Currently, promotions are based on career tasks. The work environment would be cooler if pissing someone off who was friends with the boss downed your chances of climbing the ladder. Like a simple gossip system if the NPC is prone to that behavior. You could clear the air through direct dialogue, depending on your relationship level, or you could leverage dirt on the gossiper to stop them from spreading rumors. Asking about the coworker in question from others would possibly provide information like affairs or bad blood, and it would feel purposeful.
The higher-ups, too. As an example, cozying up to the team leader in the K-Pop career should provide benefits. Shmoozing wouldn’t be required to advance, but it would be a multiplier. What if they were more lenient with absences or daily assignments?