Discuss the positive consequences of workplace friendships

What will be an ideal response?

Workplace friendships can provide a number of benefits to both of the
individuals involved in them as well as to the organization. Friendships at work can
provide a support system that supplies information and feedback people might not
otherwise receive. Peers, particularly those with higher levels of trust and intimacy, can
be valuable sources of important organizational information as well as gossip (Rawlins,
1994). The more connected someone is to other individuals in the organization the greater
her loyalty to the organization. Co-workers can also exert a great deal of influence over
how their peers view organizational attitudes, behaviors, and policies (Kirby & Krone,
2002). This influence can determine whether an individual chooses to utilize family
medical leave, paternity leave, or flex time.