Survey: Befriending coworkers increases job productivity

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jul 27, 2007

Over half of executives and nearly two-thirds of employees polled reported that office productivity is enhanced when coworkers are friends outside of the work enviromnent, according to findings compiled from surveys developed by Accountemps.

Of 150 senior executives, 57 percent said that befriending coworkers improves on-the-job performance, according to the surveys conducted by an independent research firm. Sixtythree percent of the 519 full-time and part-time workers polled agreed.

"Colleagues who are friends are more likely to support one another when presented with challenges or new responsibilities, enhancing workflow, and team spirit," says Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Motivating Employees for Dummies. "Supervisors can increase camaraderie by sponsoring team-building events and giving staff members the opportunity to get to know each other outside of an office setting."

However, according to the findings, there were opposing opinions about the strength of the impact. Twenty-two percent of employees felt that befriending coworkers has a "very positive" influence on work efficiency; while only 2 percent of executives agreed. Over half of managers felt it only "somewhat positively" affected productivity.

Accountempts says it is the largest staffing service for temporary accounting, finance, and bookkeeping professionals and has over 350 offices worldwide, including one in Syracuse.