Mexico, Relationships, Personal and Professional

Secretaries’ Day

Mexico celebrates a Día de la Secretaria, Secretaries’ Day. According to Uno TV, the day was set in 1958 by the president of the Secretarias Ejecutivas de México. In 2010, Chilango advised bosses to take their secretary out “para que la lleves a comer” (so that you take her to lunch).

In 2004, El Siglo de Torreón reported that the restaurants of the city were full of women celebrating the day, “acompañadas algunas de ellas por sus jefes” (some of them accompanied by their bosses). The newspaper named one host: “su jefe, el señor Constantino Papadópulos, les ofreció este convivio” (their boss, Mr. Constantino Papadópulos, offered them this get-together).

Get-Together

A convivio is a get-together. The Diccionario del español de México of El Colegio de México defines it as a “fiesta o banquete que se ofrece para fomentar el acercamiento y la camaradería entre los miembros de un grupo” (a party or banquet given to encourage closeness and camaraderie among the members of a group).

Cake at the Office

In May 2016, Chilango wrote about birthdays at the office. For the godínez, the office worker, the celebration is “una pequeña fiesta en la oficina en la que nos dan pastel y refresco” (a small party at the office where they give us cake and soda). The colleagues sing Las Mañanitas, the Mexican birthday song, “desanimadamente” (half-heartedly).

The article also jokes about a worker born on May 1, Labor Day, who watches “con envidia como a todos tus amigos de oficina les hacen su pastelito” (with envy as all your office friends get their little cake).

Meetings Away from the Desk

In an article titled “Fuera de las oficinas” (Outside the offices), Expansión wrote about holding business meetings away from the office. One purpose it named: “Detonar una relación distinta, más parecida a la amistad” (To spark a different relationship, more like friendship). Such meetings “ayudan a encontrar puntos en común más rápido” (help find common ground faster). Its advice was short: “Hay que hacer cosas afuera” (One has to do things outside).

After Hours

In June 2025, the job site Indeed surveyed 837 people in Mexico in an online panel. According to Cluster Industrial, “el 85% de los mexicanos afirma que sus supervisores no deberían buscarles ni contactar con ellos fuera del horario laboral” (85 percent of the Mexicans surveyed say that their supervisors should not seek them out or contact them outside working hours).

Most of those surveyed want closeness at work to stop at the end of the working day.

Cooperacha

Cooperacha is the Mexican word for money pooled among friends, relatives or coworkers to buy drinks, snacks and other things for a party. In 2020, Los40 México called it a “cooperación aparentemente voluntaria” (an apparently voluntary contribution). The article lists it among the words of the office world.

After the Meal

Sobremesa is the time spent talking at the table after a meal is over. Mexico News Daily calls it “a cultural tradition ingrained in Mexican culture.” A guest who gets up and leaves as soon as the food is finished will seem rude.

At a business meal, the article notes, “the sobremesa can be the weightiest part.”

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).

Dinner with the Boss

On September 25, 2023, the business columnist Mauricio Candiani asked in El Financiero: “¿Invitarías a tu jefe a cenar a tu casa?” (Would you invite your boss to dinner at your home?). His answer was yes, “pero nunca forzada o conveniencieramente” (but never forced or for convenience). “Soy partidario de la socialización en casa” (I am in favor of socializing at home).

At work, he argued, it pays “construir puentes de armonía, confianza y entendimiento” (to build bridges of harmony, trust and understanding). He also drew a line: “Una cosa es gozar de un jefe cercano y otra es confundir cercanía con amistad” (It is one thing to enjoy a close boss and another to confuse closeness with friendship).

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.