Researching workplace relationships: What can we learn from qualitative organizational studies?

The study of workplace relationships is now well established. Although initially conducted with quantitative methods, when the qualitative turn in organizational communication intersected with increased recognition of the value of qualitative/interpretive methods for understanding interpersonal relationships, research on work relationships began to move in a similar direction, resulting in an increasingly rich knowledge base. This article traces the rise of qualitative research on workplace relationships, highlighting exemplary studies and identifying resources that can guide continued qualitative research on workplace relationships.