced "you alright? How's the kids" type conversation? That's not to say I don't like some of these people, but if they're working they don't need me hanging around like a bad smell!

So is my mate overly sentimental. Or am I anti-social?

Edited by S1KRR on Tuesday 5th February 22:02

[warch]

It's a bit David Brent isn't it?

[SAS Tom]

I go back to my last workplace. Mainly because it’s a shop and they have stuff I want to buy. I have a good chat with the people I work with but my main reason to go is to buy something.

Sounds like it’s a worse place to work at since I left too.

[Buzz84]

Suppose it depends on how you left. voluntarily, forced, good terms or bad etc.

I left my last job after everyone was made redundant as they closed the whole site, its been flattened so there is nothing left to go back to!

[Brainpox]

If you consider your old workmates as mates then I don't see the problem.

I also don't see the problem with not giving a flying fk about them.

I 'visited' my previous employer a few times, simply because it was my local supermarket! I got along well with the people I worked with and we went out together and round each others houses pretty regularly, so I had no problem chatting to them if I saw them about. I didn't go out of my way just to visit them though.

[ReaperCushions]

Never been back, the few people I keep in touch with, I do so out of the office environment.

Each to their own, but it seems odd to me to visit your old employer's premises unless for business purposes.

[Amirhussain]

Been back to my old workplace twice since I left (December 2017). Don’t necessarily miss the place but I do miss some of the people and I did have some good times and memories. Went back really just to catch up and have a chat.

[bristolbaron]

I popped into my old work a couple of weeks back. I left last March and apparently leaving a car in the car park for 9 months is considered ‘too long’?!

[stevensdrs]

Can't go back to any of my previous workplaces because they no longer exist. Perhaps I was key in their downfall or maybe it's just coincidence.

[StanleyT]

Yep, left "old" workplace 15 years ago. Been back five times since for 1-6 month periods, at every increasing hrly rates to fix old problems.

Always warmly welcomed.

Always remember why I left and jack my rate up each time I'm re-approached but still get gigs there.

New day job bosses cracking down on out of hours contracting so may not be back again...........

[Chrisgr31]

I have back to a former employer after about 20 years. Mainly because my employer acquired them!

[Sheepshanks]

I've only really changed jobs twice and each time I've visited my old firm as they were a customer of the new one.

[Jayzee]

I still go to my old workplace - about 5 or 6 times a day to pick up milk, bread etc etc. Plus there’s this cute checkout girl I’ve been chatting to for ages...

[glenrobbo]

Jayzee said:

I still go to my old workplace - about 5 or 6 times a day to pick up milk, bread etc etc. Plus there’s this cute checkout girl I’ve been chatting to for ages...

Aldi?

[ARHarh]

stevensdrs said:

Can't go back to any of my previous workplaces because they no longer exist. Perhaps I was key in their downfall or maybe it's just coincidence.

I have the same problem

[alorotom]

I’ve left every workplace on good terms voluntarily and can’t think of one good reason to go back to any of them.

People I like, I keep in touch with and meet up for drinks/food outside of work environments etc. I can’t think of anything more horrendously cringe inducing tbh

[sc0tt]

I work next door to my old work place. I occasionally pop in to the reception to get my car keys if I have forgotten my set.

My wife works there.

[sc0tt]

I work next door to my old work place. I occasionally pop in to the reception to get my car keys if I have forgotten my set.

My wife works there.

[anonymous-user]

I would say no, normally I never look back after leaving and rarely keep in touch with colleagues, but I have been back to one employer recently

I built a whole load of stuff in Flash around 17 years ago for a client. Back end of last year they contacted me and said they needed to convert them to HTML5, update the accessibility and couldn't find the original build files.

Was good to visit and catch up which has led to picking up another contract.

[Alex_225]

Buzz84 said:

Suppose it depends on how you left. voluntarily, forced, good terms or bad etc.

Pretty much this.

I have stayed in touch with people regardless of what circumstances I left. I have popped back to visit places before but maybe twice in 19 years of working.

I have never liked a job enough to feel the need to pop back and visit the entire office, just keep in touch with the people I choose to instead.