A job pays your bills. An office best friend makes it worth showing up

There is always that one colleague who makes a difficult Monday slightly less dreadful. The person who saves you a seat during lunch, understands your expression after an exhausting meeting, shares the occasional office gossip, and knows when you need coffee more than another deadline.They may not appear anywhere on your appraisal form. But they could be one of the biggest reasons you enjoy showing up at work.Workplace friendships are often dismissed as an office bonus, something that happens between deadlines and meetings. Research, however, suggests these relationships can influence how employees feel about their jobs, how well they work and whether they decide to stay.MORE THAN JUST COFFEE BREAKSA 2024 Wiley Workplace Intelligence report, Human Connection: The Crucial Secret to Thriving in the Digital Age, found that 78 per cent of surveyed employees felt connected to their coworkers, while 69 per cent enjoyed building relationships with colleagues. More significantly, 59 per cent said having friends at work influenced their decision to remain with an organisation. That makes the office best friend more than a convenient lunch companion. They can become an important part of an employee's relationship with the workplace itself.Gallup's research has similarly linked having a best friend at work with stronger engagement, better collaboration and higher employee retention. Its findings suggest employees with close workplace friendships are more likely to share ideas, support colleagues, and find enjoyment in their work.SOMEONE WHO MAKES THE WORKDAY LIGHTER The value of these friendships often becomes most visible during difficult days.A stressful assignment, an uncomfortable conversation with a manager or an unexpectedly demanding deadline can feel considerably less overwhelming when there is someone around who understands.A 2024 meta-analysis published in the journal Work examined workplace friendships, employee well-being and organisational commitment. It found that workplace friendships were associated with stronger well-being and organisational commitment, with relationships helping create trust, emotional support and a sense of belonging.In other words, having someone at work who genuinely listens can make the workplace feel less isolating.This matters particularly in offices where employees spend much of their waking day working alongside colleagues. A friendly conversation between meetings might seem insignificant, but it can become one of the small things that make an otherwise exhausting day manageable.WHEN YOUR FAVOURITE COLLEAGUE LEAVESThere is, however, another side to office friendships.When a close colleague resigns, gets transferred or moves to another organisation, the loss can feel surprisingly personal. Suddenly, lunch breaks become quieter, familiar conversations disappear, and the workplace feels a little less welcoming.For some employees, this can even become the moment they begin reconsidering their own jobs.The departure does not necessarily mean someone will resign immediately. But it can change how they experience the organisation, particularly if that friendship was their strongest source of connection at work.CAN COMPANIES CREATE FRIENDSHIPS?Not exactly. Nobody wants a mandatory best-friend programme or another awkward team-building exercise.What employers can do, however, is create opportunities for relationships to develop naturally. Shared projects, approachable managers, informal conversations and inclusive teams can make it easier for colleagues to trust one another.Ultimately, employees may join companies for salaries, designations, and career opportunities. But sometimes, the person sitting beside them becomes the reason they stay a little longer.And occasionally, when that person leaves, the office suddenly feels like just another workplace.- Ends