Work relationships are important. We are more likely to see our coworkers on a regular basis than our own family members. According to Globoforce, 92% of employees spend more than thirty hours a week at work, while only 52% see family more than thirty hours a week.
Since we spend so much time at work, it’s natural to create friendships with our coworkers. But do you ever wonder if work friendships help or hurt our job performances? I’ve often wondered this, and the other day this blog caught my eye: “How Office Friendship Affects Your Bottom Line” by Andre Lavoie.
According to Lavoie, people stick around for friends. This means that many times employees will “stick around” in their jobs longer if they enjoy their coworkers. A LinkedIn study found that nearly half of all professionals say that friendships at work make them happier.
This is great, in theory. But, how can managers actually help create friendships between coworkers? It’s mostly about setting the mood. You may not be able to force your employees to become friends with each other, but here are three ways you can set the mood to help employee friendships blossom.
According to Globoforce, 82% of people feel better if their work friends congratulate them for their first work anniversaries. Sharing professional (and personal) milestones with the entire office will make your employees feel special and appreciated. It will also (hopefully) remind them why they love working where they do.
Lavoie’s article emphasized the importance of building trust. For example, many office squabbles can be caused by perceptions that not everyone is pulling their own weight, especially in small businesses and startups. A company culture of openness, transparency, and honesty combats negativity and encourages everyone to keep the bigger picture in mind.
Work-life balance is crucial to employee satisfaction. While it’s important not to overload your staff with work outside the office, organize some fun, out-of-office activities to help coworkers bond with each other. Trying new restaurants or starting book clubs are usually good ideas. Not much socializing can happen in a cubicle, after all.
When creating your employee retention plan, keep these three relationship-builders in mind. Social connections are particularly important to the millennial workforce. They thrive on personal relationships and feedback, which means that a warm, open company culture is vital to retain these workers.
Create an office space where your employees have opportunities to generate real friendships, and enjoy the benefits of better retention and engagement.
Today’s blog post co-written by Karen Bell
