Have a social life - Get a job

Friends Reunitedís 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.

Thatís according to findings from research by Friends Reunitedís 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 donít 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: ìI 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 weíre both professionals and donít 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.î

Surprisingly, the under 25ís 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: ìItís encouraging to see that despite the Monday morning blues, work is a lot more pleasurable than itís 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.î