I read this so often and can't understand it. It's like most people never get friends outside of work. Like they never grew up and are still in the 'I can only get friends at my school/class'-mindset from when they were young.
The best people I know I met at places of my choosing, not at work, not at school.
I work remote because my private life is so demanding and I couldn't get it work with 40h in an office.
And so, of course, it comes as no surprise that people look to work to fill a lot of their social needs, and that coworkers play a big role in not only their job, but their life satisfaction.
60 hour weeks and a young family will do that. I literally don't have a single friend outside of family members. I'm also suffering from bipolar depression but it's either support my family or be happy. I'd rather they be happy. I guess.
There's your first problem. Stop overworking.
I don't think it's friends. It's the large number of causal acquaintances that most jobs deliver.