A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Workplace relationships (2020)

Mikkola, L., & Nykänen, H. (2020). Workplace relationships. In L. Mikkola, & M. Valo (Eds.), Workplace Communication (pp. 15-27). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429196881-2

JYU authors or editors

Mikkola, Leena
Nykänen, Hanna

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mikkola, Leena; Nykänen, Hanna

Parent publication: Workplace Communication

Parent publication editors: Mikkola, Leena; Valo, Maarit

ISBN: 978-0-367-18570-1

eISBN: 978-0-429-19688-1

Publication year: 2020

Pages range: 15-27

Number of pages in the book: 213

Publisher: Routledge

Place of Publication: New York

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429196881-2

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Abstract

In both face-to-face encounters and digital environments, workplace relationships are constituted, constructed, and developed in social interaction. They are crucial to work processes and goal achievement. Workplace relationships form the basis for collaboration, but they are also important for personal and social goals, such as job satisfaction and well-being. In the workplace, there are many different types of coworker relationships, such as leader–follower relationships, peer or collegial relationships, friendships, and even romantic relationships. Employees may have many relationships based mainly on information exchange, but they may also have some special relationships characterized by personal commitment and companionship. Coworker relationships exhibit mutual dependency and independence at the same time, and professional identities are managed in workplace relationships as well. This chapter introduces the characteristics and development of workplace relationships. It also discusses the dynamics of interpersonal communication in the workplace, such as relational contradictions, identity management, and privacy management.

Keywords: communication; organisational communication and public relations; workplaces; interaction; interpersonal relations

Free keywords: interpersonal relationship, coworker relationships, privacy management, relational dialectics, working life, workplace communication

Fields of science: