Rose Mabiza

27-02-2024

International Day of Friendship 2025: Connection, culture, and compliance

Image by luismanuelm via Envato Elements

Explore how the International Day of Friendship 2025 inspires regulated organisations to build cultures of empathy, inclusion, and collaboration for lasting impact

‘’Friendship’’ is a word that feels deeply personal yet holds profound social power. On 30 July each year, the world comes together to celebrate the International Day of Friendship, a United Nations–recognised event dedicated to fostering peace, understanding, and cooperation among individuals, communities, and nations.

But what does this celebration mean in practice, especially for organisations operating in highly regulated sectors such as health and social care, education, and public service? More than a day for pleasantries and platitudes, International Day of Friendship calls on us to look at how we create, nurture, and protect human connections - even in the most structured, compliance-driven environments.

In this blog, we’ll explore the origins and purpose of this day, what friendship looks like in a professional and organisational context, and how regulated organisations can embed their values into their culture to improve employee well-being, service delivery, and ultimately, compliance outcomes.

What is the International Day of Friendship?

The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011, guided by the belief that building strong connections between people, countries, and cultures can foster a culture of peace. It acknowledges friendship as a powerful force for solidarity, reconciliation, and social progress.

At its heart, this day is about more than exchanging greetings or rekindling old relationships. It is an invitation to:

• Promote understanding and respect across different groups and cultures.
• Strengthen connections between individuals and communities.
• Encourage collaboration to address common challenges, from inequality to conflict to public health crises.

In a world facing growing division - political polarisation, economic uncertainty, and social unrest - the call for friendship is both urgent and transformative.

Friendship in organisational contexts - Why it matters

When we think of friendship, we often picture personal bonds - shared experiences, trust, and emotional support. But in professional and regulated environments, this concept takes on a broader, more strategic significance. Below are the two key ways friendship translates into organisational value:

1. Friendship as a workplace value

In workplaces, “friendship” translates into psychological safety, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging. These are essential components of healthy organisational cultures, particularly in highly regulated sectors where stress, scrutiny, and ethical responsibility can weigh heavily on staff.

Research consistently shows that workplace friendships improve engagement, retention, and resilience. In social care, for instance, where burnout is endemic, fostering positive relationships between colleagues can make the difference between thriving teams and high turnover.

2. Friendship and service quality

The values underpinning friendship - empathy, kindness, and collaboration - also shape how services are delivered. In health and social care, creating meaningful connections with service users is vital for person-centred care. In education, fostering supportive relationships between staff and students creates safe, empowering learning environments.

When organisations embed these values, they go beyond compliance. They deliver services that genuinely meet the needs of their communities.

The practical implications for regulated organisations

For organisations in regulated sectors, the International Day of Friendship offers more than symbolic meaning - it presents a blueprint for better leadership, improved compliance, and healthier work cultures. Below are the three practical ways to bring these values to life:

1. Creating cultures of inclusion and belonging

Highly regulated environments often rely on policies and procedures to define how people interact. But culture cannot be mandated - it must be cultivated. Organisations can:

• Implement diversity and inclusion programmes that go beyond box-ticking to create genuine spaces of belonging.
• Encourage cross-departmental collaboration, breaking down silos that often leave teams feeling isolated.
• Provide safe forums for staff to share experiences, ideas, and feedback without fear of reprisal.

2. Friendship as a compliance strength

Interestingly, friendship-driven cultures often perform better in compliance audits. Why? Because they are more likely to demonstrate:

• Open communication, where staff report issues early and without fear.
• Collaborative problem-solving leads to faster, more effective responses to challenges.
• Commitment to shared values, aligning personal conduct with organisational ethics.

In sectors like healthcare and education, regulators such as the CQC and Ofsted look for evidence of strong leadership, staff morale, and collaborative cultures - values that are closely linked to friendship-driven environments.

3. Well-being and workforce development

Workplace friendships are a cornerstone of employee well-being, which in turn impacts performance and compliance. Organisations can:

• Invest in blended learning programmes (like Train the Trainer) to equip internal teams with both technical skills and interpersonal competencies.
• Use digital systems such as ComplyPlus™ to manage training, track well-being initiatives, and provide accessible policies that promote respectful workplace interactions.
• Celebrate events like the International Day of Friendship to reinforce these commitments in visible and meaningful ways.

How to celebrate International Day of Friendship at work

For many teams, especially in regulated sectors, “celebration” often means a brief acknowledgement in a newsletter. But to make this day meaningful, consider activities that promote connection and shared purpose, such as:

• Buddy breaks - Pair staff across departments for a coffee or lunch to encourage new connections.
• Team gratitude walls - Create physical or virtual spaces for colleagues to share appreciation and celebrate one another.
• Friendship-building workshops - Offer sessions on empathy, communication, and collaboration - skills that directly impact workplace culture and compliance.
• Community outreach - Partner with local organisations to strengthen bonds between your service and the wider community.

When celebrated authentically, this day can remind teams that relationships matter - not just between staff, but between services and the people they serve.

Friendship as a force for change

The International Day of Friendship challenges us to rethink how we engage with one another. For individuals, it’s a chance to check in with friends, build bridges, and extend kindness. For organisations, especially those in highly regulated sectors, it’s a call to integrate these values into the very fabric of their operations.

A workplace that champions friendship is one where:

• Policies and procedures reflect empathy and humanity.
• Leadership prioritises connection as much as performance.
• Teams work together - not just because they have to, but because they want to.

In doing so, organisations not only meet regulatory requirements - they exceed them. They create safer, healthier, and more resilient environments for everyone.

Your next step - Stay connected and inspired

The International Day of Friendship is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that meaningful connections are the foundation of great teams, safe services, and thriving communities.

At The Mandatory Training Group, we help organisations embed these values into everyday practice through our training programmes, blended learning solutions, and ComplyPlus™ - building workplaces where compliance, compassion, and collaboration go hand in hand.

Let’s make connection more than a buzzword. Let’s make it a way of working, living, and leading.

Last updated on 30-07-2025