‘You've gotta have friends,” as Bette Midler's song goes. And that goes for the workplace, too. Having a bosom buddy in the office can go a long way toward making that workday more satisfying – and productive. And workplace friends are all the more important in these times, experts say.
“We are social beings, we needs those connections. Friends provide social support that helps to buffer employees against stress. Friends help employees weather the stress that comes from the threat of downsizing and job insecurity, higher workloads and anxious bosses,” said Sandra Robinson, a professor of organizational behaviour at University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business.
More than 38 per cent of American workers have colleagues they consider personal friends, 67 per cent believe that having workplace pals makes their job more fun and enjoyable, while 55 per cent say work friends make their job worthwhile and satisfying, according to a new poll of 1,017 employees by Ipsos Reid for staffing firm Randstad U.S.
Having a pal at work can boost employees' energy and enthusiasm, provide an ally and fulfill emotional needs so much that they look forward to going to work, Prof. Robinson said. “And they'll come in early and stay late if they find work more enjoyable.”
It's good for the employer, too: Workplace friendships boost teamwork, morale, communication, motivation, productivity and commitment to the company, and lower turnover, the Randstad survey found.
But as with any relationship, there are pitfalls to befriending your colleagues. If conflicts arise, you still have to work together, said Antoinette Blunt, president of Ironside Consulting Services Inc., a human resources consultancy in Sault Ste Marie, Ont.
Dealing with issues such as favouritism, gossip, conflicts of interest, blurring boundaries, oversocializing and cliques can make office friendships tricky, Ms. Blunt said. “And a falling out with a friend can have a huge negative impact.”
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GOING STRONG
Sharing a tight office space could have been a disaster, but it was one of the best things that happened to Linsey Nogueira and Erin Manning, employees of Ketchum Public Relations Canada in Toronto.
“You get to know someone quite quickly when you can just turn your chair around and talk. We bonded. We have similar backgrounds, we're around the same age, went to the same PR school and have similar personalities. We became friends,” Ms. Manning said.
While the two had pals in common, they didn't know each other until Ms. Manning joined Ketchum about five years ago, a year after Ms. Nogueira started. The shared office space was a happy coincidence that lasted for about 18 months, until the company moved into new quarters and they got their own offices, but the friendship is still going strong.
The two regularly meet over lunch, and often check in with each other throughout the day on both work and non-work-related issues.
“It certainly makes it more enjoyable to come to work and have someone here who understands you and the office and the stresses of everyday life. Erin is honest and funny and supportive. And we trust each other,” Ms. Nogueira said.
There's also comfort in knowing that someone has your back, Ms. Manning added. “Who wouldn't want to work with someone who is also a close friend?”
The two agree that trust and respect are a big part of their friendship. And that makes for a safe environment in which they can confide in each other without worrying that it will end up feeding the office rumour mill, says Ms. Nogueira.
But the mates are careful not to let their friendship distract them from the work that needs to be done. “We're still professionals, we have clients and teams that rely on us. We realize we still have to do our jobs,” says Ms. Manning.
