This isn’t going to happen. I’m not sure what the UK is expecting here.

Yelling “Layoff!” over a cubicle wall really seems like something a grown up Veronica would do as a manager or CEO.

“What have you been up to lately?”[wait to see if they mention their hobby].

“I’ve been [insert your hobbies here]. Have you ever tried it?”

“No? Well what do you like to do for fun? Oh I’ve tried that too/never done that.”