On social media, on a night out and on a dog walk. Just some of the most common places we find friendships in the modern world, according to new research by Cadbury Heroes.
Work ranks as the number one place we find friendship, reveals the survey. 1 in 4 (27%) employed Brits think their work BFF knows them better than their sibling, and 1 in 7 (15%) think they know them better than their partner.
According to the research of 2,082 Brits in employment aged 18 and over, we spend an average of 12 hours in a typical week with our work BFF, double the time (6 hours) we spend with our other friends. Just under half (41%) choose to hang out with their work friend out of office hours (including weekends), and work friendships span generations with more than a third (35%) saying they have a good work friend in another generation.
This World Friendship Day, Cadbury Heroes is encouraging the nation to celebrate our work friendships with a small, simple gesture, such as saying thank you, or sharing a carton of Heroes with your superhero friends.
THE TOP PLACES WE FIND FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN WORLD:
1. Work (51%)
2. Social media (29%)
3. Neighbours (29%)
4. Holiday (23%)
5. On a night out (23%)
6. Clubs/bars/pubs (19%)
7. At the gym (18%)
8. At a wedding (13%)
9. On a dog walk (11%)
10. Festivals (10%)
The research also reveals that whilst we’re more confident when we’ve got a work bestie; we find it awkward to know how to take the friendship from colleagues to friends.
Just over 3 in 5 (61%) respondents said their work BFF makes them feel more confident in the workplace, with nearly 3 in 5 (57%) saying they give them more confidence in attending work socials. 7 in 10 (68%) millennials said their work BFF makes them feel more confident in speaking up and sharing their ideas, whilst under half (48%) of Baby Boomers said the same.
That said, 1 in 4 (26%) employed Brits find it awkward to know how to take the relationship from colleagues to friends, with 1 in 5 (22%) saying it’s hard to ask them to hang out for the first time and 1 in 6 (17%) find it hard to tell their work bestie how much they appreciate them.
Birthdays are also tricky to navigate. 1 in 5 (21%) struggle to know whether they should buy their colleague a birthday present and 19% don’t know what to buy. Most (42%) choose chocolate as their go-to gift for new friends, followed by flowers (26%), a voucher (24%), sweets (19%).
“This research shows that we find friendships in the most unexpected everyday interactions. But in the moments when we want to show these new friends that we appreciate them it can be so hard to know what gift to buy them”, says Joana Deccache, Brand Executive at Cadbury. “A simple act of appreciation goes a long way in building on a friendship. The gift of Cadbury Heroes is the perfect small gesture for any superhero friend.”
Following each other on social media, shouting about their successes in team meetings and hanging out outside of work – are some of the rules of modern work friendship reveals the research.
THE TOP RULES OF THE MODERN WORK FRIENDSHIP:
1. You support them through a difficult project/helping them during a difficult day (47%)
2. You hang out outside of work (31%)
3. You follow each other on social media (30%)
4. They should be the first to know any workplace gossip (28%)
5. You save them a seat in the office (20%)
6. You shout about their successes in team meetings (19%)
7. They get to meet your partner (16%)
8. You don’t keep secrets (16%)
THE TOP WAYS TO BRIDGE FROM COLLEAGUES TO BESTIES:
1. Socialise after work (43%)
2. Text outside of working hours (37%)
3. Ask about their personal life (37%)
4. Socialise at the weekend (33%)
5. Share some workplace gossip (24%)
THE BEST THINGS ABOUT HAVING A WORKPLACE BFF:
1. The make the working day more enjoyable (47%)
2. They help when you’re stressed (29%)
3. They make you happier (26%)
4. They improve your mental health (23%)
5. The give you confidence (18%)
