General Question

kdrive's avatar

Do you have a different identity at work vs home?

Asked by kdrive (155points) October 15th, 2010

I raise this question because I feel like when I am at work I act professional trying to fit into the social norms of the company and when I get home I can be myself. I am curious if anyone has felt like they put on a new face at work.

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22 Answers

woodcutter's avatar

I am me no matter where I happen to be. As a self employed contractor I often wear the same clothes at home as I do on the job. Plus it seems I’m always fixing something. No sense in scuffing up the good clothes. Same tools, same clothes, same phone #, same me. It’s great not having to impress coworkers.

cookieman's avatar

Nope. I never had the energy to maintain separate personalities. Luckily both my jobs allow me to “be me” as it were.

I did work for a corporation for a few years where they wanted you to be a type or fit their mold. I just couldn’t do it and thought for sure I’d get let go. Luckily we had a president who appreciated my “unorthodox” way of running my department. Also helped that our numbers were the best in the building.

I’m pretty certain that situation was an anomaly though as far as corporations go.

lynfromnm's avatar

I don’t have a different identity but I focus on different things. Of course I am more casual at home, but my character and personality don’t change.

Garebo's avatar

Yes, I most certainly do-I am a chameleon. I would never survive otherwise, and every one else is not what they appear, it took me a long time to realize it

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

Basically, for work…I had to change my hair, cover my tattoos and take out my facial piercings and ‘become likable’ to a plethora of people I dislike – so no, at work, I’m not who I ‘really am’.

perg's avatar

Oh hells yes. Not so much in my current job, but there are things I will do and say among friends that I would hate to get back to some folks I deal with at work. As @Simone_De_Beauvoir notes, I cover my few little body mods at work and show them off during private time. I am also a painstakingly organized neat freak at work – completely opposite at home. It’s funny when my friends get that rare glimpse of my work self, or the reverse.

zenvelo's avatar

I have always been pretty much myself, except for expressing my political views. From 2000 until 2005 my superiors at work were pretty solid Republican; my old boss had a picture of himself meeting GW Bush in his office. So while it was known I was a democrat, I didn;t express my views too often.

Other than that, though, I have always been myself.

Cruiser's avatar

Yeah….at home I am know as dad or “dude” as my 14 yr old seems to call anyone and everyone. Call me Cruiser at home and you are in for extra chores!

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

Yes! I am exactly like you! At work, I act professional and try to maintain a somewhat formal exterior, but at home I let go and relax, and I’m my “true self” at home. I never feel like I can fully let my guard down when I’m at work or even in public. I always keep my emotions to myself in public——at home I’m almost the opposite! Lol.

I’m glad you asked this question, because I always felt like I was the only one who feels and acts that way. ;)

YARNLADY's avatar

When I was working outside the home, I was still the same person I am now. I did not have any friends in the work environment.

Response moderated (Unhelpful)
Haleth's avatar

I’m one of the youngest people at work and I’m a manager, so I’m energetic, professional, and assertive when I’m there. All that stuff totally goes against my nature, but I need the staff to respect me and the higher-ups to take me seriously! During my free time I’m incredibly relaxed and lazy. I just love the feeling of sitting around, having a couple glasses of wine, and being as snarky as I want.

seazen's avatar

Oh yeah.

augustlan's avatar

Not generally, no, but when I worked for a larger corporation I was a tad more formal. I dressed nicer, too, because I had to.

ZAGWRITER's avatar

I did, until I got fired on Monday. Now, not so much.

LuckyGuy's avatar

I dress a whole lot better when I’m not at home. I’m the same person, just fully clothed.

flutherother's avatar

I work from home and so no.

downtide's avatar

Up to about 3 months ago, yes I did. Now I’ve come out at work as transsexual, and I’m not trying to pretend anymore to be someone I’m not, I’m much happier.

Response moderated (Unhelpful)
ZAGWRITER's avatar

YARNLADY, yea, it’ll make life interesting soon. This is the first week I haven’t worked (not including vacations of course) since I was sixteen. But it is for the best. That job was so f&#(ng stressful that it was really affecting my health, I could feel it. I smile alot now, literally feel like I am walking on air. It has been a trip. I almost wish it would have happened a few years sooner.

ZAGWRITER's avatar

wow, how did the font change for my posts?

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