Working relationships: friendships in the workplace

Workplace friendships can have a positive effect on an organisation in various ways and are strongly linked to business outcomes. From company culture to engagement and productivity, a socially connected workplace will bring out the best in your employees and help them enjoy their time at work.

As a result, working friendships should be facilitated and encouraged. This applies not only to the employees who will feel a stronger sense of belonging and enjoyment in their day-to-day activities with their colleagues, but also to your organisation, which could see an increase in productivity and the development of a healthier, more attractive culture.

In this article, we explore why working friendships are such a positive asset for any organisation and how you can facilitate the formation of these bonds between your employees.

Benefits of friendships in the workplace

There are a wide variety of benefits employers can access by encouraging friendships to flourish in the workplace. Let’s take a look at some of the most significant.

Improved productivity

When employees form genuine friendships at work, they are more likely to collaborate effectively and support each other’s success. For example, friends are more comfortable:

• Asking for help
• Sharing knowledge
• Offering constructive feedback

This can create a working environment of mutual support where challenges are tackled together rather than in isolation. Our previous research found that 90% of employers believe that the formation of strong working relationships improves productivity in their business. This is because employees with close work friends are more engaged, leading to higher productivity levels and better problem-solving capabilities.

The improved level of communication between friends can also help to break down silos and barriers, streamlining workflows.

Better employee retention rate

One significant factor driving workers to seek other opportunities is the feeling of not belonging. If your employees perceive a lack of social connection at work, you risk their moving on, resulting in a decline in your employee retention rate.

Conversely, if your employees form and maintain friendships with one another, they are likely to feel a sense of belonging. Having friends at work fosters this sense of belonging and reduces the likelihood of them leaving.

This can improve your employee retention rate, helping to retain more expertise and institutional knowledge within your workplace while simultaneously reducing recruitment costs.

More attractive company culture

Overall, the vast majority (70%) of employers agree that good relationships and friendships at work are beneficial. They are perceived as positive for morale since they create a friendly atmosphere that appeals to most people. This sentiment is echoed by employees, with 60% stating they look forward to going to work because of these friendships.

All of this contributes to building a positive culture at work, which is a crucial component of any attractive employee value proposition.

Drawbacks of friendships in the workplace

While the benefits are clear, there is a balance to strike when encouraging workplace friendships. Here are some potential drawbacks and considerations:

• Team isolation: While friendships can strengthen team bonds, 20% of employers believe they can inadvertently isolate team members who are not part of these social circles, potentially creating an unwelcome divide in the workplace.
• Productivity concerns: While 9 in 10 employers believe that strong working relationships improve productivity, only half think that full-on friendships are beneficial. Additionally, 10% report that close friendships between workers can become a distraction, limiting productivity.
• Cultural fit issues: The impact of workplace friendships can vary significantly based on the company’s size and culture. While they may be essential in a small startup requiring long hours and shared passion, they might be viewed as a distraction in larger corporate environments with stricter professional boundaries.

Overall, our research highlighted the importance of finding the right balance when it comes to facilitating socialising at work.

Nearly 60% of employers reported that they encourage out-of-work socialising, while many emphasised the importance of ensuring that the office does not turn into a recreation centre. For 20% of recruiters, friendships were considered either completely irrelevant or not important to their workplace.

How to facilitate socialising at work

Given the clear benefits of providing employees with opportunities to form workplace friendships, here are some ideas on how to facilitate this:

1. Organise regular team-building activities: Team-building events that go beyond traditional meetings can be an excellent way for teams to bond. These could occur monthly or quarterly and include lunch-and-learn sessions, team nights out for meals, or even adventurous weekend activities. If you have remote and hybrid workers, remember to provide team-building options for them as well.
2. Create social spaces in the office: By establishing specific areas in the office where employees can naturally gather and interact during breaks, you are giving them space to form friendships and relax for a few minutes. These could be comfortable break rooms, coffee stations, or collaborative spaces that encourage casual conversation and relationship building.
3. Set up cross-departmental working projects: Friendships often form through collaboration. Create opportunities for employees from different departments to work together on shared projects, fostering connections across teams and departments.
4. Support employee affinity groups: These could be hobby-based, but affinity groups can be particularly important for encouraging diversity and inclusion within your workplace. Provide resources and, crucially, time for these groups to meet regularly.
5. Implement mentorship programmes: By offering formal mentorship programmes that pair experienced employees with newer team members, you can create structured opportunities for meaningful professional relationships to develop while also supporting professional growth and knowledge sharing.

The value of workplace friendships

In summary, fostering friendships in the workplace is essential for enhancing employee well-being, engagement, and overall organisational performance. Strong working relationships lead to improved productivity, higher employee retention rates, and a more attractive company culture.

While it is important to recognise potential drawbacks, such as team isolation and productivity concerns, the benefits of encouraging social connections far outweigh the challenges. By implementing strategies such as team-building activities, creating social spaces, promoting cross-departmental collaboration, supporting affinity groups, and establishing mentorship programmes, organisations can cultivate an environment where friendships can thrive.