So you want to be friends with your co-worker but your boss doesn’t think that’s a good idea. With some help from Aristotle and Dumbledore, we figure out whether it’s okay to have friends at work in this episode of Getting Ethics to Work.
So you’re friends with a co-worker and your boss isn’t too happy about it. Who is wrong and who is right? Is it okay to maintain friendships at work? Getting Ethics to Work’s resident ethicist Andy Cullison and producer Kate Berry discuss the pitfalls and pleasures of making friends at work. On this episode and every episode, we dig into complicated stories from the workplace and discuss the underlying moral problems these cases bring up.
Download this episode’s transcript.
Aristotle’s Categories of Friendship:
On Neville Longbottom and friendship in Harry Potter: “There are all kinds of courage,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
Related articles:
“The Argument Against Having Close Friends at Work” by Kathryn Vasel
“Can Bosses and Employees Be Friends Outside of Work?” by Kathy Caprino
“Why having friends at work is so crucial for your success” by Zameena Mejia
“Why Work Friendships Go Awry and How to Prevent It” by Art Markam
“How to Have Friends at Work When You’re the Boss” by Peter Bregman
More about ethics and the Prindle Institute
Thanks to Smallbox for designing our logo and website.
“Brass Buttons” by Blue Dot Sessions
From www.sessions.blue
CC BY-NC 4.0
BUILDING HOURS
Monday - Friday: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday-Sunday: closed
