Anyone with a work BFF knows there's so much more to it than taking turns on the coffee run. And now science is acknowledging the importance of having a work spouse: according to a study, work friends are apparently one of the most crucial factors to overall success and happiness in your job.

Strong friendships in the workplace boost everything from general health and well-being to day-to-day productivity and positivity. A 2014 report from Gallup showed that while 70 percent of employees are disengaged from their work (it's at an all time low), work satisfaction is massively boosted if great friendships are in place.

Those with a best friend in the workplace were found to be seven times more likely to engage properly with tasks and projects. Their work friendships encourage them to fulfill their potential and bring their companies better results.

Apparently, this is due to the fact that we share an "in it together" mentality, with a series of studies from workforce intelligence company Evolv finding that friendships amongst a team can massively increase productivity.

"It is this simple," says Dr. Michael Houseman, Director of Analytics. "Employees referred by their friends are less likely to quit and are more productive; employees who are trained in a generally 'friendly' culture stay twice as long; and if you have friends at work, you are more likely to stay at that job."

If you need any more encouragement to chat for an extra five minutes in the kitchen, international author and speaker on happiness at work, Alexander Kjerulf agrees.

"Socializing with your coworkers is essential for your career," he states in a Forbes report.

"If you're not able to relate to your coworkers as human beings and build positive relationships, your career will suffer. Socializing and getting to know them as people will help you to communicate better, trust each other more and work better together. 

"Also, employees who have positive workplace relationships are happier at work (in fact, good workplace relationships are one of the most important sources of workplace happiness) and we know that people who are happy at work are more productive, more creative and more successful overall."

So next time your boss calls you out for chatting too much and sharing too many stupid cat videos, you can just show him or her this.