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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.