Formal? No. Dinner parties, get together, certainly. Taking people out to dinner in a nice restaurant is also common.
Another variant is entertaining someone who is at work from say another office elsewhere. My firm had offices in multiple cities and when people went on short term visits to another office it was normal and almost expected for one or more people to call them over for dinner.
I threw in “formal” to distinguish from having work friends over to hang out. The original comment concerned having a nice enough house to impress people from work, which implied to me a more formal/judgment environment.
I hate it when that happens.
Back in the late 80’s I worked for a group of physicians and one hosted a pool party every year at his house. You ain’t seen nuthin’ until you’ve seen half of your co-workers lounging around a pool in swimsuits and the other half in cover ups, hiding under pool umbrellas. (I’m sorry–I don’t think I should ever have the opportunity to look at one’s pasty knees or calloused feet. Barf. Put some clothes on people, I have to work with you on Monday!) It was one of the most icky things I’ve ever attended. I did it once, and that was one time too many.
I used to regularly send get-well cards when appropriate that said, “New England Medical Journal - SWIMSUIT ISSUE” and it had a cartoon of various medical professionals in their swimsuits, baggy skin and all. While looking for an image, I found this from a medical satire website. SFW.
I know that the “New England Medical Journal” is not a real magazine. However, the New England Journal of Medicine is.
I’ve worked in marketing and advertising for 28 years, at several Fortune 500 companies, and several major advertising agencies, all in Chicago.
I’ve never formally entertained colleagues (peers or superiors), nor clients, at my home, nor has it ever been something that’s been the norm for people to do at the various places where I’ve worked.
At my first job, our department had a Christmas party every year, which was hosted by one of the senior members of the department, and to which spouses were also invited. And, at another job (at a small company), the company’s owners once hosted a cocktail party at their house. Those were the only “formal” work gatherings I’ve ever been involved in that were at someone’s home.
We take clients out for meals and drinks all the time, but it’s always at a restaurant or bar. And, I’ve certainly had co-workers over to the house for a meal or a social gathering, but those were people who had become friends, and it was purely a social event between friends, versus being anything that was actually a work function.
Yeah, I’ve been to Christmas parties at the owner’s and VP’s houses. But that’s not the same as having the boss at my house for pot roast and apple pie.
They both have nice homes but they could live in yurts for all I care, provided my checks get signed.
I have been to my current boss’s house for dinner and/or drinks twice in the 4 years we’ve worked together. On both occasions we had our entire far flung team in our office for planning meetings. I wouldn’t’'t call it a “thing”, but it has happened.
I think people can be pretty judgmental at a BBQ, honestly.
That never happens in Japan. People’s homes are too small.
When I worked in Japan for a US manufacturer, the VPs would sometimes have have everyone visiting from overseas over.