Overall, it is essential to be cautious of the information you share with your coworkers if you are working for a company that you envision to be with long-term. The workplace can be an environment where you meet lifelong friends. It is important to understand that some coworkers do not have your best intention and to be wary of how to evaluate whom you can trust in the workplace effectively.

The role of thumb is to try to share minimal personal information initially only for rapport building and to mainly focus on interacting with your coworkers for work-related items until you can gauge who may be trustworthy.

Red flags (avoid oversharing with these coworkers)

  • A coworker immediately complains about others in the office, policies, or customers before you have had a chance to observe anything.

    • Chances are they will be talking negatively about you to others

  • A coworker who is condescending while training or working with you.

  • A coworker that tells you what to do and or micromanages you.

  • A coworker that frequently says insensitive jokes or pranks to you or others and becomes defensive when asked to stop.

  • A coworker that is allowed to miss deadlines, not follow the protocol, or not have to participate in mandatory work initiatives without being given any consequences.

  • A coworker that displays any type of passive-aggressive behavior toward you or other teammates is a red flag.

Quick Facts

Issued July 2022

References

Olivet Nazarene University. (2022). Research On Friends At Work. https://online.olivet.edu/news/research-friends-work

Stevens, P. (2022, April 22). The 2021 Post-Lockdown Friends & Happiness in the Workplace Survey. We Are Wildgoose. https://wearewildgoose.com/uk/news/friends-happiness-in-the-workplace-survey/

Tracey Porpora. (2022, August 2). New study reveals why having friends at work matters. Silive. https://www.silive.com/news/2022/08/new-study-reveals-why-having-friends-at-work-matters.html

The Truth about Job Satisfaction and Friendships at Work. (2020). NBRI. https://www.nbrii.com/employee-survey-white-papers/the-truth-about-job-satisfaction-and-friendships-at-work/

Westfall, B. (2022, August 30). Friends at Work? Today’s Employees Aren’t Interested. Capterra. https://blog.capterra.com/friends-at-work-research/#methodology