Work Friendships Can Be Very Close for Some

A study of 3,000 full-time workers by Olivet Nazarene University finds 82% consider someone they work with as a friend.

One-fifth (21%) indicated they become friends with a coworker within days, while nearly one-third (30%) said they do so within weeks. For 22%, it takes a couple of months, and for 27%, it take six months or more.

Eighteen percent reported they talk with or message work friends about things unrelated to work for more than one hour on a typical day. Twenty-two percent said they spend 30 to 60 minutes; 30% spend less than 30 minutes; and 30% spend a few minutes or less.

However, some of the conversation can be very personal. Nearly two-thirds (64%) indicated they are comfortable talking about conflicts with coworkers with one of their work friends, while 58% are comfortable talking about their love life. More than half (53%) are comfortable talking with one of their work friends about health issues, and one-third are comfortable discussing financial issues.

The survey found nearly seven in 10 (68%) talk with some work friends about how much money they make.

Sixty-two percent of respondents hang out with work friends outside of work, and 53% reported their work friends have met their non-work friends, while 69% said their work friends have met their significant other.

When it comes to staying in touch with work friends they no longer work with, 55% indicated they stay in touch a little, 18% stay closely in touch and 27% barely stay in touch.