---
title: "Data Nugget: Fostering Friendship at Work"
id: "46150"
type: "post"
slug: "data-nugget-fostering-friendship-at-work"
published_at: "2019-04-01T09:00:03+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-17T00:59:43+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/04/01/data-nugget-fostering-friendship-at-work/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/04/01/data-nugget-fostering-friendship-at-work.md"
excerpt: "Are your employees spending a lot of time chatting at the water cooler? Maybe that’s not such a bad thing."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Career Development"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Business"
  - "Employee Retention"
  - "Workplace"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Director"
  - "Manager"
  - "VP"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Association Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Data Nugget: Fostering Friendship at Work

A recent study from Future Workplace, an HR advisory and research firm, and Virgin Pulse, an HR tech provider, suggests there’s a link between workplace friendships and retention. More than 2,000 managers and employees in 10 countries were surveyed, and more than half reported having five or fewer friends at work. Of those, 62 percent often feel lonely, 72 percent aren’t engaged at work, and 60 percent would be more inclined to stay with their organization if they had more friends. That percentage goes up for millennials and members of Gen Z.

**Percentage of employees who would be more inclined to stay at their job if they had more friends at work**

**69%** Millennials

**74%** Gen Z

**60%** All Respondents

*Source: Future Workplace and Virgin Pulse,**[The Global Network Connectivity Study (opens in a new tab)](https://workplacetrends.com/the-work-connectivity-study/)**, 2018*

(Jupiterimages/Stockbyte)

[ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/)
 [#Employee Retention](https://associationsnow.com/tag/employee-retention/)
 [#Workplace](https://associationsnow.com/tag/workplace/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [Video🚀 The Agile Association Professional: How to Pivot Your Career Path When the Strategic Plan ShiftsJuly 28, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/28/the-agile-association-professional-how-to-pivot-your-career-path-when-the-strategic-plan-shifts/)
- [ArticleHow to Lead the New WorkforceNovember 22, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/11/22/how-to-lead-the-new-workforce/)
- [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/)
- [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F04%2F01%2Fdata-nugget-fostering-friendship-at-work%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!