The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Workplace Friendships

Workplace friendships may seem like an ideal arrangement at
first blush. But once the honeymoon phase ends, a whole
different picture may emerge. Whether the image appears rosy or
bleak depends entirely upon those involved in the friendship.
Unfortunately, situations can sour long before individuals
realize they should not have befriended a colleague. When
workplace friends turn enemies, a company loses far more than
camaraderie. A broken friendship can reduce productivity, cause
infighting, and spread discontentment. This is not to say that
you should never befriend anyone in the workplace. After all,
you spend eight hours a day, five days a week with the same
people. The key is to know where to draw the line.

Workplace friendships among co-workers can have a positive
impact on morale and productivity. Friends help each other
navigate the ups and downs of the job, offering the support
necessary to motivate an employee to progress through the
drudgery. Friends help each other sort through personal
problems, which can prevent personal issues from interfering
with production. Friends even promote a positive work experience
by ensuring that laughter and companionship occasionally invade
the workplace. These upsides to workplace friendships make for
happier and more productive employees, who in turn, want to work
hard, put their best foot forward, and generate excellent
output. Positive interpersonal relationships produce cohesive
teams conducive to productivity.

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