Friends Reunited's Friendship Panel reveals its 5TH report from a year-long study into friendship in modern Britain.
Ben Stiller is rarely seen on screen without his pal Owen Wilson. Their friendship produces a chemistry that has lead to them being hailed as the comedy duo of the noughties and they attribute this to the fact that they have so much fun working together. Some bosses shy away from allowing friends to interact professionally but research has shown that the majority of employees in the UK feel as though they work in such a friendly environment, it hardly seems as though they are at work at all.
That's according to findings from research by Friends Reunited's Friendship Panel about working with friends. The report marks the fifth survey in a year-long study, which is looking at all areas affecting modern friendship in Britain.
Overall, 79% of women enjoy their working life with 34% claiming that there was always someone going out for lunch or for after-work drinks and another 45% saying that their colleagues are so sociable; their job hardly feels like work at all.
Twice as many men (18%) as women (9%) claimed to work with a miserable bunch which shows that on the whole, women enjoy work more. In fact, a staggering 63% of women met their best friend at work as did more than half (52%) of men.
Workforces in the South-West seem to be the friendliest overall with an incredible 92% of respondents saying there is always someone going out for lunch or for after-work drinks and that they don't feel as though they are at work. In contrast, workers in Scotland are six times as likely to feel they work in a miserable environment as someone in the South-West.
25-year old Friendship Panel member Jenna Blackwell, from London, said: "I was recently promoted at work and was given the opportunity to recruit a new team member. My best friend was perfect for the job so I was thrilled to be able to bring her on board. We have a great time in the office but we're both professionals and don't allow our friendship to interfere with our work. I have such a great time in the office that I am definitely more motivated and productive than I would be working in a less friendly environment."
Surprisingly, the under 25's are not the most sociable age group as more than twice as many females aged 56-65 (33%) felt they worked somewhere sociable than females aged under 25. (14%)
Jon Clark, Head of Friends Reunited, said: "It's encouraging to see that despite the Monday morning blues, work is a lot more pleasurable than it's given credit for. We all moan about having to get up early or our long hours but the reality is that most of us have our best friends at work."
Learn more about the Friendship Panel and their next task at: www.friendspanel.co.uk
For case studies or to receive more information about Friends Reunited please contact Carolynne Bull-Edwards or Victoria Reed on 01883 717468 / 07932 723866 or email press@friendsreunited.co.uk
1,660 members from aged 16 upwards had their say about working with friends in a survey carried out through the Friend Reunited site.
The survey is part of an ongoing investigation by the Friendship Panel. The members were selected from over 250 people who responded to a call out on the Friends Reunited homepage for contributors to the Panel. Representing the 'ages' of friendship they each have their own stories of how the site has helped change their lives. In addition Dr Malcolm Cross gives his psychological interpretations on their findings.
The six panel members sitting alongside the Head of Friends Reunited Jon Clark are:
Dr Malcolm Cross is Head of Psychology at City University London with special interests in gender and psychological well-being. He is also Dean of Students at the University, helping them to make the most of their time at City. He trained as a clinical psychologist in Australia before moving to the UK to undertake his PhD and planned to return to Australia after four years, but 15 years on is still enjoying life in England.
Business networking guru, David brings his years of friendship experience to the panel. The 57 year-old lives in London with his wife and boasts friends all over the world. He never misses an opportunity to bring people together.
29 years old and a company director, Rebecca was contacted by her father through the site after 19 years apart. Despite her busy schedule, Rebecca always finds time for her friends and is often found teaching her pet parrot Toby to swear!
37 year old Juliette from Coventry, prides herself on her happy-go-lucky outlook. Mum to a teenager, by day she's a sales and marketing executive and a singer songwriter by night.
24 year old Jenna, can't sit still for more than 5 minutes and when she's not at work designing homeware, spends all her free time meeting up with friends and traveling to far flung places.
38 year Martin runs a door blinds business, but his true passion is reading and writing books. His first novel is due to be published in October.
Friends Reunited was launched in July 2000 and swiftly turned into a media phenomenon. Since then it has grown from being one of Britain's most favourite websites into a national institution. What began as a back-bedroom hobby to put old school friends back in touch with each other has developed into the unofficial 'People's Who's Who' by including workplaces, teams/clubs, streets and armed forces. It currently has over 20 million members worldwide and operates in four countries. Each week, an average of 35,500 people join the site. Since 2005, Friends Reunited has been owned by the UK's biggest commercial broadcaster, ITV.