Inspired by the thread about whether your friends know that you're FI:
When you hit FI, assuming you don't retire immediately, will anyone in your office be privy to that information?
Alternatively, if you're already FI and kept working after that point, did/do any of your colleagues know?
And my answer to this question:
My workplace is very open about... well, everything, but especially money. I could tell you the net worth of most of my colleagues with all of five minutes to think about it. Three different people have outright told me that they can afford to retire anytime they like... one is a waste of wages and hasn't done any work in twenty years, so I immediately judged him for not just retiring already instead of wasting everyone's time. Another puts in a good effort and is great at her job, so I didn't even think twice about it. The third was clearly miserable in her role and I did judge her a bit, thinking why would you stay in a job you hate so much when you could retire tomorrow?
So I've been thinking about this issue and whether it would necessarily lead to judgement from others. I'd be worried that any day that I was a bit off my game, I'd cop the same attitude from others that I've demonstrated above - you've got enough money, you should just retire already. I have a few real friends at work and they will almost definitely know, but wouldn't spread it about (these are people I trust and who would never ask me for money, so I'm not concerned about them knowing). My workplace is effectively unable to fire people or make them redundant so I wouldn't be afraid of being pushed out of my job, but I'd worry about the social effects in the workplace of everyone knowing you don't have to work for the money while they're still slogging away to make their mortgage and car repayments.