Having a work bestie could prevent people from quitting their jobs, according to experts.
Workplace consultant and former Twitter vice president Bruce Daisley says that maintaining healthy friendships at work can motivate people to remain employed with a company. In his newsletter, “Make Work Better,” Daisley stated that workplace friendships are created through a “sense of shared experience.” People who work together every day share the same space and encounters with others there. Therefore, this causes them to grow closer, and there is data to back up this theory.
In 2018, Gallup reported that 63% of women who had a work bestie were over twice as likely to be engaged during work hours. However, recent research has shown that while having close friends at work retains employees, many are still not developing these sorts of relationships with managers.
Recent Randstad research found that 62% of employees between ages 25 and 34 feel unappreciated by staff leadership and are planning to seek employment elsewhere. This is a far cry from a similar study in December 2020 that found 71% of employees felt “emotionally supported” by their employers.
Randstad CEO Jacques van den Broek says that managers should take note of this and attempt to be closer to their staff, despite being “the boss.” He maintains that he works hard to instill that sense of friendship with those he employs.
“If you respect me and I respect you, and I’m interested in who you are as a person…we also have better results.”
