The Power of Having An Open Bar in the Office


It's kind of a running joke: Work for a startup, and you'll get to drink beer in the office. Kegerators are par for the course, beer pong competitions are practically part of the job interview, and company-branded shot glasses and beer cozies are as ubiquitous as T-shirts. At TaskRabbit, we're guilty of living up to the stereotype. You can drink here, when appropriate. And it's done amazing things for our company's culture.

Our office bar is like our kitchen table. In the same way a family gathers around the table to break bread and bond, we convene around our bar to celebrate birthdays and engagements, toast baby showers and product launches, and raise a glass to the successes and failures of each week. Each day, our lunch is served from the bar. By night, it turns into a table for Settlers of Catan battles or classes on coffee roasting. It's not about the drinks, it's about the togetherness.

The bar itself was built in my garage by our VP of Technology, our Head of Mobile Engineering, and our Senior Platform Engineer. They used power tools and their bare hands, and they got sawdust all over the place. Our team of designers worked together to decorate the bar, and the rest of us run a task or two each month to keep it fully stocked. The bar, to us, is much more than a way to grab a quick beer - it's a testament to the spirit of our team.

Jesper Rosenfeldt Munk

Senior Business Controller hos DHL Freight Danmark

9y

You just have to watch 'Casablanca' to see what a cocktailbar-environment can do to your life... or worklife - in war or in peace...so just build up that environment and you'll be of bringing new pulses to your corporate culture of free thinkers and winners.

Like
Reply
John W. Hotto, RLA

landskapsarkitekt (landscape architect)

9y

What if people just acted like themselves without needing booze? What if people just lightened up and treated each other like they wanted to be treated? Why do we need booze and drugs to "discover" who we and others are?

Like
Reply
Bernard Alexander McNealy

President at CDM Digital Advertising Worldwide, Inc.

9y

It's not a good idea.

Like
Reply
Maura Weise

Sr Software Test Analyst at Jacobs Space Exploration Group | ESSCA Contract for NASA

10y

I really don't think if I can't drink and drive, I should not drink and code. I would love to ask if I can open the local office here, but I think this will eventually grow out of hand and catch up with you in your worst nightmare. Keep social tasks beyond food and drink (simple, non-alcoholic) there, and let them express that much spirit (the word I chose on purpose) without your insurance to bear and freak out. I love it and it scares me at the same time. Sometimes what we want is not want we need. You always get what your want - is Not true (I hope) if it is bad for you - good luck with that experiment! - MYW

Like
Reply
Simon Boxall

Senior Consultant at Infosol Inc

10y

are you hiring?

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Explore topics