Kiwis least likely to hang out with workmates after hours

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Mateship might seem part of the fabric — but only during work hours, with Aussie and Kiwi workers the least likely in the world to want to hang out with workmates after hours.

The survey of about 1200 Australians and New Zealanders, from marketing software company HubSpot, revealed less than a third (31 per cent) wanted to spend more time socialising with colleagues.

They were less keen than Latin Americans (62 per cent wanted to socialise), Asians (55 per cent), Europeans (42 per cent), and North Americans (37 per cent).

HubSpot APAC director James Gilbert said most Australians sat firmly in one camp or the other - either spending lots of time with colleagues outside of work or very strictly ensuring personal and professional worlds were kept separate.

Human behaviour expert Dr John Demartini said crossing between personal and professional could affect lines of command, delegated authority and accountability at work.

"[Work] friends can assist or hinder productivity based on the respect or more casual feelings between the individuals," Demartini said.

"It could elevate our standards or it could distract us from focus depending upon the interaction and values of the individuals and their differences in authority and position."

The survey also revealed Australians and New Zealanders were the least likely to connect with bosses and colleagues on Facebook.

About four in five (79 per cent) preferred not to accept a request from their manager and 61 per cent preferred not to accept their colleagues.

At the other end of the spectrum, workers from Latin America were most likely to be Facebook official with work contacts. Just 58 per cent avoided managers and 42 per cent avoided colleagues.

HubSpot APAC director James Gilbert said workers were often apprehensive about bosses seeing not only what they posted but what their friends might post about them.

"Australians tend to be their true self outside of work and maybe there are photos from their true self they are not wanting their boss to see," he said.

"It might be that on Monday they don't feel so well and the boss sees they had a big weekend."

Gilbert said there were some positives to connecting with colleagues on social media, such as the ability to build relationships quickly by finding mutual interests.

"The con is that what you do on social media might not be in line with what your colleagues like, and if it's not, the conversations can be very awkward," he said.

The HubSpot survey also revealed Australians and New Zealanders were most likely to quit their job because of a bad manager, with almost two thirds (61 per cent) saying they would do this.

Respondents from Asia were least likely, at 40 per cent.