AIBU to not want my friend to work at my work?

[pigglepot]

My friend told me that she is looking to apply to work at my work. She is a totally different team to me although would sit near to me in the office. I've worked there nearly 3 years and it's a very "cool" company with lots of great benefits and a good culture. For some reason I'm struggling with the idea to the point that I haven't mentioned we have a referral scheme yet. I can't work out what it is- jealousy for some reason? Feeling threatened by the change? Help!

I'd feel the same - keep work and 'home' separate. You wouldn't be able to bitch about the crappy day you'd had or moan about your lazy boss on a night out! And she'd know all about working-pigglepot as opposed to fun-pigglepot - put her off, tell them they're a rubbish company to work for.

Why dont you want her to work there. Do you feel threatened by her or feel you will be accused of favouritism.

So it’s a great company to work for and this is your ‘friend’ that wants to apply. If she does get the job she may not be your ‘friend’ much longer when she finds out about the referral scheme you didn’t bother mentioning! I couldn’t imagine not helping my friend secure a job to be honest.
How old are you OP? Are you worried your friend will be more successful or popular than you?

“ keep work and 'home' separate” it IS a friend not a partner? Do you live with the friend?

@Billandben444 I think that's partly how I felt- like it's mixing business and pleasure somehow?

@Suzi888 she doesn't work in the same area as me at all so we wouldn't be in competition so I'm certainly not worried about her being more successful than me. Also not worried about popularity as again we would be in different teams and I'm only going to be in the office a couple of days a week (wfh the rest) so I don't really need to have loads of mates at work. I'm in my 30s.

@DogsSausages I've no idea! That's what I'm trying to unpick!! I'm wondering if maybe it's just the idea of change that's unnerving me somehow. I really don't know.

You are right to feel this way. I got a 'friend' a job (she really wouldn't have got without my back up), and it turned out to be a bad decision. She was lazy and she completely turned against me to get in with a cliquey crowd. I can't stand laziness at work so it caused resentment. We are no longer friends. Lesson learnt...

“ keep work and 'home' separate” it IS a friend not a partner? Do you live with the friend?
Which is why 'home' is in inverted commas - it refers to life outside work as opposed to life at work. Of course OP doesn't live with the friend.

I wouldn’t want it either, partly because the friend may let slip private or embarrassing details about me that I wouldn’t want my colleagues to know, also partly because if I referred her and she was crap or unpopular I’d worry that would reflect badly on me. However if my friend was desperate for a job then of course I’d do it anyway, but feel secretly uncomfortable.

I would never recommend a friend to where I work, if they mess up it reflects badly on you
I have been approached my bosses before and asked about an applicant I knew and I was always completely honest but noncommittal.