Co-workers..... Friends? Are these two words that even belong in the same sentence?
How about the widely used phrase "Keep business and pleasure separate". While I think it may be a widely recognized way of thinking to have the " A job is just a job" mentality. I dare to think the complete opposite. The people you work with are going to be the people you interact with almost as much as your significant other and children. These are the people you’re going to work on projects with, set goals with, and talk with on a daily basis. Lets face it, we spend 2 days with our families and 5 days with our co-workers. That's a lot of time!
I would even go as far as to say your "Work family" can be just that.... "Family" . Let's be honest, many of life's stressors come from everyday work hurtles that we often get through with the support of our co-workers. We reach out for help with how to handle situations, when one person is out, the other covers their desk. When someone can't make a meeting, the other takes notes for them. If you really look at it, its quite beautiful. Its 2 people, 5 people, hell 30+ people, that have all been put together due to a means to survive and provide, yet they all simultaneously choose to take care of each other in one way or another.
62% percent of employees with 1-5 work friends said they would reject a job offer outside of their company due to the friendships they have created; that increases to 70% for those with 6 -25 friends at work.
It doesn't just stop with the woes of work. We often are there for each other through personal matters as well. The welcoming of new babies, the losses of loved ones, the trials of marriage and relationships. I have had co-workers who checked on me during difficult moments in my life more than friends or family have at times. Even in the new age of working from home, we have found a way to still achieve that human connection we all crave by being there for one another. A teams chat can feel just like a text from a friend checking in and a one on one zoom coffee meeting can hold just as much weight as a Starbucks with a friend.
61% of respondents said colleagues’ support helped them through a challenging time in their lives.
While not everyone feels the importance of workplace friendships, I dare you to step out of your comfort zone and JUST TRY. Ask that co-worker to meet for happy hour when they are in town. Ask to schedule a "coffee zoom date" with that co-worker who has been noticeably quieter recently. Ask that colleague who always seems overwhelmed, if you can take something off their plate. You never know what friendships are waiting right there in those daily teams chats, or in the 5 minutes while two of you are waiting for everyone to join the weekly team zoom meeting. It just takes a little bit of effort, and kindness....
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