Let’s be friends, but only at work: Aussies

MATESHIP might seem part of the Aussie fabric — but that’s only during work hours.

And it seems those over the ditch aren’t much better with Aussie and Kiwi workers the least likely in the world to want to hang out with workmates after hours.

A survey of about 1200 Australians and New Zealanders, from marketing software company HubSpot, revealed less than a third (31 per cent) wanted to spend more time socialising with colleagues.

They were less keen than Latin Americans (62 per cent wanted to socialise), Asians (55 per cent), Europeans (42 per cent), and North Americans (37 per cent).

HubSpot director James Gilbert said most Australians sat firmly in one camp or the other: either spending lots of time with colleagues outside of work or very strictly ensuring personal and professional worlds were kept separate.

Human behaviour expert Dr John Demartini said crossing between personal and professional could affect lines of command, delegated authority and accountability at work.

“[Work] friends can assist or hinder productivity based on the respect or more casual feelings between the individuals,” he said.

“It could elevate our standards or it could distract us from focus depending upon the interaction and values of the individuals and their differences in authority and position.”

The survey also revealed Australians and New Zealanders were the least likely to connect with bosses and colleagues on Facebook.

About four in five (79 per cent) preferred not to accept a request from their manager and 61 per cent preferred not to accept their colleagues’ requests.

By contrast, workers from Latin America were most likely to be Facebook friends with work contacts. Just 58 per cent avoided managers and 42 per cent avoided colleagues.