More than half of Canadians who participated in a recent survey said having good co-workers is more important than having a good salary.
A global survey from recruitment firm Randstat found that 66% of Canadians said they have close friendships with colleagues and 53% spend time with their colleagues outside work.
More than half (54%) said having pleasant colleagues is more important than earning a good salary. Just 21% of Canadians see workplace friendships as interfering with the job. "Canadians associate a good working environment with having good relationships with their colleagues. They see these relationships not as a threat to their productivity, but rather as a key factor that influences their satisfaction at work," said Stacy Parker, executive vice-president of marketing for Randstat Canada.
The results in Canada were similar around the world, with 71% of people indicating they have good friends at work.
But there were a few exceptions.
In Luxembourg, just 20% of people said they have work pals.
In China, Hong Kong and India, the majority of those polled said chumming around with colleagues interferes with work performance.
Ironically, 91% of people in Hong Kong admitted to having close office friendships — more than any other country. "There is no denying that workplace friendships can contribute to a positive workplace culture. It means increased productivity and creativity, heightened morale, enhanced personal performance and stronger team cohesiveness," Parker said. "Employers who encourage a positive and collaborative workplace will gain a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting top talent."
The online survey looked at people aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job, in 32 countries. At least 400 people in each country were surveyed.
