50% of Singaporeans would sacrifice a friend for a promotion

Singaporean employees value their workplace relationships, but the friendships they make may come with certain terms and conditions.

The Relationships@Work study by LinkedIn found 51.6% of 1,000 Singaporean respondents "would at least consider sacrificing their friendship with a colleague if it would result in a promotion".

This is despite 51.5% admitting workplace relationships make them happier in the office, with 60.9% reporting they had a colleague at work who they believed would look out for them. This is above the global average of 48.5%.

Singaporeans also said their colleagues often doubled up as confidants and mentors; 35.5% of workers here admitted to having a work 'mother' or 'father', compared to 17% who said they have a work spouse.

However, one in five respondents said workplace friendships made them more competitive, and 22% admitted they had an ulterior motive for socialising with co-workers, in that they could help them move up the career ladder.

The study also found younger workers were the least likely to separate their personal and professional relationships.

One in four Millennials would discuss their salaries with a colleague, compared to 18.4% of baby boomers. Half of Millennials have also connected with their managers online, more than the 38.6% Singaporean average.

Singaporeans were also the most likely within Asia (25%) to prefer a manager of the opposite sex, and were the second most likely (66.4%) country to date a colleague, coming behind Australia at 75%.

More than two thirds (68.3%) of  Singaporeans added they often lunch with co-workers, with 80.8% choosing food as their favourite workplace conversation topic.

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