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One meets different kind of colleagues and eventually makes friends with them. In a modern-day work culture, we spend more time at work than with family. This is the reason why many corporates across the world have a day when the parents of the employees are invited to the office so that they could interact with each other. Karin Parera, a software analyst, says, “I thought it was a joke when my HR asked me to bring may parents to office. We all had a good laugh saying that it might be a parents teachers meeting of sorts and our bosses would complain to our parents and give report cards but it seemed that the office was serious.” Parents too look forward to this day as they get to meet friends and bosses of their children. Mamtha Ravichandran, a homemaker, says,

I was looking forward to see who my daughter works with. More than anyone else, I was more excited to see my daughter’s boss because she always cribs about them and I wanted to see how they look like.” Mamtha realised that the image that her daughter had given her was exaggerated because her bosses looked normal. Maybe, this is the reason why these meetings are organised for parents to understand the other side of the story. “After I met her bosses I understood that they too have to answer to their bosses and to my surprise, they seemed to be very impressed with my daughter,” she smiles. These days are usually organised on a weekend when both the parents and the employees are free. Sanjay Bhagwat, a HR of a prominent IT form says, “ The concept is not new and these kind of events are a vital part of the corporate system. By inviting families we show the idea of oneness and also thank them to have lend their support indirectly. Secondly, the employees get to know their colleagues better.” Many interesting cases have happened during such events. Recalls Paavna Menon, “Two of my colleagues were seeing each other for two years but were not sure about how to tell their parents about their relationship. This seemed as a perfect opportunity to introduce both the parents. It clicked and they are happily married now.”

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