9 Boundaries Experts Say You Should Have With Friends At Work

Even though you may think you and a co-worker bond instantaneously, it may not be true, and if you immediately reveal your innermost thoughts to them, then learn they’re the gossipy type, be careful.

“When it comes to work friendships, I advise starting slower than you might with someone you met outside of the workplace,” Simoncic says. “It takes time to get to know someone, and revealing too much or acting inappropriately could backfire on you in a way that wouldn’t happen if this was a friendship blossoming outside of work; at your job, the consequences are much higher. This is especially true when it comes to the urge to gossip or slack off.” She also warns that these behaviors may get back to your supervisor, which could affect your professional reputation.

Sometimes, lines between work goals and work-friendship goals can become blurred, but there’s an easy solution. “If you are truly focused on your career, then the boundary has to be that the relationship at its core is about the work first,” John Crossman, CEO of Crossman & Company, tells Bustle. “You share goals at work, and must be committed to them and keep each other accountable.”

Even if you and your co-worker are super close, it's important to remember that gossip can easily be spread at the office. “Be sure to not overshare personal things that you wouldn’t want other co-workers to know about,” Nicole Sbordone, LCSW and author of Surviving Female Friendships: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, tells Bustle. “For instance, this includes details about your sex life or how much you’re making. People talk and gossip, especially at work, so be sure not to share information you wouldn’t want your boss (or anyone else, for that matter) to know.”

Caleb Backe, health and wellness expert for Maple Holistics, agrees. “When it comes to personal topics such as your love/sex life, keep it inside, or speak about it outside,” he tells Bustle. “You probably wouldn’t want someone else to hear you, anyway, so it is best to avoid it at work if you can.”

If you supervise others at work, do you talk to certain employees more than others? Michelle Gomez, business professional, author, and success coach advises against it. “If you’re in a leadership role, avoid spending too much one-on-one time with one employee over the others, since it could lead others to feel ‘set aside,’" she tells Bustle. “Be neutral, and allow time and space for individual relationships with each person.”

Similar to maintaining neutrality if you’re in a leadership position at work is avoiding the temptation to form cliques. “It’s natural that you’ll form close relationships with some, but not all, of your colleagues,” Simoncic says. “However, be careful that your friendships don’t affect your workplace behavior, and that you aren’t excluding your colleagues who aren’t also your BFFs.” She adds that one way to avoid this is by inviting more people to grab coffee mid-day versus your usual one or few. And, if you’re working on a big project, Simoncic says to stay objective and consider everyone’s input, not just ones from your favorite colleagues.

Andrew Rawson, chief learning officer at Traliant, a compliance training company, adds another angle to the clique topic. “One important boundary you need with workplace friends is inviting all employees if socializing outside of work,” he tells Bustle. “For instance, a supervisor could use socialization outside of work as a way to strengthen team dynamics. However, if not all of the team members are invited, then it can come across as favoritism.”

Some offices are more social than others, and it seems as though there’s a new post-work activity every other night. However, do you have to attend them all? “Avoid overlapping too much of your personal/professional time,” Gomez says. “Occasional lunches together, and maybe a Friday night happy hour visit here and there, are OK, as well as big events like weddings. But do not overdo it with too many out-of-office functions, as it will skew the working relationship.”

You may naturally be a touchy-feely type of person, but in a work environment, it may not be the best idea. “Pay attention to the handshake which becomes a ‘hug hello’ to the ‘hand-on-the-shoulder’ or ‘heads together’ moments while looking at a screen, etc.,” Backe says. “Don’t overstep your boundaries (or human resources’), since there could be significant ramifications.”

Beyond physical contact with co-workers, Mathison cautions about workplace friendships that turn romantic. “Romance between people at different levels of an organization, particularly between a boss and a direct report, raise cultural and legal concerns for employers, as well as employees,” he says. “Therefore, it is important to know and follow your employer’s policy. It is also a good idea for employees to inform the employer of any unwelcome conduct they may experience at work.”

You may be closer to some co-workers more than others, but if you need to confide in them about a highly sensitive topic — like you possibly leaving your job — do so outside of the office. “If there is one co-worker in particular that you have an extremely trusted professional or personal relationship with, and you are looking to get another perspective from someone intimately familiar with your situation, that could be helpful,” Colleen Star Koch, career coach and founder of Rowan Coaching, tells Bustle. “Then, enter into the conversation with an open mind, ready to listen, and consider advice from different angles.” She says that by having this talk outside of the office, you’ll avoid a co-worker hearing you, potentially being the center of gossip, and/or having your boss unexpectedly learn about the issue at hand.

Although your office may have weekly happy hours or holiday parties, it’s best not to drink too much in the company of your co-workers, Simoncic says. Only you know your alcohol tolerance and how it affects you — how much alcohol you consume in a certain quantity of time — but if in doubt, skip alcohol altogether.

“Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol,” Simoncic says. “I'm not opposed to colleagues having one or two drinks together at a happy hour or work event if the setting is appropriate. However, when you’re putting yourself in danger of acting in ways you’d be embarrassed about the next day, it’s time to switch to water or anything non-alcoholic.” She also says to keep in mind that even outside the boundaries of your workplace, you’re still representing yourself as a professional in your field.

All in all, having friendship workplace boundaries in place is an essential part of having a comfortable work environment. Yes, the boundary “rules” may feel intimidating, but they should not hinder you from having friends at your job. “Don't be afraid to make friendships in the workplace — it’s important to make long-lasting connections,” Simoncic says. “Most of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work, so it’s vital for us to find sources of happiness and fun within our colleagues.”