Age-Diverse Workplace Friendship: A Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations for Future Research

Abstract Friendship may help to bridge differences between people, such as age-diverse employees. Oftentimes, age diversity in employee interactions cultivates interpersonal tensions. Age-diverse workplace friendship—a relationship coworkers of different ages, who like each other and are engaged a balanced social exchange—may overcome these tensions because having something common can de-escalate age-related difficulties reduce negative feelings diverse individuals. Despite the relevance topic, literature focusing on friendship is rare. To address this gap direct future research, we aim integrate research related topics (age) at work into systematic review. Concentrating primarily formation maintenance friendship, identified similarity-attraction theory, identity socioemotional selectivity theory three dominant theories referenced utilize them embed connect our findings existing theory. More specifically, review summarize an integrated framework depicting antecedents, processes, outcomes friendship. We discuss theoretical practical implications point out directions for research.