Companies that encourage friendships on the job may have fewer resignations and higher morale, according to a new Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey. Eighty-five per cent of Canadian employers surveyed said workers are more likely to stay with an organization when they have friends at work, with 35 per cent strongly agreeing.
Almost all employers (94 per cent) said workplace friendships yield multiple benefits, including improving productivity, raising morale and supporting mental health. More than three-quarters (82 per cent) actively encourage employees to develop friendships through lunch events, peer meetings and company retreats.
Among job seekers, 78 per cent said workplace friendships would make them more likely to stay with a company. More than half (55 per cent) reported that they could not get through a workday without the friendships they have formed. Younger workers showed a stronger reliance on peer support: 75 per cent of Gen Z respondents said they stayed in a role longer than intended because of office friendships, compared to 65 per cent of millennials.
“In today’s dynamic work environment, fostering genuine friendships among employees is not just a nice-to-have, but a strategic imperative,” said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. “These connections enhance morale, boost productivity and significantly improve retention rates.”
Although two-thirds of job seekers said their company culture welcomes sharing personal details, the same proportion believe work interactions should remain strictly professional. The poll also found a shift in attitudes since the pandemic. One-third of companies reported employees are more motivated by raises and promotions, while nearly one-quarter observed staff are less excited about in-person connections than they were three years ago.
The surveys were conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals among 505 Canadian hiring decision-makers (Nov. 11–26, 2024) and 505 Canadian adults (Nov. 21–Dec. 6, 2024).
