Work – the new family

Jul 29 2005 by Brian Amble Print This Article

If it is not enough to be together from 9-5, many British workers are choosing to sleep, eat holiday and even marry their work colleagues.

According to findings from recruitment website totaljobs.com, more than half of Brits (55 per cent) have met their closest friends through work with 14 per cent meeting their best friend in the office.

The relationship is far from confined to the workplace though as British workers are choosing to socialise with their colleagues after office hours.

Despite spending all of their working hours together, three-quarters meet up with work mates at the weekend with four out of 10 holidaying with their co-workers and almost one in three even cent opting to share accommodation.

So strong are the friendships that today's workers are even choosing to spend the biggest day of their life – their wedding - with workmates.

Almost two-thirds have been invited to a colleague's wedding and a further one in five have been a bridesmaid or best man at a colleague's nuptials.

But it's not just friendship that employees are finding in the workplace. A staggering one in four have had either a long-term relationship or married a colleague whilst a similar proportion have dated a co-worker and eighteen per cent have had an office affair.

The region most likely to become entwined in office trusts is Scotland (48 per cent), followed by the South East (46 per cent), and Yorkshire and Humberside (44 per cent).

"With Britain working the longest hours in Europe, it seems that we're turning to our co-workers more than ever before," said totaljobs' Philip Jones.

"We no longer just see our colleagues on a 9-5 basis, work is now a place where strong and lasting relationships are formed. With an increasing number of people moving away from their families to pursue their careers, colleagues are becoming the new support network."

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