In addition to making money, going to work in a company also allows one to make friends and establish professional connections. However, research shows that men and women have different ways of making friends. Women are more likely to build friendships in the workplace through existing social relationships, leading to larger professional friendship networks compared to men.
In a study conducted by institutions including Durham University in the United Kingdom, researchers tracked the initial 10 months of nearly 150 employees’ experiences after starting a new job to examine the differences in how men and women develop friendships in the workplace. The participants underwent four surveys focusing on the friendships they formed at work.
The researchers found that female employees are more inclined to establish friendships through existing social relationships, thus creating larger professional friendship networks. This “friends of friends” style of interpersonal relationships may also involve other women.
On the other hand, men tend to build selective one-on-one friendships and less often form relationships through shared connections.
The study results indicate that women prioritize the friendship itself when building interpersonal relationships in the workplace. This leads to more stable friendship groups within organizations and denser social networks.
Men, on the other hand, appear to be more selective in forming relationships. They tend to establish one-on-one friendships with other men, especially when these relationships help them achieve personal or professional goals. This may provide men with advantages in their work and better treatment.
Researchers point out that the different ways men and women make friends may influence the roles that friendships play within organizations. The study shows that women’s friendship networks contribute more to organizational stability, whereas men’s friendships seem to focus more on personal benefits.
Previous research has shown a correlation between close workplace relationships and higher levels of dedication, productivity, and innovation. This study underscores the importance of workplace friendships for employee well-being and organizational performance.
The researchers suggest that organizations should create more opportunities to facilitate the development of friendships among employees in the workplace. Such friendships can provide both personal support and professional advantages.
The above research findings were published in the journal “Social Networks.”