Calling on colleagues to put their out of office on and go for after work drinks, South Western Railway is offering a free round of drinks on them every Thursday this month.

In the new age of remote working, the train operating company is encouraging workers to instead face the commute and head into work to bring back the much-missed, post-work get-togethers.

The Thank God It’s Thursday (TGIT) fund comes following research conducted by the train company, finding more than half (53%) of British workers are spending much less time in the office post-pandemic meaning post-work socials have also yet to fully recover, having a negative impact on people’s sociability and confidence.

Andover Advertiser: South Western Railways want remote workers to head back into the office. Picture: PASouth Western Railways want remote workers to head back into the office. Picture: PA

A poll of 2,000 office workers across the UK found more than a third (37%) say they have forgotten how to socialise since the pandemic, with a fifth admitting they now feel less confident (22%).

Yet as a nation, we’re calling out to re-connect, with more than half (55%) missing the banter with work colleagues.

Being able to see work mates was the biggest positive to getting back into the office for 63% of respondents yet only 16% of colleagues are meeting up a least once a week – which is where South Western Railway comes in!

William Hanson, etiquette consultant to the stars says: “Our much-missed after-work soirées are not only the highlight of the working week, but key for developing relationships with colleagues, and will help to restore the confidence lost over years of working in isolation.”

How to get free drinks from South Western Railway

South Western Railway’s TGIT fund has been set-up to encourage workers to get back together, and re-connect over post-work drinks every Thursday, offering the first round on them, after 51% of people said they’d be more likely to go out with work if the first round was free!

The promotion is running over four weeks from today (April 7) until April 28, and will be available on a first-come-first-served basis each week.

To claim your free round, simply follow and tweet @SWR_TGIT with #TGIT every Thursday between 2-5pm to be in for the chance of claiming a piece of the pot.

 For more information, including terms and conditions, visit the South Western Railway website.