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MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Professionals typically spend more waking hours with their coworkers than anyone else, so friendships are bound to blossom. But does having confidants help or hinder efficiency at work? In a recent survey from staffing firm Accountemps, 62 percent of employees said having coworkers that are friends outside of the office positively affects productivity. But only 39 percent of CFOs think the same, and 44 percent said work friendships have no effect on productivity.
Workers and CFOs were both asked, "In your opinion, when coworkers are friends outside of the office, how does it affect productivity?"
|
Workers |
CFOs |
|
|
Very positively |
24% |
8% |
|
Somewhat positively |
38% |
31% |
|
No effect |
25% |
44% |
|
Somewhat negatively |
9% |
14% |
|
Very negatively |
1% |
2% |
|
Don't know |
3% |
1% |
|
100% |
100% |
View an infographic of the survey findings.
A separate survey from Robert Half, the parent company of Accountemps, found that professionals who feel they have good friends at work are 1.6 times more likely to be happy at work than those who don't.
"You don't need to be best friends, but having an office buddy can do a lot of good for your career," said Michael Steinitz, executive director for Accountemps. "Employees with strong work relationships are happier and have a built-in support system and sounding board when they need it."
Steinitz added, "Managers who help cultivate work relationships among staff reap the benefits of a stronger corporate culture and increased employee engagement, productivity and retention."
Accountemps offers employees and managers the following tips for fostering friendships in the office:
|
Tips for Employees |
Tips for Managers |
|
Join the club. Actively participate in team-building activities, social events, sports leagues and interest groups organized by your company and colleagues.
|
Build a support system. Companies should create opportunities for employees to bond during working hours. Set up teambuilding activities outside the office to help employees foster new friendships.
|
|
Lend a helping hand. Offering assistance to a colleague on a project or task can help establish future connections. And your peer is likely to reciprocate when you are in need.
|
It's all about perception. During interviews with candidates, highlight aspects of your corporate culture. If employees don't get along, it may deter the applicant from accepting the position.
|
|
Set boundaries. Establish clear guidelines with work friends about keeping personal information private. And don't let friendly banter disrupt you or your colleagues' productivity.
|
Don't play favorites. Managers should make it a point to treat all employees fairly and have a friendly attitude toward everyone so others don't feel left out.
|
About the Research
The surveys were developed by Accountemps and conducted by independent research firms. They include responses from more than 1,000 U.S. workers age 18 and older who work in an office environment, and more than 2,200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in more than 20 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas.
About Accountemps
Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The staffing firm has 325 locations worldwide. More resources, including job search services and the company's blog, can be found at roberthalf.com/accountemps.
SOURCE Accountemps