The Office Posada

Mexican offices hold Christmas parties called posadas. A column in Excélsior describes these office posadas as events held “cada 365 días para dar gracias por un año más de jale” (every 365 days to give thanks for another year of work).

In 2017, a business consultant quoted by Expansión explained why such parties matter. “Al convivir con colaboradores y directivos, se pueden reforzar los lazos comunicativos” (When staff and managers spend time together, the bonds of communication can grow stronger).

Bonds at Work

In February 2026, the job site OCC surveyed 2,930 workers in Mexico for its Termómetro Laboral. “Un 59% de los participantes indicó que sí ha generado vínculos con alguien de su espacio de trabajo” (59 percent of participants said they had formed a bond with someone at work). Of these, 29 percent had formed a close friendship. Seventy-one percent said that a friendship with the boss is possible without harm to the work.

Forty-one percent had formed no bond at work.

The Vocabulary of Trust

Confianza means trust. It also means familiarity between people.

De confianza, a person one can rely on, or a close and intimate one.

En confianza, in private, between people who trust each other.

Agarrar confianza, to grow at ease with someone over time.

Pásale, con confianza, “come in, make yourself at home,” said to a guest.

Tomarse confianzas, to take liberties, to act with more familiarity than the relationship allows.

Making Somebody Nobody

In El laberinto de la soledad, Octavio Paz recalls the answer of a maid who was asked who was in the next room: “No es nadie, señor, soy yo” (It is nobody, sir, it is me).

In the same chapter, “Máscaras mexicanas,” Paz describes el ninguneo: “El ninguneo es una operación que consiste en hacer de Alguien, Ninguno” (Ninguneo is an operation that consists of making Somebody into Nobody).

The Workplace Standard on Psychosocial Risk

Since October 23, 2019, Mexican employers have had to comply with the official standard NOM-035-STPS-2018 on psychosocial risk at work. It defines workplace violence as acts of harassment or mistreatment that can harm a worker’s integrity or health. Mistreatment includes “insultos, burlas, humillaciones y/o ridiculizaciones” (insults, mockery, humiliation and/or ridicule).

One of the standard’s questionnaires asks workers about statements such as “Recibo críticas constantes a mi persona y/o trabajo” (I receive constant criticism of my person and/or my work).

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