Friends with Boss

[Corleone]

Is befriending your boss a positive or negative move? Of course it would be a positive move for the employee, but as a boss, it might be a risky decision to get too close to an employee. What are your thoughts?



I personally believe that becoming too close to your boss could cause problems for you and/or your boss. Let's say there's going to be layoffs and although you haven't been there as long as the others, you're friends with the boss. How does he lay you off and still be friends with you afterwards? It's risky business, because in cases, such as above, it could cause touchy decisions which could potentially hurt the business. If the boss lets a veteran employee go because he didn't want to let his friend go, then he lost an important asset to the company. I'm not saying you and the boss shouldn't get along and build a relationship, but if it becomes more like a friendship, I believe it's starting to become too much, and then that's when favoritism starts to show.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Let's say there's going to be layoffs and although you haven't been there as long as the others, you're friends with the boss. How does he lay you off and still be friends with you afterwards? It's risky business, because in cases, such as above, it could cause touchy decisions which could potentially hurt the business. If the boss lets a veteran employee go because he didn't want to let his friend go, then he lost an important asset to the company.

That would not happen where I work. No boss has the authority to decide who gets laid off and who doesn't. Its all done by seniority, no exceptions.

Nobody can get a bonus or a raise because the boss likes you either. There is a 'Salary Schedule' and the raises are given out strictly by that schedule.



Being friends with the boss where I work wont really get you anywhere except for maybe getting better employee evaluations at the end of the year.

 

[stm]

If you're friends with your boss because you want to be, that's different.



So if he fires you, it'll be probably your fault or the companies fault, not his

 

[Jazzy]

I keep my relationship with my boss on a professional level. Like Nebulous, my job has a salary schedule and lay offs are also based on seniority. Bottom line is that I'm there to do a job not to socialize.

 

[Flurry]

I'm friendly with a lot of the management at work. As I find it better then being rude or anything like that. But outside of work. I don't really talk to any of em.

 

[DrLeftover]

I'd rather be personal friends with the undertaker than with a boss.



FRIENDLY- yes. But Friends- No.

 

[Masri]

I thought it was rule of thumb that the boss was not supposed to associate with any employees outside of work?



That's how it should be.

 

[DrLeftover]

Just like some parents want to be their young children's friends instead of a parent, some bosses don't like to be seen as an authority figure and want to be 'buddies' with their employees.



There are times when it works, and times when friendship complicates the matter.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I thought it was rule of thumb that the boss was not supposed to associate with any employees outside of work?



That's how it should be.

Ive never heard of such a rule. I have heard of rules against boss/employee romantic relationships though.

 

[Dennis]

Just like some parents want to be their young children's friends instead of a parent, some bosses don't like to be seen as an authority figure and want to be 'buddies' with their employees.



There are times when it works, and times when friendship complicates the matter.

Micheal Scott

But i agree with Nebulous. Your boss doesn't decide your fate, it's all corporate. Although i'm sure he has a say in who gets the lay off. So i would stay on the safe side and not make friends with your boss, because it's obviously just a business friendship. If you developed a real friendship with him, you wouldn't mind him doing his job, even if it means laying you off.