When I start a new job I like to find a work husband.

A work husband is a person that I can eat lunch with, someone I can ask about other things not related to my job that are none of my business but I am curious and need to know. Ideally this man sits near me and we work on projects together, but he can be a peer from another department that has nothing to do with what I do. I like to have that workplace companion.

Research shows that if you have a friend at work you are likely to be a happier, more productive employee. That is why there are programs for employee referrals! If you’ve worked with someone in the past, you can vouch for them and make the workplace more enjoyable for everyone.

I like to call it the work-husband because I will typically end up revealing things to this person that are not strictly professional. I am not getting frolicky or flirty here, what I mean is that matters of personal opinion that differ from the company philosophy. Possibly differences in approaches on tactics we’re in charge of implementing, not always the politically correct point of view. Workplace disagreements, like fights in a marriage… can be dangerous if you don’t know how to fight. What are the rules? Do we go to bed mad at each other? Do we take a walk and talk about it later? What is the special code this organization uses to express and work through dissent?

When a co-worker leaves the company and it feels like your right arm is being cut off, you won’t be able to do your job, you’re losing your friend at work, the person who makes the day fun and worthwhile… it feels awful. Especially if the workplace is a living hell.

Maybe work-husband isn’t the right term, maybe I should use work brother.
Brother from another mother
Sister from another mister.

Does anyone else have a term for this? Let me know in the comment section!