Malaysians prize workplace relationships: LinkedIn survey

• Malaysia ranks No 1 in SEA for the importance of friendships in workplace
• Almost half of Malaysian respondents have dated a colleague

MALAYSIAN professionals value workplace relationships more than any other Asian country, according to a survey by professional social network LinkedIn.
 
LinkedIn, with more than one million members in Malaysia, has released its Relationships @Work study, which it said sheds new light on a range of workplace behaviours, from sacrificing friendships and climbing the career ladder, to dating relationships in the workplace.
 
With Malaysia ranking No 1 in South-East Asia – over half (58%) of all Malaysian professionals believe that friendships with colleagues make them happier at work, as it provides them with a sense of motivation in their daily work life, LinkedIn said in a statement.
 
The Relationships @Work study surveyed more than 11,500 full-time professionals in 14 countries, including 500 from Malaysia.
 
“It’s clear that our relationships at work have a real impact on many aspects of our personal and professional lives,” said Tara Commerford, head of Communications for LinkedIn Australia/NZ & South-East Asia.
 
“While they can have a positive influence on us in many respects, it’s important to also consider the professional image you’re projecting for yourself; especially as the lines between personal and professional blur in our increasingly social world,” she added.
 
Malaysians value friendships to maintain a healthy and harmonious working environment and work-life balance, according to the LinkedIn survey.
 
Food, health and general gossip were all identified as hot topics among Malaysian colleagues. The majority of Malaysians feel more motivated, happier and more productive by having friends at work.
 
Other findings (click infographic to enlarge):

• Malaysian millennials – more than any other age group – report that friendships in the workplace impact them in a positive way, making them feel more motivated (58%), happier (57%) and more productive (45%).

• Three out of five millennials report that socialising in-person with co-workers makes their working environment better, compared with only two out of five baby boomers.

• Nearly one in three millennials believe that socialising with colleagues in person will help them advance in their careers.

Millennials are defined as respondents ages 25-34 and baby boomers as ages 55-65.
 
Climbing the ladder
 
Although Malaysians are often regarded as warm, friendly and congenial, they take competition very seriously.
 
While friendships in a professional environment fosters positivity among Malaysian professionals, millennials are more likely to sacrifice friendships to climb the corporate ladder.

• More than one in three Malaysians are willing to sacrifice friendships at work in order to get a promotion.

• 40% of Malaysians report that friendships with colleagues affect their work performance by making them more competitive in their careers.

Office romance
 
LinkedIn said new data reveals a healthy dating scene among professionals in the Klang Valley. Almost half of Malaysian respondents have at some time in their careers dated a colleague at work, with the states of Selangor and Johor ranking highest.

• Almost half of Malaysians (48%) have been in a dating relationship with a colleague at some point in their careers.

• One in seven (15%) of Malaysians have dated someone at work and felt motivated, and the same number have dated someone at work and are still dating them.

• One in 10 Malaysians (10%) said that they felt distracted at work when they dated a colleague.

LinkedIn is encouraging professionals worldwide to join the conversation by using #workbff to share your “selfies” with colleagues on LinkedIn, with the new mobile photo sharing functionality on the LinkedIn app.
 
Visit the LinkedIn blog to learn more about the LinkedIn Relationships @Work global study.
 
Survey details
 
In April 2014 LinkedIn partnered with CensusWide to survey more than 11,500 full-time professionals around the world.
 
Respondents between the ages of 18-65 were surveyed in 14 countries including the United States, Sweden, India, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Italy, Indonesia, Brazil and the United Kingdom, to better understand how full-time working professionals view relationships at work.
 
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