Boss-employee friendship can lead to complications and potential conflicts of interest, according to a psychologist's analysis.
In an interview with NSONE, social psychologist Alexei Roshchin shed light on the complexities of mixed professional and personal relationships, particularly those between bosses and employees. Roshchin believes that such relationships can contradict the idea of true friendship, as they are often fraught with potential risks.
Roshchin's observation suggests that a manager's decision can negatively impact an employee's performance. For instance, the act of a manager denying a "friend" a benefit, citing company interests, can cause hurt and lower motivation. This, in turn, may lead employees to start working perfunctorily and feel betrayed.
Maintaining a friendship with someone who has control over one's career is extremely difficult, Roshchin notes. The closer a manager gets to an employee, the higher the likelihood of future disappointment. Professionally, such relationships often clash with personal interests, and the power imbalance can complicate dynamics and affect career outcomes.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. Research indicates that positive personal connections at work can enhance engagement, trust, morale, and psychological safety, which benefits performance and well-being. Leadership that incorporates caring and connection can inspire and engage teams effectively. For example, studies emphasize that workplace friendships and leader-employee bonds release oxytocin, fostering deeper relationships and higher job satisfaction.
Despite these benefits, Roshchin stresses the importance of careful management in such relationships. Workplace romances involving bosses may cause conflicts of interest, perceptions of favoritism, and awkward or hostile environments if the relationship sours. To mitigate these risks and maintain fairness and trust, many experts recommend clear workplace policies that address these relationships thoughtfully rather than banning them outright.
In conclusion, human connection in the workplace is critical and beneficial for organizational culture and performance. However, relationships crossing professional boundaries—such as those between bosses and employees—require careful management to ensure fairness and trust, and to avoid the potential pitfalls that Roshchin warns about.
- Roshchin's remarks highlight the potential negative impact of mixed professional and personal relationships on workplace wellness and employees' health and wellness, particularly when supervisors deny benefits citing company interests.
- A manager's close association with an employee can clash with personal interests, complicate dynamics, and influence career outcomes, due to the power imbalance, as explained by social psychologist Roshchin.
- Positive personal relationships at work can boost engagement, trust, morale, and psychological safety, which in turn benefits performance and mental health, as revealed by research.
- To maintain an atmosphere of fairness and trust, while tapping into the benefits of positive workplace connections, experts suggest thoughtfully designed work policies regarding relationships, rather than an outright ban on them, as indicated by Roshchin.
