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"In 1985, about half of Americans said they had a close friend at work; by 2004, this was true for only 30 percent" This decline precedes the Uberization of wo

"In 1985, about half of Americans said they had a close friend at work; by 2004, this was true for only 30 percent" This decline precedes the Uberization of work (where people work more part time gigs with less coworkers around). It even precedes smart phones and being totally mired in watching our social media accounts when we get free time at work, as opposed to interacting with those around us. I can only speak for myself but at work I feel a little constrained when trying to speak to people in a friendly non-work related manner. Primarily I'm concerned I might offend someone, with an offhand comment or joke. The laws and guidelines in place to protect employees against offensive behavior are a great thing but perhaps I take it too seriously. Perhaps it also affects by ability to make friends and "be myself" at work.

thrownaway2424 11y ago
I don't talk to anyone at work, because the workspace is an enormous open bullpen with hundreds of engineers, and talking in such an environment is obnoxious.
ceras 11y ago
I feel similarly, but I also don't want to be friends with my coworkers. I'd rather we keep a friendly, polite distance in our relationships. I love my job, and go to work to actually work: my social interaction comes from elsewhere, on my own terms. I honestly think this keeps things more productive. There's less room for wasting time socializing, or worrying about people feeling left out, or (like you said) offending people, or anything else that takes time away from work. I've personally seen it happen where relationship concerns ("why won't they talk to me more?") get in the way of people's comfort working together. It's just silly to me. It has no place in the workplace in my mind.
- zzalpha 11y ago
  I honestly think this keeps things more productive So you're just going to ignore the fact that the article notes studies proving the opposite? or anything else that takes time away from work How very Calvinist of you. You spend one third of your day at work, probably half of your conscious hours. Maybe your workplace shouldn't be a soulless machine dedicated only to cold efficiency and productivity? Just a thought.
  - hrktb 11y ago
    >> I honestly think this keeps things more productive > So you're just going to ignore the fact that the article notes studies proving the opposite? I went back and reread the article. It's just one study as far as I know. This one involving 170 something people in the US: http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/72/4/775/ http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/72/4/775/ How was it done ? What was the control group ? How did they choose the members ? Are these some college students as in so many psychological studies ? Does it compare to real world companies hiring people that match the company culture and are professional enough to cooperate in most conditions ? The more I think about it the more it fels very fluffy and hard to take for granted.
  - ceras 11y ago
    > So you're just going to ignore the fact that the article notes studies proving the opposite? Like another commenter already mentioned, I wasn't very convinced by this one study. I'm friendly and polite with my coworkers, and I take great care to understand what people on my team like and don't like regarding the work they're doing. I use this to make sure I can give people tasks I think they'd like best, and to offer to relieve their stress if they're overburdened with something they don't like. I'm not their friend, but I care about their well-being and I believe it shows. I'm not convinced there would be productivity gains if I took the relationship further than that. I'd need more evidence. > Maybe your workplace shouldn't be a soulless machine It's not soulless. Why attack what I like? I think my work is tons of fun on its own, and entirely "soulful." That's like saying it's "soulless" for me to run a marathon and not want to be distracted by running with friends who want to chat with me during the run. Running is fun in and of itself, and I'd rather not be distracted so I can get as much joy and fulfillment out of it as possible.

thrownaway2424 11y ago

I don't talk to anyone at work, because the workspace is an enormous open bullpen with hundreds of engineers, and talking in such an environment is obnoxious.

ceras 11y ago

I feel similarly, but I also don't want to be friends with my coworkers. I'd rather we keep a friendly, polite distance in our relationships. I love my job, and go to work to actually work: my social interaction comes from elsewhere, on my own terms. I honestly think this keeps things more productive. There's less room for wasting time socializing, or worrying about people feeling left out, or (like you said) offending people, or anything else that takes time away from work. I've personally seen it happen where relationship concerns ("why won't they talk to me more?") get in the way of people's comfort working together. It's just silly to me. It has no place in the workplace in my mind.

zzalpha 11y ago
I honestly think this keeps things more productive So you're just going to ignore the fact that the article notes studies proving the opposite? or anything else that takes time away from work How very Calvinist of you. You spend one third of your day at work, probably half of your conscious hours. Maybe your workplace shouldn't be a soulless machine dedicated only to cold efficiency and productivity? Just a thought.
- hrktb 11y ago
  >> I honestly think this keeps things more productive > So you're just going to ignore the fact that the article notes studies proving the opposite? I went back and reread the article. It's just one study as far as I know. This one involving 170 something people in the US: http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/72/4/775/ http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/72/4/775/ How was it done ? What was the control group ? How did they choose the members ? Are these some college students as in so many psychological studies ? Does it compare to real world companies hiring people that match the company culture and are professional enough to cooperate in most conditions ? The more I think about it the more it fels very fluffy and hard to take for granted.
- ceras 11y ago
  > So you're just going to ignore the fact that the article notes studies proving the opposite? Like another commenter already mentioned, I wasn't very convinced by this one study. I'm friendly and polite with my coworkers, and I take great care to understand what people on my team like and don't like regarding the work they're doing. I use this to make sure I can give people tasks I think they'd like best, and to offer to relieve their stress if they're overburdened with something they don't like. I'm not their friend, but I care about their well-being and I believe it shows. I'm not convinced there would be productivity gains if I took the relationship further than that. I'd need more evidence. > Maybe your workplace shouldn't be a soulless machine It's not soulless. Why attack what I like? I think my work is tons of fun on its own, and entirely "soulful." That's like saying it's "soulless" for me to run a marathon and not want to be distracted by running with friends who want to chat with me during the run. Running is fun in and of itself, and I'd rather not be distracted so I can get as much joy and fulfillment out of it as possible.