There’s a common misconception that friendships between coworkers are full of rivalry, back-stabbing and gossip. Apparently this couldn’t be further from the truth (well, if a new report is to be believed).
A report from the Lancaster University has revealed that friendships born in the workplace are actually closer and more emotional than friendships formed anywhere else. Even workers who have nothing in common can eventually become best friends and it’s all down to the presence of adversity.
In the workplace people of all ages and backgrounds are thrown together and expected to spend several hours a day working side by side in stressful situations. This actually increases the likelihood that they’ll develop close friendships.
Looking for a new best friend? Start chatting to your coworkers
“The demands and stressful environment of the workplace, where employees feel they have little control, shape emotionally close friendships,” said Dr Anne Cronin, the lead researcher of the study.
“Workplace friendships may have particular resonance as it ‘throws people together’ to facilitate friendships which might not have developed elsewhere,” she added.
Dr Cronin said that today’s workplaces are “highly stressful” and because of this, employees are more likely to strike up friendships with their coworkers in a bid to build “safe interpersonal spaces” in a fast-paced, uncertain environment.
