In A World Of Hustle, Workplace Friendships Come In When You Least Expected

Friendship Day brought many friends together to celebrate their bonds, from childhood companions to college roommates. It’s a time when many reconnect, reminiscing over memories of bunking classes, comforting each other after heartbreaks, and being one another’s trusted "partners in crime." Yet, as we grow older, friendships begin to shift.

Despite the nostalgia and enduring warmth, reconnecting with old friends can become difficult. The ease of sharing our troubles fades. After college, life gets real, with bills to pay, rent due, EMIs piling up, and insurance to handle. Parents may not fully understand these growing burdens, and our old friends are often equally overwhelmed, hustling through deadlines and professional struggles. This distance, while unintentional, becomes tangible. And then, enter our unexpected confidants, our colleagues!

They’re the ones who greet us on our first day of work, guide us through unfamiliar systems, and share those long evenings of overtime. What begins as a simple “Greetings” at the official emails or a LinkedIn request gradually turns into something personal. Soon, you're exchanging memes over Instagram DMs and venting about the same tight deadlines. In these daily interactions, genuine friendships begin to form, even though we were once told to “keep it professional.”

To understand more about how workplace friendships evolve, we spoke to our team members at SheThePeople. Here's what they had to say:

On Being Asked If Workplace Friendships Are Important

“It really depends on the situation. Like the running joke goes, ‘Colleagues make good friends because they have the same enemy’. And the enemy is not necessarily a person; it could be the work culture in general.” — Tanya Savkoor

“Yes, of course. Once you start work, you basically spend 80% of your waking time at work, so they are the people you see the most in a day. I still have my workplace friends from my 2 jobs ago.”— Sreelekha Menon

“Yes, definitely. Work can be exhausting, and having someone you genuinely connect with makes the environment lighter and more human. A good work friend can turn a stressful day into a manageable one just by being around, they remind you that you’re not alone in it. Plus, trust and comfort often make collaboration smoother. You have someone to gossip with LOL.”— Bhuvika Jasuja

Reflection On How Hybrid Work Affects Workplace Bonds

“The spontaneous hallway conversations and lunch breaks that build connection just don’t happen in a remote role. Now, you have to intentionally make time to connect, which sometimes feels forced. It’s made friendships slower to grow and a bit surface-level unless both people put in the effort.”— Bhuvika Jasuja

“I think yes. I have a good friend from my previous workplace. My other friends have good buddies from their office, but I don't think I do because of online mode.” — Tanya Savkoor

“Yes, getting to meet co-workers in person has a great effect on the friendship. Remote work really affects.”— Sreelekha Menon

Juggling Budding Friendship While Maintaining Professional Boundaries

“Sometimes boundaries become thin, but it’s essential if you are in departments requiring confidentiality like HR.”— Sreelekha Menon

“It’s tricky sometimes, especially when the bond is strong. I have experienced this in college societies mostly. There’s always that awareness of not oversharing or crossing a line that might affect work dynamics. But with the right balance, like being respectful of work boundaries while staying emotionally available, is nice.”— Bhuvika Jasuja

“Yes, it can get tricky sometimes if you are aiming for the same goal. Maybe if you are from different departments, it's easier to be friends.”— Tanya Savkoor

 Friendships formed in the workplace are built not just on sharing the same space, but on empathy, mutual support, and the understanding that we’re all navigating the same chaotic world of adulthood. While they may start as formal connections, with time, these relationships can grow into some of the most meaningful friendships we have. 

Views expressed by the author are their own.