Survey Shows Employees Engage Regularly In Office Relationships

Workplace romance statistics show that over 60% of adults have had a workplace romance. Between little time outside of work to meet people and a heightened degree of comfortability, workplace romances aren’t likely to go anywhere. Though our survey found that 43% led to marriage, workplace romances are not a dream for everyone. When 40% of workplace romances involve cheating on an existing partner, increasing workplace gossip, and the perception of promoting favoritism, it can quickly become a nightmare for HR. The reality of workplace romances is that they happen–and while they’re unlikely to be condoned, employers can safeguard their organization and teams through policies and practices, such as using HR management software, that help mitigate disruption and risk.

• 57% report workplace relationships have impacted their work performance
• 43% have married someone they worked with
• 35% don’t report their relationship to their employer
• 40% have cheated on their current partner with a coworker
• 50% report flirting with their co-workers

Survey respondents indicated that the three most common driving forces behind workplace romances are:

• Comfortability
• The lack of time outside work to meet other romantic interests
• The desire for a shared workplace experience

Sixty-five percent of respondents indicated that comfortability was a driving force behind workplace romances. The second leading driving factor is a lack of time outside of work to meet people, with 61% of respondents citing this as a key reason for dating someone at work.

On top of that, while having a shared workplace experience was a leading driving force behind workplace romances, the least popular reason was to make the workday more enjoyable, at 38%. So while people desire the shared experience, and perhaps the benefits of fully understanding one’s professional life, the goal isn’t necessarily to enhance their happiness at work–but to be understood.

Source: Forbes