Friend or foe

"PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN A WORK FRIEND HELPS YOU TRUST YOURSELF MORE." – UNKNOWN

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From Meredith and Cristina in Grey's Anatomy to Sutton, Kat and Jane from The Bold Type, friendships in the workplace have been portrayed in many a TV show.

But this trend is no longer confined to our TV screens, it has seeped its way into reality. While many professionals warn that one should “never mix business with pleasure”, in today’s world, where careers span decades and work consumes a large portion of our daily lives, friendships in professional spaces are inevitable - and can be beneficial.

Research from Nector shows that 76% of employees have at least one close friend at work. Interestingly, according to a 2022 BetterUp Labs study, more than half of employees (53%) said they would even trade some compensation for more meaningful workplace relationships. Similarly, these stats show that friendships are no longer something we leave at the office door - they have seemingly become a cornerstone of how we navigate both success and stress in our careers. More studies show that having close friends at work doesn't just make the day more enjoyable - it actually boosts engagement and resilience.

THE UPSIDE