Colleagues are the new friends and family

Working together 9-5 is simply not enough for British workers who are now choosing to sleep, eat and holiday with their workplace mates.

According to findings from totaljobs.com, more than half of Brits (55 per cent) have met their closest friends through work with 14 per cent meeting their best friend in the office.

The relationship is far from confined to the workplace though as British workers are choosing to socialise with their colleagues after office hours. Despite spending all of their working hours together, 73 per cent of Brits meet up with work mates at the weekend with 39 per cent holidaying with their co-workers and 28 per cent opting to share accommodation.

So strong are the friendships that todayís workers are even choosing to spend the biggest day of their life ñ their wedding - with workmates. Sixty three per cent have been invited to a colleagueís wedding and a further one in five have been a bridesmaid or best man at a colleagueís nuptials.

But itís not just friendship that employees are finding in the workplace. A staggering one in four have had either a long-term relationship or married a colleague whilst 44 per cent have dated a co-worker and eighteen per cent have had an office affair.

The region most likely to become entwined in office trusts is Scotland (48 per cent), followed by the South East (46 per cent), and Yorkshire and Humberside (44 per cent).

Philip Jones, jobseeker marketing manager for totaljobs.com said: ìWith Britain working the longest hours in Europe, it seems that weíre turning to our co-workers more than ever before. We no longer just see our colleagues on a 9-5 basis, work is now a place where strong and lasting relationships are formed. With an increasing number of people moving away from their families to pursue their careers, colleagues are becoming the new support network.î