I was surprised to see in a recent survey that workers' relationships with their bosses and fellow employees have apparently not been hurt by the recession. In fact, those relationships may have improved during the downturn.
The survey, from financial staffing firm Accountemps, showed that 87% of professionals said they have a good rapport with their supervisors, and 95% said they get along well with coworkers. Those figures are roughly the same as when the same survey was conducted in 2005, when the economy was better.
Some stronger ties
However, the number of folks this year who described their ties with the boss as "very good" was up 4% over 2005, and those who had "very good" relationships with coworkers was up 7% over 2005.
Is the recession driving people to treat others better in the workplace?
"People make work relationships a priority in good times and bad," says Katherine Spencer Lee, a district president with Robert Half International, the parent of Accountemps.
"In the current economy, we see people pulling together, empathizing with the work and personal challenges their colleagues are facing and doing what they can to help," she adds. "There also is a "we're in this together" mentality among many of those trying to accomplish more with leaner teams and fewer supporting resources."
Increasing your value
Good relationships in the workplace also boost job security, especially now as managers constantly assess where to make possible cuts. Experts offer these suggestions for maintaining and improving relationships at work:
- Take on challenges outside your job description.
- Adjust your work habits and communication style to better mirror those of your boss.
- Maintain your poise during challenging times.
For additional tips, see the article "Workplace Relationships Stay Strong in Economic Downturn."
