Four in ten legal professionals admit that they often worry about not having any genuine friends at work, according to new research.

The figure, which is part of a study by online job marketplace CV-Library, is much higher than the national average of 25.6%, according to the company.

The study polled more than 2,000 people in the U.K. to gather the findings, with 60% of legal professionals also reporting that they worry about disappointing their colleagues.

Lee Biggins, CEO and founder of CV-Library, said in a statement: "It's human nature to want to be liked and while it's not your responsibility to forge friendships between employees, there are small steps you can take to help your teams build connections in the workplace.

"From regular social events, to buddy systems for new starters; your employees will enjoy work more if they have genuine friends. The legal sector can be incredibly stressful, so without good friends in the workplace, the work can become tiring very quickly. Plus, it can only improve your business in the long run."

Another 40% of workers added that they rely on getting praise from their boss to give them a confidence boost at work, while a further 70% of people saying that they are concerned about letting their team down when they're unwell.