Are you friends with your boss? What do you think of people who are?

Question

I am talking about same sex (not gay) boss.

She is a very nice/cordial/friendly person. When she got divorced and moved to a new place, I helped her do some moving. She has helped me w/some things, but off the job.

Answer 1

Some bosses are cool. They can run work without being a jerk. Those guys you have enough respect for that even if you hang around them outside of work, you can still follow orders at work. I've had a couple of bosses like that and I wish I one like that now.

Answer 2

I would hope that your boss shows the same cordiality to everyone else who works for them and not just you.

I can say from personal experience that some bosses pick out someone they see as venerable to 'befriend' which effectively isolates that person from everyone else. Then when that person doesn't always show willing in being manipulated into whatever agenda the boss has they get dumped - and isolated.

so be wary of a boss who tries too hard to be a 'friend'

Answer 3

Being actual friends can cause serious problems. Being friendly is another thing. Just remember, the Boss is the Boss over you, and there will be times you become resentful of your "friend" having justified control over you. You are not both on the same level in the workplace.

Answer 4

Being friends with the boss can have its ups and downs. Sometimes people are able to work together in a supervisory/employee situation and maintain the friendship without playing favorites. Sometimes the lines are crossed. Crossing the lines can make one an outcast with fellow employees. I firmly believe in keeping business business and personal personal. Less problems that way.

Answer 5

I am currently in this situation and I have to tell you it's not always good. I don't believe in playing favorites and this can happen. My working enviroment is small with about 5 of us and we were generally all close in different ways to our boss. However she hired someone new and everything changed because none of us cared for this girl and she is always shown favortism and gets away with murder. We don't understand it now it's not like a family anymore it's all about this girl who is addicted to drugs. (fact) Now every single one of us is looking for a new job because not only did it harm our performance at work it hurt us deeply inside as if it were our best friend. The line was definitely crossed

Answer 6

Sure I am, my boss is a funny and awesome guy. It makes for a much better working environment, actually. Just don't talk to them while you're supposed to be working, or in any other way let the friendship get in the way of the job, and make sure you listen to their critisicim, but don't take it personally.

Answer 7

No, but I have been really good friends with a couple of previous bosses. I don't think anything bad of someone being friends with his/her boss as long as it is a true friendship and not a brown-nosing kinda deal ...that I do have issues with :-)

Answer 8

I don't hang out with my boss but I would consider her a friend and I was friends at one time with her other half. Oddly enough...my boss is gay. Its ok to be friends as long as they don't play favorites because it makes for a horrible work environment.

Answer 9

I was friends with my boss, she would invite me to her house to have a good time! Having an outside the office relationship with your boss, I think is a good thing. One just needs to recognize boundaries.

Answer 10

Smart bosses separate friendship from business. They will not jeopardise their position. Outside work they may share with the friend his family situation etc. But the smart boss will demand work from his friend .
My hubby's supervisor is his good friend, and we meet with him and wife periodically. But at work my hubby knows he is relied upon, and he will never let his boss down.