Comments on: Friends at work, divine or disaster?

By: Gofling Girl

Gofling Girl — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:27:33 +0000

This could simply be timing, but I have a friend at work who makes a point of making sure I don’t get work done if she’s having problems (usually revolving around her lovelife). But I can say that she is someone who I would regularly do things outside of work with and who would help me if I needed it outside of work, so I put up with the drama on occasion during the week. I also sit right next to her and collaborate on projects occasionally so it’s not like I can ignore her…

By: NJ WebGuy

NJ WebGuy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:22:39 +0000

What good timing for me to stumble across these comments; I was just recently told I should be expecting to hear from a friend of mine because she wants to start a business.

The more I think about it, it might be a good idea for me to avoid getting involved too deeply.

By: Rhea

Rhea — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:03:59 +0000

I almost always have at least one really good friend at work. It keeps me sane. Jonathan, great to meet YOU at SXSW!

By: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan Fields — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:41:23 +0000

@ Kristen – Totally agree, starting a business or taking an ownership position in a business with good friends is a big risk.

I’ve seen it play out well, but I’ve seen it play out horribly far more often. It’s a rare friendship that can survive the brutal honesty that needs to come with the major challenges in a business cycle.

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:35:18 +0000

I think friends at work is very good. However I think starting a business with a friends can be very hard.

I also have a relationship with a girl at work, and I’m her superior. I met her outside of work and had nothing to do with hiring her, btw. Works very well, because we talked about it and both know that work is work. I do look more forward to work nowadays tho:)

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:53:33 +0000

I used to have a boss with a policy of not making friends at work, strangely enough we became friends but he was very vocal in his disapproval of me becoming friends either with professional colleagues or my team. Ultimately I became very close to my team and have to honestly say that were it not for their friendship I would not have survived the most difficult and stressful times I had in my career. Long story short – it has to do with people and I’m all for being friends with good people.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:22:29 +0000

I went into business with a couple of friends and it would be an understatement to say it turned into a nightmare. I have no contact with them any more as a result. My advice, don’t go into business with friends. If you make friends after the fact that’s another story but it is usually a good idea to keep work and friends separate.

By: No Debt Plan

No Debt Plan — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:08:53 +0000

I am definitely a fan of friends at work. I don’t agree with dating at work, but friends can keep you engaged in difficult times. Had a rough week? A lunch with a more experience colleague can show you there is light at the end of the tunnel.

By: Popular Fidelity » Biz & Money » Reevaluating the 'No Friends at Work' Policy

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:42:47 +0000

[...] as Fields writes in his recent article “Friends at Work, Divine or Disaster?,” fostering a comfortable social environment within a business can lead to serious [...]

By: sharon

sharon — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:53:26 +0000

Where did my good close friends come from (other than the few from high school and college)….at work. And I think she knows me better than I know myself (which could be scary at times!). I’m all for it. It makes the workplace a, friendlier nicer environment to be in.

I’ve worked in offices where colleagues are just colleagues. There are the occasional dinners or karaokes. And at the end of the day, that’s all it is. They are not the ones you’ll want to call if you find yourself in trouble.

And then there are colleagues who become your best friends in life. They are there when you need support and guidance. Some of us spend more time at the workplace with them than at home and with our families (unless you’re lucky enough to be a stay-at-home blogger-dad who treadmill walks and blogs at the same time)

So yes, developing friendships at work is good. When work ends, the friendship goes on…outside of that workplace.