FRIENDS ON THE WORK FLOOR

GOOD IDEA OR BAD?

“You’re going to be working on the project together with Hanneke, you’re going to love her.” These were the words my supervisor said to me a long, long time ago. Twenty years later (or was it twenty two?) and we’re still attached at the hip.

We would call each other as we were rolling out of hotel rooms with some random guy we met the night before (obviously only happened once) and it was Hanneke who dropped by my house with a bag full of pads after I had just given birth.

After Hanneke it was Marte and she too was introduced to me as: “Here is your intern Marte, you’re going to love her.” And voilà, Marte marched right up to my top five list of most cherished friends.

We both fell straight to the floor after trying to cycle after an evening filled with too much wine (this too only happened once), shared hotel bedrooms in Antwerp and Paris and she cried just has much as I did when we found out my eldest daughter was ill.

“And voilà, Marte marched right up to my top five list of most cherished friends.”

And then there are Asjha, Peggy, Harriet and Agnès and of course Anouk and Fred who I worked together with for Holland’s Next Top Model. People who I met through work and are now so dear to me. The reason I’m writing this is because there are plenty of discussions as to whether it is a wise idea to build a friendship with people you work with.

Working together can be troubling. Your supervisor might find the friendship to be very intimidating and if one of the two were to get a promotion both of you were hoping to get, it can cause some sever distress. It’s hard to judge the work your friend delivers and if push comes to shove, having to fire that friend would be a downright disaster.

I can think of so many reasons as to why it isn’t a great idea. There might even be more con’s than pro’s. But over the course of my life as a working woman I’ve come to realize that it is just too difficult; distancing yourself. Especially when the people you’re surrounded with are all so great. It’s all or nothing. And even if you come across some obstacles, they’re worth it.

“I ended up getting the job and Hanneke was the first in line to congratulate me.”

Of course I’ve been faced with a couple of uncomfortable situations. To come back full circle, let’s start with Hanneke. We were both working for the same TV show which was unfortunately coming to an end and we then both ended up applying for the same job position for another program. I ended up getting the job and Hanneke was the first in line to congratulate me. Unfortunately the job ended up being the worst one I had ever had (I left after three weeks to be exact) and three weeks later Hanneke got her dream job; travel editor for a travel program.

And there you have it, friendships can overcome a little bump in the road. The ultimate relationship test if you ask me.