should you befriend all of your co workers or just some?

heres the back story

my husband works part time in a video game store. they have just hired in the last month 4 new staff members who wont remain after christmas.
he said last night that he will not make any attempts to befriend or socialize outside of work aside from the company party. this offended the other guy who was working last night. hes not one of the 4 just hired either so hes safe. but it shocked him. that the manager of the store would say that.
i agree that making friends with them will make it harder to end the contracts but still.
the questions is this normal
the store manager is a great guy and loyal to those he chooses as friends so hearing him say that was a bit of a shock

2008-11-04T08:35:48Z

not my husband its his manager who we are very close friends with. hes not making friends with the holiday staff. he only wants to be friends with his management support staff which is hubby and one other

2008-11-04T08:53:39Z

he hasnt told his staff other than the co worker working with him last night. and he doesnt plan to. hes the type who gets emotionally involved to easily

?2008-11-04T15:02:37Z

Favorite Answer

You can't be friends with everyone, and for all anyone knows, he might have been told to keep one after the holidays and get rid of the other three. If he makes friends with any of them that makes it look like that decision was based on that rather than job performance.

There are simply too many unknowns to make a judgment call. I would simply stay out of it. The manager has a right to associate, or not, with whomever he chooses... as long as does not affect his ability to perform his job.

00

JC2009-03-29T11:26:03Z

Although I may understand, to a degree, his reasoning, I find it completely unnecessary for him to share this particular information. You get good work out of happy employees. How much work does he think hes gonna get out of them now since they know he doesnt give a rats about them?
I dont see anything wrong with befriending co workers. We all do. And to say that the workplace needs to be kept 'professional' and not the place to make friends is unreasonable since we are all humans and not robots. There just needs to be a line drawn, especially as a manager.

20

GEEGEE2009-03-29T11:26:03Z

I agree in many instances it's a good idea to maintain a "professional distance" but most people don't make an announcement to that effect- they just do it. So perhaps, for future reference your husband should just avoid the "hey guys, I have no intention of befriending any of you or socializing with you, but will attend the holiday gathering!" and just do what he wants, but quietly and understated.

10

bcs4me2009-03-29T11:26:03Z

I don't think the manager should be there to make friends, he should be there to work. Making friends with them changes the relationship from a professional level. He shouldn't be saying anything about it either. Just keep it strictly business.

10

Anonymous2009-03-29T11:26:03Z

No need to befriend any of them. But it does make for a better work environment when all staff are (professionally) friendly to each other.

10

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