Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel similarly, but I also don't want to be friends with my coworkers. I'd rather we keep a friendly, polite distance in our relationships. I love my job, and go to work to actually work: my social interaction comes from elsewhere, on my own terms. I honestly think this keeps things more productive. There's less room for wasting time socializing, or worrying about people feeling left out, or (like you said) offendi…
I honestly think this keeps things more productive So you're just going to ignore the fact that the article notes studies proving the opposite? or anything else that takes time away from work How very Calvinist of you. You spend one third of your day at work, probably half of your conscious hours. Maybe your workplace shouldn't be a soulless machine dedicated only to cold efficiency and productivity? Just a thought.
Like another commenter already mentioned, I wasn't very convinced by this one study. I'm friendly and polite with my coworkers, and I take great care to understand what people on my team like and don't like regarding the work they're doing. I use this to make sure I can give people tasks I think they'd like best, and to offer to relieve their stress if they're overburdened with something they don't like.
I'm not their friend, but I care about their well-being and I believe it shows. I'm not convinced there would be productivity gains if I took the relationship further than that. I'd need more evidence.
> Maybe your workplace shouldn't be a soulless machine
It's not soulless. Why attack what I like? I think my work is tons of fun on its own, and entirely "soulful."
That's like saying it's "soulless" for me to run a marathon and not want to be distracted by running with friends who want to chat with me during the run. Running is fun in and of itself, and I'd rather not be distracted so I can get as much joy and fulfillment out of it as possible.