From coworkers to friends: The development of peer friendships in the workplace

TLDR

The study analyzes interviews with 38 individuals (19 peer friendships) to explore factors and communication changes linked to workplace friendship development. The authors conducted semi‑structured interviews with 38 participants representing 19 peer friendships to investigate factors and communication changes during friendship development. Peer friendships progressed through three transitions—coworker to friend, friend to close friend, and close friend to almost best friend—each marked by increasing intimacy and decreasing caution in communication, driven by proximity, shared interests, personal and work problems, life events, and time.

Abstract

This paper reports the results of our analysis of interviews with 38 individuals (representing 19 peer friendships) in which we explored factors and communication changes associated with the development of workplace friendships. We found that peer friendships experienced three primary transitions: from coworker/acquaintance‐to‐friend, friend‐to‐close friend, and close friend‐to‐almost best friend. The co‐worker‐to‐friend transition was perceived to be caused primarily by working together in close proximity, sharing common ground, and extra‐organizational socializing. Communication at this transition became broader, yet remained relatively superficial. The friend‐to‐close friend transition was associated primarily with problems in one's personal and work experiences. Communication at this transition became broader, more intimate, and less cautious. The close friend‐to‐almost best friend transition was associated primarily with life events, work‐related problems, and the passage of time. Communication became less cautious and more intimate. Results also provide insights into the role of communication in the joint construction of relationship perceptions and highlight the impact of the workplace context on friendship development.