I grew up idolizing the ideal of friendships forged through camaraderie at work. I didn’t even believe authentic friendships could be formed outside of a shared venture--if not doing work together, then chasing a trophy on a sports team, or invading a country together in an army. 

Despite realizing my idiocy, I still have made some of my best friends at work.  And how convenient this has been for employers trying to squeeze every last drop out of me!  I’ve chosen to endure many an abuse of management because I knew dropping the ball would screw colleagues who A) I love, and B) are under the same pressure.   

The energy workplaces put into “culture” tells me that employers are aware of this dynamic and want to encourage it.  I can’t yet prove it, let alone explain the method.

But if someone has formalized the technique of weaponizing friendships to make you work harder, it’s gotta be out there somewhere in a book.  In the corporate world, no cabal’s secret can outlast someone’s desire to be a thought-leader.

Perhaps one of you can point me in the direction of a good source.