Among Friends

[AuntG]

Think how much time is spent at work. Sure, true friendships can develop.  It's when bosses hire friends or play favorites with their friends that morale drops.

[TaylorBrown]

Yes, it is possible to really be friends with co-workers.  I have many friends that I met at work and I have moved on from that job and I am still friends with.  We sometimes meet up for lunch or just talk on the phone.

[scatcat]

My boss has been a good friend to me for almost 30 years 

[SeaMaiden]

Over my many years of working, I made a few really good friends. But, those good friendships did not last forever.... it was in different stages of my life... single, married.. etc.  The friendships I made were helpful for those times of my life... and eventually we out grew our need for the friendship in each case.  People move on.... I no longer keep in contact with these people.  But we had fun, and I am sure gave each other  encouragement when we each needed it.  

I also worked with people I could not stand... many of those.  Many more people I found obnoxious  than people that I enjoyed being around.  I am sure it went both ways.  That is just life. I suppose you learn life lessons even from those people you can not stand to work with... patience and holding your tongue comes to mind!  

[Pook]

Most definitely!  Where I worked, (it was not a great place to work due to the ineptness of those running the place) there were nearly 100 workers who in normal circumstances would not have been friends because it was such an eclectic bunch.   The pay and benefits were good but workwise it was a nightmare job because of the ridiculous edicts put out.  Most became really good friends who were always there for each other and have remained friends through the years and into retirement.

[chrystaltree]

You don't like the woman and there's some type of stress regarding th work; so you will never be friends in any sense of the word.  You only have to have a cordial working relationship with her that allows both of you to do your jobs.  Yes, indeed co-workers can be friends for "friend" has more than one definition.  We spend a lot of time at work and we all have "work friends".  People we work with and have lunch with and support and like but we don't see those people outside of work.  There are also work friends who go on to be close personal friends.  My bff is a woman I met 35 years ago on my very first job out of college.  She was my supervisor and then my mentor.  When I left work to be a sahm for 10 years, she went from work friend to friend.  When I returned to work, she was once again, my supervisor and mentor but also my bff.  I've had work friends, work friends who I am friends with outside the job too.  

[Financialgrl]

Yes, I stayed friends with about 5 coworkers after retiring but we had different jobs within the same office so a non-performing coworker didn't have the ability to affect me.  Two coworkers have since died, 2 are still in my life but I had to drop a longtime friend when she remarried.  It made it easier when I moved farther away and it takes a LOT to offend me (very little does) and although I've never met her new husband his FB posts are extremely offensive.  

[cotton4me]

I’ve made some nice friends at work over the years, people I’m still in contact with.  However, I think it’s wise to be cautious with people at work because you never know their motives.    

I can relate somewhat to your experience.  I made friends with someone in another department.  We had a lot in common.  Her job in that department was eliminated so she ended up in mine.  She didn’t like the responsibilities of the new job and became bitter and resentful.  She chatted constantly and worked very slowly so she wouldn’t have to do much.  It was disappointing to see her act that way. She wasn't the person I thought I knew.   Her actions not only hurt others in the department, but also put a strain on our friendship (which ended).  She finally quit which was the best for all involved.   

[Wiscfan3]

I think that, like in many situations, it just depends. Some work friends become very good personal friends and others stay acquaintances or you lose contact with. I have a friend that I worked with 39 years ago.  I was her supervisor for about 15 years. We became friends right away and are still friends to this day. 

[stevieb]

I think you absolutely can be friends with co-workers, but it's a challenge, especially in the climates created and perpetuated in some workplaces today...