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June 16, 2005
Friends at Work
I strongly feel that your happiness at the workplace has a lot to do with the people around you. Workdays can be hectic and stressful, and without good people around you, you can really lose it. That’s how I feel about my friend Julia, who is leaving the company today.
When you ask people why they like to work at Monster, most of the time they say it’s because of the people. Sure, a company can create an atmosphere and work environment with seating, company policies and company events. But, when it comes down to it, if you don’t get along with your coworkers, you probably aren’t going to like your job. Plus, having friends at work helps your morale, and consequently the business. I have met a ton of great people here, and even though some of them (like Julia) have left the company, I haven’t lost their friendship.
Words of advice: When you look for a job, don’t just concentrate on the money or health benefits. Make sure the people you interview with and meet are people that you can see yourself friends with, because in the end, that’s what will keep you sane.
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Posted by Jayme on June 16, 2005 at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack (1)
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Comments
With this said, its nice to have friends we work with and we will miss them when they leave but I also want to make note that the LA office lost a dear friend due to illness and I am very sad. I have been with the Co. for 2 months and its nice to have read this blog that there are so many nice people at this company. I wish we can all just take a moment sometimes and appreciate each other.
Posted by: Karina Kovler | Jun 20, 2005 7:17:50 PM
Hate to interject a bit of cynicism, but...
when is it a friendship vs merely networking?
Posted by: lil | Jun 23, 2005 5:35:09 PM
The jobs I have enjoyed the most have been the ones where I felt connected to and related to my co-workers. We spend the majority of our waking hours at work-why not try to make the most of that time? I am in the Miami office for the Florida team, and I have to say that we have a fantastic team-we work well together, work hard, and still have fun. I hope the other offices have this culture because if they do-we will be unstoppable.
Posted by: eliz@beth | Jun 23, 2005 10:15:35 PM
Of course getting along with your co-workers is important, it's when you get too personally involved. After all it is called a "work" place. Too many people enter a job to make or find their best friend. Sometimes this may happen but if it don't then you're left with resentment. When you leave that job for the next how many times do those "friendships" last?
Just an observation from someone who's been in the workforce for over 30 years.
Posted by: Debi | Jun 26, 2005 3:53:29 PM
I agree whole heartedly with the author of this article. I worked in a situtation where I loved my work and the teaching faculty I worked with. I am still friends with some of them, and we still get together and go to lunch, shopping, and other things. The bad part was having a supervisor that didn't want me hired to begin with (I started as a temp) I proved myself and my work ethics and the faculty were crazy about me, and we had a wonderful working relationship for 5 years. BUT the supervisor finally got what she wanted and fired me. Now I am a 58 year old out of work and having an extremely hard time finding a job.
Posted by: Mary | Jul 5, 2005 10:43:28 AM
I can work just fine with people I don't necessarily like. This doesn't mean I don't treat them with respect and consideration. I prefer to find friends outside of work, and keep my work-place relationships friendly but strictly professional. I have found that tight-knit groups of friends in the workplace, exclude others, gossip, and otherwise engage in unprofessional behavior. Those who are excluded usually quit. The problem is, I am outnumbered. Most people I know, use their workplace as a primary source of friends and social connections.
Posted by: msjw | Jul 5, 2005 2:54:01 PM
I really believe "friends at work" is not necessarily appropriate. Friendly at work is better. I am friendly with all my co-workers. I would rather have 10 people who do their job and work as a team than one "friend" who expects me to cover for them when they make a mistake or don't feel like working. Expecting friends at work is when there is subtle predjudice in hiring, saying a certain kind of person would be a good fit. We have too diverse a workforce to expect us to get along socially. I much prefer to work with people who are good at their job. I add that people who are good at their job generally know that being cordial in the work place adds to productivity. CJ
Posted by: cj | Jul 6, 2005 8:52:56 AM
its really difficult to keep a thin line hanging strong with -especially- the female work mates.. i am female myself, but they have grouped together.. and have casted me out.
Posted by: vintage | Jul 24, 2005 2:17:23 PM
Having friends at work is great, but I'd rather spend time with my mates outside of work that I have known for ages. Its more important to be friendly to everyone at work and to have a good attitude then anything else. Work events/ parties etc dont interest me too much and I feel like sometimes there is too much pressure to be involved, when all I want to do is go home and relax.
Posted by: lils | Dec 14, 2005 7:00:13 PM
I concur with Debi's sentiment above.
I don't know Jayme but I'll gather she isn't very old. In my 22 years of gainful employment (i.e. career-grade employment) I have made 3 friends. Of which, only one do I still stay in any contact with, even though we no longer work for the same company.
Maintaining a friendly relationship *is* key in the workplace, but do not misconstrue 'buddies' or 'colleagues' with friends. If you do, you'll be in a for a rude awakening when one day, like when a promotion comes down the line that one of you thinks deserve more than the other. Or a layoff.
While it can happen, as I mentioned, it is indeed rare to find a friend at work. People throw that term around so much, they mistake it for 'co-worker'.
Posted by: Charlie on the Pennsylvania Turnpike | May 15, 2006 7:46:39 AM
I have a small construction company,one brotherin-law 10yrs, one friend, 9yrs, with the company,two friends that got laidoff,so i put them to work ,thay been working for six months , it is very hard ,starting to take advantage of me, what should i do. I have helped all them out alot, bail bonds, loans, using my shop .i dont mind doing that, but when jobs dont get done right , i make sure thay know thay did a bad job.and its me that gets the call.
Posted by: ron | Aug 8, 2006 3:13:04 AM
I am confused! I get along really well with all my co workers but one lady I feel I am getting mixed signals. She says I can call her anytime and now has given me her private email address when we have our own work emails. I seem to be the one who has to make the contact. Is this just a work friendship or what?
HELP ME!!!
Confused
Posted by: Leanne | Sep 3, 2006 7:12:07 AM
