Since humans are social animals, they have a natural tendency to bond with their peers. This is especially true in the workplace, where people spend most of their time. And young professionals are particularly keen to develop friendships with their colleagues, a survey reports.

According to a recent survey conducted by Murphy Research, 63% of Gen Z-ers say they have a best friend at work. Meanwhile, 51% of employees polled claim to have a best friend in the workplace.

This suggests that young people are interested in expanding their circle of friends at the office. Indeed, friendships can make a significant contribution to happiness at work: an overwhelming majority of respondents feel it gives them support in their professional lives (83%), and makes working days more enjoyable (79%).

For 78%, it also helps them feel less stressed.

But making friends with colleagues takes time. Research shows that it takes an average of 50 hours to develop a casual friendship, and 200 hours to become close friends.

Some employees are willing to invest their time in building friendships where they work, and employers often encourage their staff to do just that. Many companies organise social events – afterwork drinks, office parties, and so forth – to develop corporate culture and strengthen team bonding in a time when many employees report feeling highly isolated.

The individualisation of tasks and the rise of hybrid working have fuelled a profound sense of unease among some employees, especially those who regularly work out of office. Nearly a third of remote workers say they feel lonely, compared with 21% of those who work on their company’s premises.

That said, while the office can be a great place for making friends, the workplace can sometimes jeopardise the friendships it helps to foster. Rivalries can arise if two friends are competing for the same job, or if one has a better relationship with management than the other.

Of course, it’s all a question of character: professional friendships can last for years without a hitch. But the key to success lies in defusing conflicts and talking frankly about one another’s expectations and desires.