Only about 20% of U.S. adults say they have a best friend at work. Should the other 80% start looking for one?
Yes and no. There’s no doubt that social support in the workplace is important for health and well-being, says Catherine Heaney, an associate professor of psychology at Stanford who researches the relationship between work and health. That support can come from a co-worker who has become a close friend, but it doesn’t have to; interactions with supervisors and friendly acquaintances can also boost your well-being, Heaney says.
Here’s how to harness workplace relationships of all kinds to improve your health.