Friendships in the workplace

Are employees allowed to engage in friendships in the workplace or does it vary from company to company and does it depend on the core business of that organisation?

I worked at a company a few years ago and it’s a sort of callcentre environment with a few ladies and I must stay I appreciate the opportunity I was given to work there as it was my first ever job. As we were a few female agents, one of us became friends with the supervisor and boy was it hell for the rest of us.  First of all, she would be the first to get trained on any new systems, be the first to be promoted, earned a higher income, and received higher raises while assuming the same job title as everyone else.

I would rather everyone be the same with the next person to avoid unnecessary favouritism which then affects productivity because if you know someone else is a friend with your superior then it will most definitely affect your productivity as you won’t want your fellow peers earning more at your expense, you might aswell kick back, relax and let them earn their penny.

Employers or people in superior positions should not let their personal lives affect the work environment.  Remaining neutral is key to the companies success and a platonic front should be maintained. Peace.