A survey of 1,000 employees commissioned by Eko studied what factors would keep workers staying at their job for longer and found that they would be ten times more likely to stay for friendships rather than a pay raise.

The study found that millennials value friendships at work more than any other age group, with those working in the food and drink business valuing work relationships the most.

“It’s clear that the friendships people form in the workplace today are instrumental to employers in building happy and committed teams that are more likely to stay put,” said Robert Darling, COO at Eko.

Additionally, the survey found that the top three reasons workers would stay at their job for longer. Almost a third put friendship as their top reason, with flexibility and remote working being the second most popular. Furthermore, 24% of workers said more investment into their health and wellbeing would make them reconsider leaving their job.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly, spending time with family and enjoying greater flexibility in terms of office-based hours continues to be high up the agenda for most workers, as does their general wellbeing and the opportunity for progression and development,” said Darling. “For businesses, there is much more to do in terms of boosting retention, but it would seem that investment in workplace culture is still a number one priority.”