We spend almost one third of our lives at work.

Given the amount of time we’re in the office, it’s no surprise many people form tight friendships around the Nespresso machine.

In fact, almost half (47%) of employees in Ireland have observed ‘work spouse’ type relationships in their place of work and one in five Irish employees claim to have a ‘workplace’ husband or wife.

According to research by Jobs.ie, 46% of employees go for lunch or coffee with the same colleague each day and 72% have a particular colleague they regularly confide in.

Sixty percent of employees would expect this colleague to support them in all workplace matters, including a workplace conflict or tensions with other colleagues.Christopher Paye, General Manager Jobs.ie said:

“The term ‘work husband or wife’ can sometimes be misconstrued by employers as something more than it actually is.” explains Christopher Paye, General Manager Jobs.ie.

“It simply refers to a strong platonic friendship between two colleagues, that, if openly recognised, can have a realm of business benefits.

“A collegiate environment where employees feel supported by their peers fosters a strong sense of community and thus improves motivation and morale in the workplace. It also has a role in reducing employee turnover, as people are likely to stay longer in a job where they feel a part of a team with a good working relationship.”

Close relationships at work forge the path for a long-term friendship outside of the workplace, as 88% of employees with a work spouse said they would keep in touch with if one of them left the company.