5 reasons to encourage friendships in the workplace

Research has found that friends prevent isolation and loneliness, increase a sense of belonging and purpose, boost happiness and reduce stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. Creating ways for employees to interact, such as in-office common rooms and in-person or virtual meetups among co-workers and teams can help foster socialization and increase workers’ sense of companionship and belonging.

By creating opportunities for teamwork and engagement through things such as employee events and mentorship programs, employees build comfort and camaraderie that feeds into their professional success. For example, workers with four or more friends at work feel extremely comfortable asking for work-related help or advice, versus those with two friends, who do not feel at all comfortable doing so, according to Paychex’s survey.