Different work environments, different types of work friends

Whether a job is part time or full time work can play a huge part in the type of people you might encounter at work. For example, you may only see your coworkers a few times a week if you’re both part time, meaning that the opportunity to make work friends can be difficult. However, if you’re both working full time you may see each other so often that it only makes sense to grab lunch!

Stages of Work Friendships

The first few weeks at any job can be particularly awkward, especially if you’re in a new setting and in the process of finding your footing within the company. Mary and Sienna share their experience with starting new jobs, discussing tips on how to become more comfortable around coworkers.

I’m here to work, I’m not here to make friends

Some people like to keep their head down and get through the work day with little to no social interaction, but is that such a bad thing? Well, it depends on the type of job you have! In many instances it can be beneficial to be kind and friendly to your coworkers because you may need to work closely together to complete tasks. Other times, you may find it difficult to concentrate on detailed work when your coworker is trying to talk to you about the latest celebrity gossip. In both cases, it doesn’t hurt to be nice, however it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to become work friends.

Resources

• I’m Here to Work. Not to Be Your Friend by Rob Walker for The Workologist via The New York Times.
• Work Friends Make Us More Productive (Except When They Stress Us Out) by David Burkus for the Harvard Business Review.
• The Problem with Over-Friendly People by The School of Life.
  

Tune in next week for Episode 18: Do Opposites Attract?

Do you have a story about friendship? Good, bad, or ugly — we wanna hear it! Click here to learn more about submitting your story and you might just hear it in a future episode or featured on the blog!

Hosted by Mary Akemon and Sienna Mooney
Produced by Alex Papworth
Music by Max Wallace
Episode illustration by Maddy Vian