Few things can add joy to a day like the company of a good friend. This is not just true for people's personal lives, but within their professional setting as well.
Yet forming those relationships is harder today, as employees adjust to different locations, schedules and demands. This is impacting their mental health and wellness: more than 80% of employees have felt or feel lonely at work, and nearly half feel lonelier today than they did prior to the pandemic, according to a recent EY Belonging Barometer 2.0 study. Of these, 90% said they would not tell their manager if they were struggling.
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However, when friendships exist within a workforce, both employees and employers find that these factors decrease. Nearly 71% of people working in management or human resources said friendships in the workplace had a positive effect on their workers, according to a survey by Paychex. The study found that workplace friendships have an impact on employees' happiness, work ethic, and job satisfaction.
Workplace environments can determine best practices for helping employees communicate and bond. Technology platforms, mentorship programs, and ERGs are especially effective at encouraging regular, in-depth communication and connection.
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Management can also model the behavior they hope to see by acknowledging the value of their individual employees and teams, encouraging teamwork and collaboration, and setting up resources that employees can use to keep in touch on a regular basis.
Here are some of the ways friendships among co-workers can benefit a business, and how to help foster these relationships within a workforce: