Why it's worth having friends at work
By Tom Haynes
After a few months of writing this column I’ve realised it must come across as a bit aggy. I’ve grumpily demanded more money for commuters , encouraged people to have a dig at their boss as they leave a job , and shared readers’ experiences of toxic workplaces .
So in the name of positivity, this week I asked for people to remember a time a colleague did something nice for them. A recent survey by Currys found that more than a fifth of desk workers found talkative colleagues to be the biggest distraction in the workplace.
But I don’t think that’s fair – a quality desk buddy is hard to come by: someone who recognises when you’re having a rubbish day before you’ve even sat down, and will slide you a Slack message asking if you want a coffee. It turns out others agreed.
“One memory that comes to mind is when I was having a particularly stressful time at a past job,” says Conor Hughes, an HR consultant. “My workload felt overwhelming and I was just emotionally drained.”
He continues: “My work friend at the time, Jen, could tell I was at my breaking point. Without saying anything, she went out and got my favourite coffee and a box of cookies from the bakery down the street. When she came back, she cleared 30 minutes in my calendar and told me I had to take a break.”
The pair then sat with each other and chatted for half an hour, during which time they refused to talk shop. “It was exactly what I needed to recharge,” Conor says. “Her simple act of kindness and intuition meant the world to me.”
Awh. But don’t worry, it gets more adorable. Daniel Wolken, a talent acquisition specialist, says: “I had this particularly gruelling week a few months ago, working late into the evenings and getting up early. I was exhausted and stressed out.?
“When I logged on Monday morning, drained and dreading the week ahead, I had a notification from UberEats – my friend had sent me a gift card for lunch from my favourite local cafe.?
“His thoughtfulness in that moment meant so much to me. Knowing that he cared enough to pick up on how swamped I was and wanted to cheer me up filled me with renewed energy.”
Obviously being nice at work doesn’t necessarily mean you have to throw money at your co-workers (although never underestimate the serotonin provided by pints and snacks). There are ways to cheer your work buddies up without getting your wallet out.
Alison Lancaster, CEO of PR firm Pressat, says: “I usually have my desk looking straight out of a home decor magazine, with files stacked neatly and colour-coded to perfection, not a single pen out of place. But this past week, being so busy, my nicely organised space became a complete disaster.
“I mentioned to my coworker how overwhelmed I felt with the mess. He nodded understandingly as I searched under a stack of reports I hadn't gotten to yet, looking for my keys.”
Alison then asked said coworker if they would leave at the same time, to which he replied: “You go on, I'm gonna stay a bit later.”
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The next day, when Alison dragged herself back into work, she said her desk was “clear as can be”, with the surface wiped and the colour-coded files back where they belonged.?
“My buddy had stayed late to tidy everything up for me,” she says. “I was so thankful for his kindness in taking the time to help get my space in order again.”
Wasn’t that sweet? On another note the latest Budget was announced today. Granted I am writing this before it’s happened, but you can see some of The Telegraph’s great coverage of it below.
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8 个月Craig Fielding Mychael Fergus are quality buddies I have worked with.