Friends at work. Are they better than perks and benefits?

A recent study found that happy employees were more likely to report that people – colleagues, mentors, bosses or workplace friends – were the reason they loved their work. — Dreamstime/TNS

With the rise of workplace perks like unlimited paid vacation and flexible work-from-home policies, it would be fair to assume freedom and autonomy are of utmost importance to today's workers.

But in a survey of San Diego's top workplaces, happy employees were more likely to report that people – colleagues, mentors, bosses or workplace friends – were the reason they loved their work.