Office work can sometimes feel a bit like groundhog day: same old spreadsheets, same old clickety-clack of keyboards, same old awkward smalltalk with your colleagues.
Especially if you worked remotely during the pandemic, you might find it tough to get into the swing of being surrounded by people you barely know for hours on end.
But whiling away each shift wishing you were at home in your pyjamas doesn’t help anyone. You need to find a way to inject some happiness into your days or you’ll end up bored, lonely and hating your job.
TikToker Kate Kirby has one suggestion to ensure you ‘survive corporate life’: the secret drawer club.
In a video which has now been viewed over 6.2 million times, she called the trend ‘the only reason I come to work’ and showed off a decorated filing cabinet filled with trinkets and fairy lights.
This is the only reason i come to work
‘Make a secret drawer club and slowly invite trusted coworkers to be in the club,’ Kate advised in the caption.
‘They have to put a little figurine in the drawer to be in the club and the first rule of drawer club is don’t talk about drawer club.’
We have to apologise for breaking that rule, but we do so only for your benefit – and there are some important benefits of seemingly silly workplace traditions such as this.
Alex Young, Director of Projects co-working spaces and host of the Favourite Positions podcast, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘It goes without saying that corporate life can be demanding and some employees have used creative outlets, like the secret drawer club, to momentarily detach from work-related pressures.
‘Now the trend has picked up, those who get involved can belong to an exclusive club and bond with fellow team members who are in the know.
‘In traditional workplaces, employees often have limited control over their tasks and schedules, so the secret drawer club allows them to take ownership of a small part of the office where they can dictate the rules and the ambiance.’
According to Alex, it’s a ‘harmless’ way to inject ‘a sense of fun and novelty into the workday, making it less monotonous.’
And Kate’s followers agree, sharing their own unique versions of cabinet clique curation.
‘I have a candy drawer club and it’s really a little fun in the office day,’ commented one person, while another wrote: ‘I made my cubicle into an art gallery, and people around the building started to submit work.’
A third added: ‘At my insurance desk job i had a mini gnome/fairy village on my desk and people loved to come visit.’
Essentially, it’s not about what you put in the drawer or how you choose to set up your club – it’s about bonding, laughing and enjoying the company of the people you spend eight hours a day beside.
Plus, the advantages extend higher up the ladder (something that may be handy to mention when management come sniffing around).
Terry Payne, Global MD of recruitment agency, Aspire, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Happier workers tend to be better workers, who are more likely to stay in their roles longer.
‘Anything to lighten the mood a little should be welcomed, in my opinion. A secret drawer club – or any other lighthearted workplace tradition – helps bring people together and raise morale, which benefits employees themselves and the business.’
However, if you’re thinking of starting a club of your own, there are a few things to consider.
‘Everyone involved should be careful not to exclude people or make them feel left out – this isn’t good for the culture of an organisation,’ says Terry.
‘And this goes for other workplace traditions too – if you’re new to a business, it’s nerve-wracking enough without feeling like you aren’t in on something.’
Alex also adds: ‘People have got to be careful with posting proof of their procrastination online, as employers are going to want to ensure that their teams aren’t interfering too much with their productivity.’
So, as long as you’re mindful of inclusivity and avoid wasting too much time on your extracurricular activity, the only thing left to decide is which figurine you’ll choose.
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