Abigail Lee, a straight graduate of University, joined Ren as a skincare start-up.

CNBC spoke with Lee about her love for the brand after trying its products in Harrods, an upscale British shop. She was a student and applied for a Ren internship, which she eventually accepted. Lee stated that it was simple to connect with people because the company was so small. “You [didn’t]You will need to wait until you can get to the water [cooler] to speak to somebody, it was just the culture that the two founders built … [a]It is a family-type culture that breaks down these barriers.”

She soon made friends with Eva, the head of customer services at the company, and they became good friends. “She’s 10 or 12 years older than me … and I would say I was much more serious about things. I learned from her how to have fun with myself.” “Despite their occasional clashes in meetings, they were always able to get along.[we’d] then get up and go to Waitrose to go for lunch …  The space that the founders created was the platform, and then the rest was up to us,” Lee said.

Ren sold to Unilever in 2015, Lee decided it was time to leave — having spent seven years at the firm. What were her friends that helped her stay in this role? There were some elements [of that], because just going to work and spending time with people that make you laugh and be happy, they care about you, they champion you — it’s such a luxury,” she said. Eva and Eva are still good friends 13 years later.

Gallup research has shown that the amount of work employees do is directly related to having a friend at work. According to Gallup, “For instance, women who agree that they have a friend at work are twice as likely (63%) than those who disagree (29 %),”). online post in 2018.

Daisley is a former vice president TwitterAccording to, he was close friends with his former colleagues in advertising sales during the 1990s. PinterestDara Nar (who runs Twitter in the U.K.), and Nick Hewat, executive Nick Hewat. Having a friend at work can help to reduce the “flood of “. “Great Resignation” — a record 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in AugustSource: U.S. Labor Department.

He explained that these relationships can be difficult to sustain when there are many working from home.

Daisley talked to an organization that was proud of its familiar and empathetic culture but struggled to keep it going as more people worked from home.[One employee] said to them … I feel like I’d maybe been so captivated by that [culture]I was afraid it would stop me from quitting. “Now I will find a job which pays me five times more and so I am leaving,” he said to CNBC via video.

Some companies have higher productivity, better financial results and some firms are experiencing greater resignation rates than in previous 10 years, Daisley stated about the businesses he worked with.

A survey conducted by a staffing firm found that 80% of respondents are satisfied with their job. RandstadThis “sellers’ market,” which is 56% of all workers, appears to be continuing. For its September 12 Workmonitor report published this month, it polled 27,000 respondents in Europe, Americas, and Asia.

“The market is bouncing back, people see possibilities … [when]Randstad CEO Jacques van den Broek spoke to CNBC over video.

Although managers might not be close to their staff, they still need to support them. According to van den Broek, a Randstad survey from December 2020 found that 71% of respondents felt supported emotionally by their employers. However, this has changed according van den Broek. “Introduced in the beginning [of the pandemic]People used to feel loved and supported. But the market has opened up. [employees]Feel like I need to create some balance.”

Randstad found that 62% (25-34 year olds) feel undervalued, and they plan to seek out a better job. van den Broek described it as the “great enlightenment” and said that they have taken control of their career.

Is there a concept of the “best friend” at work? “We see it in our business a lot … our staff is on average, 27, 28 years old … People do get close to each other, they’re in the same learning curve … getting to know the business [and]He said that they are in the same stage of their lives. The concept of leader-employee can also be used, he said.

“My biggest challenge is to connect with people, to make friends at work and be in good spirits. That might sound naïve because you’re still the boss. That is what we want. Because, if you respect me and I respect you, and I’m interested in who you are as a person … we also have better results.”

According to van den Broek, employees are best kept close to their families. “The call-out is quite clear: Take care of your people … acknowledge them, but be aware that, you know, they might slip away before you know it.”

Is technology able to foster closer relationships? Although technology can help, Daisley said that it could also be a facilitator. He’d been approached by several companies to create games in which people walk through virtual offices and can hear conversations. This would allow him to recreate the watercooler moment. “I don’t believe, yet that we’ve got it all. [found]He said that those are the solutions people look for.

Lee is certain that her connections from former positions will become friends for the rest of their lives. We’re close enough that we can open up. [about]These are our most difficult moments. She said that there are losses and friction in life and she can help us to turn to them, which is extremely precious.”

Are you missing this year’s CNBC At Work Summit? The full session recordings are available on demand. https://www.cnbcevents.com/worksummit/