Do you have friends at work?

[ErinAndTonic]

I was just randomly pondering this today, how I don't really have any friends in my present job. I have people I have banter with and get along with everyone but nobody I would see after work, and only one person I might go off to lunch with. Being predominantly home based doesn't help I guess.

This got me pondering all my previous jobs, some jobs I've had a really close group of friends that have socialised with (mostly work related socials I'll admit, sometimes the odd meal out), but when I change jobs the friendships fizzle out and they become social media acquaintances. Some jobs I've never clicked with anyone, ie. Smaller companies, so it's been really varied.

I'm talking office jobs here, as ironically met my two closest friends through some of my first jobs part time while at sixth form.

Guess I'm just wondering if this is normal, would you say you had friends at work, or not?

I’ve met nearly all of my close friends through work over the years (a 38 year period). Being with a group of people for 37 hours a week over a period of a few years, there’s always someone I’ve clicked with.

I have just gone back to an old job for a couple of days a week, the reason being that I made such good friends there and I missed working with them.

I don't have any fiends in my other job, I get on well with people and enjoy a friendly chat when I see them, but I wouldn't class them as friends. I think that a lot of it is to do with I started not long after Covid and WFH most of the time so haven't had the opportunity to get to know colleagues.

I have friends I made at work in my late 20s/early 30s whom I’m still good friends with 20+ years later. But I had jobs before and after where the friendships were shallow, just banter and lunch or, if we went out outside work, not something that lasted once we were no longer working together.

I think it depends on a lot of serendipity. The workplaces where I made long term friends, there were quite a few of us all there at about the same stage in our lives (notably, pre-kids), we shared values & goals (which was why we were working where we were) and we were all on an upward trajectory work-wise. Some people from the groups I hung out with then moved on and we didn’t hear from them again, but quite a few of us have stayed in touch despite moving into different stages of life and different types of work. We’re good friends and can rely on each other. They’re similar to the group of friends I made in the sixth form.

Yes. I have very good friends from work.

One I go for drinks with/chat regularly whom I haven't worked with for about 15 years now.

One who I call my twin, we haven't worked together for about 4 years now and still meet up and chat regularly.

A couple of male friends who I've consistently kept in touch with despite both leaving to work elsewhere.

Then there's my "bebe" who's literally half my age and we just get along like an absolute house on fire.

I try to. I think I’ve keep in touch and could go for a drink with someone everywhere I’ve worked.

I’m in a supermarket currently and found one person who I go for drink with out of a million students and oddballs.

My current best friends are from previous jobs.

My current work has no vibe and people are pretty unfriendly. I cba to try any more ans just do my own thing. It did get me down for a little bit but it’s actually quite liberating to not give a shit haha!!

No, I get on fine with my work colleagues but they are not friends. I have in the past made friends at work but I'm not friends with any of them now.