Millennials and Gen Z are no more likely than older workers to have friends at work, but they are more comfortable converting those real-life relationships into online connections, according to a new Axios|SurveyMonkey poll.
Nearly three-quarters of the workforce (73 percent) say it’s important to have friends at work, with little to no variation by age, sex, or income. Younger workers are those most likely to socialize with coworkers outside of work, with 30 percent of those under 25, 17 percent of those 25-34, 16 percent of those 35-44, and 10 percent or fewer of those 45 and older saying they socialize with coworkers “a lot” outside of work. Nearly three in 10 workers age 45 or older say they don’t socialize with colleagues at all.
While millennials and Gen Z are the most likely to socialize with coworkers in real life outside of work, they’re also the most comfortable connecting with coworkers on social media platforms. Nearly eight in 10 employed 18-24 year-olds say they’re comfortable being friends with coworkers on social media, as do 72 percent of 25-34 year-olds.
In fact, more than half of workers of every age say they’re comfortable being friends with coworkers on social media, reflecting just how much the online world mirrors our actual personal relationships.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Click through all the results in the interactive toplines below:
Which of the following best describes you?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 4,275 1,959 2,316 Employed – working full time 56%63%50%Employed – working part time 10%8%12%Not employed – student 8%8%7%Not employed – retired 17%14%19%Not employed – looking for paid work 5%3%6%Not employed – not looking for paid work 4%2%5%No answer 1%0%2%Question wording: Which of the following best describes you?Survey dates: –How important is it to you to have friends at work?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 Very important 26%25%27%Somewhat important 47%49%46%Not so important 20%19%21%Not important at all 6%7%6%No answer 1%1%0%Question wording: How important is it to you to have friends at work?Survey dates: –How often do you socialize with coworkers when you’re not working?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 A lot 14%14%14%A little 61%61%60%Not at all 25%24%25%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: How often do you socialize with coworkers when you’re not working?Survey dates: –On average, how many hours do you work per week?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 30 or fewer 12%8%16%31 - 40 32%24%40%41 - 50 40%47%33%51 or more 16%21%11%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: On average, how many hours do you work per week?Survey dates: –How many of your current coworkers do you consider to be your friends?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 A lot 18%19%18%A few 62%64%60%Just one 8%6%10%None 11%11%11%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: How many of your current coworkers do you consider to be your friends?Survey dates: –Just your best guess: about what percentage of your friends did you first meet at work (either your current job or any previous one)?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 1-9 18%18%18%10-19 14%15%13%20-29 13%15%12%50-59 12%10%13%30-39 8%9%7%70-79 6%6%6%0 5%6%5%40-49 5%6%5%60-69 4%4%5%80-89 4%3%5%No answer 4%3%4%90-99 3%2%4%100 3%3%3%Question wording: Just your best guess: about what percentage of your friends did you first meet at work (either your current job or any previous one)?Survey dates: –How comfortable are you connecting with coworkers on social media platforms (excluding professional networking sites like LinkedIn)?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 Very comfortable 26%25%27%Somewhat comfortable 40%40%40%Not very comfortable 18%19%17%Not comfortable at all 15%15%14%No answer 1%0%2%Question wording: How comfortable are you connecting with coworkers on social media platforms (excluding professional networking sites like LinkedIn)?Survey dates: –Which of the following best describes the principal industry of your organization?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals 17%8%26%No answer 9%8%10%Education 8%5%11%Construction 6%11%1%Manufacturing 6%9%3%Government 6%7%5%Retail & Consumer Goods 5%4%6%Food & Beverages 5%3%6%Technology 4%7%2%Finance & Financial Services 3%4%3%Personal Services 3%2%5%Automotive 3%5%1%Utilities & Energy 3%4%1%Nonprofit 3%3%3%Transportation & Delivery 2%4%1%Insurance 2%2%3%Advertising & Marketing 2%3%2%Real Estate 2%2%2%Hospitality & Tourism 2%2%2%Business Support & Logistics 2%2%1%Consulting & Research 2%2%1%Legal 1%1%1%Agriculture 1%2%1%Entertainment & Leisure 1%1%1%Airlines & Aerospace 1%1%1%Question wording: Which of the following best describes the principal industry of your organization?Survey dates: –How many employees work at your company, in all its offices?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 1-49 28%28%27%50-499 23%25%22%500-999 7%7%6%1000-4999 11%11%11%5000 or more 16%18%13%I don’t know 13%10%17%No answer 2%1%4%Question wording: How many employees work at your company, in all its offices?Survey dates: –Which of the following best describes your current job level?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,934 1,393 1,541 Individual contributor 62%59%66%Manager 19%21%18%Senior manager 6%7%4%Vice president 1%1%1%C-level/president/owner 7%10%4%No answer 5%2%8%Question wording: Which of the following best describes your current job level?Survey dates: –
Question text:
How important is it to you to have friends at work?
How often do you socialize with coworkers when you’re not working?
On average, how many hours do you work per week?
How many of your current coworkers do you consider to be your friends?
Just your best guess: about what percentage of your friends did you first meet at work?
How comfortable are you connecting with coworkers on social media platforms (excluding professional networking sites like LinkedIn)?
*employees *businesses
