Is the workplace a good place to find Mr. Right? Perhaps those Valentine’s Day flowers, now with wilting petals on your desk, came from a coworker? Or perhaps you’re currently hiding an office romance?
A brand new Career Builder survey of more than three thousand private sector, full time, US employees, found nearly 38 percent have dated a colleague; 16 percent are repeat offenders!
Where does the romance start?
Sometimes in the lunchroom or at a bar. Surprise… surprise. The survey found:
- 12% started with coworkers running into each other outside of work
- 11% started at a happy hour
- 10% started by having lunch together and late nights at work
- 9% say it was just love at first site
Dating beyond your pay grade?
While it’s risky—it happens, according to the survey:
- 24% say their significant other held a higher position in the company, including the title of “boss”
- 3% say the relationship helped them make career progress
Do office romances lead to the alter?
Sometimes. And sometimes it leads to divorce court and the unemployment line.
- 31% of those surveyed ended up marrying their office love
- 20% of those surveyed said at least one person in the relationship was married at the time
- 7% of those involved in an office romance said they had to leave their jobs when the love took a nose dive
Should you keep it a secret?
Most people surveyed said they were pretty honest about their dating situation. But the survey found:
- 39% kept the relationship a secret
- 26% said their cover was blown when they ran into coworkers out socially
- 43% of those workers tried to play off being “outed” by saying they were just friends
And if you do date a coworker:
When you’re love-struck it’s hard to play by the rules, but Career Builder recommends at least find out what the rules are!
- Check the Company Handbook – Some companies have strict policies around office romances. Acquaint yourself with the rules before turning a professional relationship into a personal one.
- Compartmentalize – Keep your work life separate from your home life. Avoid showing PDA in the office and don’t involve coworkers in personal disagreements.
- Think Before You Post – Be careful what you post on social media. You can end up outing your relationship before you’re ready to discuss it.
What do you think? Have you ever been in an office romance? How did it work out for you? Let us know below in the comments section.
