Do you have a friend at work? You may have seen this question on employee surveys. A work friend can make you happier and help teamwork, new ideas, and output.
That matters even more now. Many people work from home part of the week, so it can be harder to build close ties at work.
Summary
The benefits of work friends can include better well-being, better teamwork, more output, and career growth. Remote and hybrid work make connection harder, but steady contact and openness can help people build real work ties.
Why Work Friendships Matter
A work friend can help your career. A LinkedIn article says that a friend at work can improve well-being, which can lead to more job joy, more focus, and better work.
The author says her friends have helped her by backing her up, giving her a new view in hard times, and sharing honest feedback.
Friendship During Workplace Change
Work friends matter even more when teams face change, stress, or new ways of working. Friends can share updates and help each other learn new tools and steps.
Benefits for Companies
Work friends can help companies too. Research from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Minnesota shows that close ties at work can raise output. Friends are more loyal, talk more clearly, and support one another.
A global study by the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) found that work ties have a strong, positive effect on job satisfaction.
What Employees with Work Friends Are More Likely to Do
Employees with a best friend at work are more likely to:
- Help customers and internal partners
- Get more done in less time
- Support a safe workplace with fewer accidents
- Share ideas and try new things
Why Work Friendships Matter More Now
Gallup data show that a best friend at work has become even more important since the pandemic and the rise of remote and hybrid work.
Many companies still struggle to help people connect when they do not share the same space. In the U.S., only two in 10 employees say they have a best friend at work.
Without that bond, remote workers can feel more alone. They may also lose some teamwork and shared drive, which can hurt results.
How to Be a Friend at Work
Genesis10 helps support connection through employee resource groups. These groups give people a place to share ideas, learn from one another, and build trust.
The women's ERG recently invited author and coach Ingra Green to speak on "Embracing Openness as a Strength."
If you're wondering how to make friends at work, start with small steps: check in, listen well, share credit, and keep in touch.
Embracing Openness as a Strength
Green said that opening up at work is not a weakness. Openness can build stronger ties with coworkers and can even lead to friendship, even in remote teams.
Put simply, openness means you can relate to each other, share honest thoughts, and still keep clear work limits.
Benefits of Openness at Work
The benefits for you of building a tie or friendship at work include:
- More job satisfaction
- Better mental health
- More new ideas
The benefits for your company include:
- Higher staff retention
- Better teamwork
- More output
Staying Connected with Intention
"I want everyone to be open to the idea that, even in the workplace, we can relate to one another person to person, and that has real value," she said.
In remote work, it may be harder to be a friend at work, but it is still worth the effort. As Green said, "we just have to be much more intentional about staying connected to one another."
Q&A
Question: Why can having a friend at work help someone's career?
Answer: A work friend can help career growth by giving support, a new view in hard times, advocacy, and honest feedback. The article also links work friends with better well-being, job satisfaction, focus, and better work.
Question: Why are work friendships especially important in remote and hybrid environments?
Answer: Remote and hybrid work can make people feel more alone because they have fewer easy ways to connect with coworkers. The article notes that employees without a best friend at work may feel more isolated while working from home, which can reduce teamwork, accountability, and results.
Question: How do workplace friendships benefit companies?
Answer: Companies benefit because employees with close work friendships tend to talk better, stay more committed, work together more well, and support one another. The article also points to higher staff retention, stronger teams, more output, and better morale.
Question: What role does openness play in building workplace friendships?
Answer: Openness helps employees relate to one another in a real way while still keeping work limits. According to the article, sharing honest thoughts and experiences can strengthen connection, reduce the fear that openness is weak, and help build meaningful ties even when teams work remotely.
Question: What is one practical way organizations can support stronger workplace connections?
Answer: The article points to employee resource groups as one way to support connection. Genesis10's women's ERG gave employees a place to share experiences, learn from one another, and hear from Ingra Green about "Embracing Openness as a Strength."
