February 1, 2022 Eloiza Adriano

Can a Boss and Employee be Friends During or Outside Work?

A friend once asked me if I consider my boss a friend. I answered quickly, “Yes! Absolutely. Some people say that it is not good to be friends with bosses, but I disagree. I believe that influence is power, and in order to have it, you need someone to mentor or guide you. Bosses are the nearest network you have to acquire that power. As a person, you need to grow and learn how to become a leader too. For me, the one person who helps me reach my highest potential is my boss, who is also my friend, and I consider him family too.”

Dear Boss Lady Coffee Mug

Credit: Dear Boss Lady Coffee Mug, one of our funny boss and manager mugs

So can a boss and employee be friends at work?

Funny CEO CE0,000,000 Coffee Mug

Credit: Funny CEO CE0,000,000 Coffee Mug

When an employer hires someone, they usually focus on the applicant’s potential and positive traits. It is like looking for a friend: you seek common interests, and you want someone who will be at your side through good and bad times. Your boss hired you not only for your skills, but also because they want to know that you can work well and be a blessing to everyone on the team. If an employee is a blessing to the boss, the boss will want to get to know that person better and keep working with them.

Work attitude is important. Just as you look for a good friend, you should be a good friend as well. As an employee and a friend to your boss, working hard is required to win their trust, and trust is always the foundation of everything in our life. If you value trust and integrity, your boss will see that as a great asset in the company and in their life. A good relationship with your boss will sustain your career path and help you elevate your potential. A boss friend can cheer you up during office hours, and as an employee friend, you can support your boss by doing your best work.

Why do some people say bosses should not be friends with their employees?

Tears of My Staff Boss Funny Office Ceramic Coffee Mug 11 oz

Credit: Tears of My Staff Coffee Mug

One thing I can see is that for a boss to maintain the necessary degree of authority they must remain somewhat aloof. On the other hand, a business relationship and being too close to anyone's employees can make others feel you playing favorites. Lawsuits abound… Keep everything 110 percent professional and work-focused to protect yourself and your employer.

Please note that there is a difference between the position of a boss and a friend.

Boss is your senior and he has to keep you at a distance or keep you formal because he has to command you or control you which can't be done in friendship.

Friendship is an informal relationship where you can't have command and control because in friendship both friends are equal but in boss and employee relationships there is no equality one is senior and the other is junior.

Once we’re done with business, we can put our friendship to the test. You have to be very careful if you use the very word ‘friendship’ at work. Bosses can be friendly towards their employees but there should be clear boundaries.

What are some disadvantages of being a boss friend and employee friend?

Restricts Effective Criticism

Manager and employee talking seriously across a table in an office meeting room

Overstepping words may hurt an individual. If an employee who is also your friend does something wrong or unexpected, you may think twice before giving correction or feedback, because you do not want to hurt your friend’s feelings.

Risk of Favoritism

Manager chatting warmly with one employee while coworkers look on

In the workplace, favoritism refers to a situation where someone in a leadership position demonstrates favor toward one employee over others. This is usually unrelated to their job performance and instead occurs due to a personal bond of friendship shared between the two. From this, the favored employee may receive more advanced projects or promotions than others who have better qualifications. They might also receive fewer or no repercussions for tardiness or inability to meet deadlines.

Lack of Work-Life Balance

Tired employee packing a laptop into a bag in a dim office in the evening

One con of friendship in the workplace is that bosses who hire friends and family members often feel entitled to ask them to work late or give up their weekends. On the other hand, hiring friends and family members can make it difficult to make necessary cuts in hours or payroll, even when layoffs or pay cuts are necessary for the company's survival. Employees who are friends risk over-sharing their personal lives, bringing unproductive drama into the workplace to the detriment of their own performance as well as the productivity of their coworkers.

How can we balance friendship between a boss and an employee?

Credit: Work Would Suck Without You Coffee Mug

You can be able to balance friendship between a boss and an employee by giving respect to each other whatever your position in the team. A boss should not only be a friend to an employee but be like a family to them too. Once an environment of respect, trust, loyalty, hard work, honesty, and, most of all, humility exists between a boss and an employee, the balance between friendship and professionalism will be established and will provide a good working environment for everyone.

Always note that the glory of friendship is not in the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is in the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Shop Boss and Manager Mugs

Here in Panvola we offer amazing gift mugs that your boss might like on special occasions. Feel free to browse our full boss and manager mugs and tumblers collection. A few favorites:

Can a Boss and Employee be Friends During or Outside Work?

So can a boss and employee be friends at work?

Why do some people say bosses should not be friends with their employees?