I had to go to stupid "sales rallies" (I wasn't on the sales force), "holiday parties" (I didn't want to celebrate holidays with my cow-orkers), long "business lunches" which accomplished nothing, and other such nonsense.

I hated it. I won't do it again, political environment of the workplace or no. and I will make that a condition of my continued employment: that I not be required to "socialize" with people. Period.