
A TikTok about making friends in the workplace has people working overtime to share their opinions on the debate.
User Ben Adkins stitched a video on Sunday asking users to share a corporate survival skill they wish they had known sooner.
“Do not go out to drinks with your peers, do not hang out with your peers socially, do not go out to happy hours,” Adkins said in the video, which has been viewed more than 391,000 times. “Go to work, go home.”
The longtime debate has employees divided as Amy Cooper Hakim, an industrial-organizational psychology practitioner and workplace expert, told CNN in 2018: “You don’t need to be best buds.
“You want to be kind, professional and nice. But we don’t need to tell every person at work our deep dark secrets, and long-term goals and dreams,” she added.
However, TikTok users had varying opinions on the topic.
“YES! This took me so long to figure out but it’s so true,” said one user who supported Adkins’ advice. “I found they respected my time away from the office so much more.”
“‘The Office’ made us believe we could be friends with coworkers,” another wrote, casting blame on the hit sitcom for mismanaging expectations around workplace camaraderie.

“Coworkers are NOT your friendsssss,” another commenter doubled-down.
Still, many more felt conflicted about the advice.
“Not exactly. Building relationships with colleagues outside of work can 100% help grow your career, but be smart about it,” explained one user.
“How do you get promoted then? All big bosses do dinners, happy hour and events,” another protested.
“It’s okay to go out with them. Don’t get drunk!” another advised.

Other users had a strict no-friends-from-work policy.
“Yes yes yes yes! I tell my friends this all the time!! Work is work! Work friends are great! But at work! I am here to make money and go home!” one reasoned.
“Don’t tell them nothing personal. I promise you it will be useful to them once they become upset,” another warned.