Why friendship at work is more valuable than you think

It is Sunday morning. You walk in with cheerful greetings of "Good morning!" Someone jokes about the traffic, and another offers homemade cookies. You settle at your desk with a warm cup of tea, and the sunlight sets a pleasant mood as chatter fills the air — that is our office.

People spend about 90,000 hours at work, nearly a third of their lives. Much of this time is spent with co-workers—sharing breaks, collaborating, and attending training. You exchange jokes, enjoy lunch, and support each other during deadlines. This closeness often leads to friendship.

Despite this, many speakers and corporate gurus repeat an unspoken rule: "Do not make friends at work." Executives have long claimed, "It is not personal, it is business," encouraging emotional distance as a form of professionalism.

Is it realistic and beneficial to form friendships at work, or does it undermine professionalism?

The case for workplace friendships

We often spend more time with colleagues than with anyone else. This closeness naturally leads to bonding as we mark successes, navigate challenges, and build understanding through shared experiences.

Workplace friendships are particularly valuable in stressful settings. A trusted colleague who becomes a friend offers support, encouragement, and helps you maintain confidence. They understand your work-related difficulties and can advise or mentor you.

Research supports these benefits. In a survey of 1,100 full-time employees, KPMG found that 81% value work friends, 78% report mental health benefits, and 79% have at least one work friend. Most feel that friendships increase engagement (83%), job satisfaction (81%), and workplace connection (80%).

Close work friendships benefit mental health the most (43%), especially for entry-level employees (63%), compared to mid-level (45%) and senior employees (40%). For those without such friendships, group leaders have the largest impact (43%).

In terms of mental health benefits, work friends serve as a sounding board and a source of support during challenging times (48%), help build greater resilience (42%), and foster a stronger sense of personal connection and belonging (41%).

Gallup found that having a best friend at work leads to higher profits, greater safety, and higher retention. Employees with close work friendships are seven times more engaged.

Friendship also fuels innovation. Studies show that opportunities for friendship encourage creativity and initiative, offering benefits that go beyond morale.

When friendships get complicated

Work friendships can come with complications. Competing for promotions, taking opposing sides on projects, or being seen as favoring one person over another can strain friendships and team dynamics.

Keep friendship and professional duties separate. If you lead, treat everyone fairly, including friends. Resolve disagreements in private and keep work free of personal issues.

Sometimes, workplace friendships lead to oversharing or expectations of special treatment. Setting clear boundaries between friendship and professionalism helps prevent misunderstandings.

Being both a friend and a supervisor creates dilemmas; delivering tough reviews or laying off a friend is never easy.

How to navigate workplace friendships

Professionalism and friendship are not opposites. As a Harvard Business Review article notes, professional friendships are not a luxury—they provide a competitive advantage for both performance and well-being.

Much of the resistance stems from "separate-worlds thinking"—the belief that mixing personal and professional lives undermines authenticity. Professionals who embrace "integrated-worlds thinking" build broader networks, earn more, and report greater career satisfaction. Friendship at work is an asset, not a risk.

Broaden your definition of "friend." Meaningful connections at work do not need to be deep; they can be with people you like, trust, or enjoy seeing. This broadens your network and influence.

Professional friendships often begin with help, shared knowledge, or a sense of value. Generosity builds reciprocity and trust, creating lasting relationships. Keep friendship and professional duties separate. If you lead, treat everyone fairly, including friends. Resolve disagreements in private and keep work free of personal issues.

The verdict

As Paul Ingram, Kravis Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, said, "In the end, the healthiest organisations and the most fulfilled leaders are those that treat friendship not as a distraction from business but as an effective antidote to the isolation that undermines performance and well-being."

The main takeaway is clear: colleagues can—and often should—be friends, provided healthy boundaries and professionalism are maintained. Well-managed workplace friendships do not impede performance; instead, they enhance job satisfaction, engagement, and overall effectiveness. When clear boundaries are respected, these relationships support both individual fulfillment and business success.

Cultivating workplace friendships is not only possible but can be a powerful asset when handled thoughtfully. By maintaining healthy boundaries and clear expectations, colleagues can foster meaningful connections that contribute to personal fulfillment and organisational success. As the workplace continues to evolve, embracing genuine relationships with colleagues will remain essential to building resilient, innovative, and supportive teams that can adapt and thrive.