Almost a 3rd of staff admit to office romance since returning to workplace, research finds

Almost one-third of employees say that they’ve had a romantic relationship at work since returning to the workplace, after a pandemic-related hiatus from exhibiting up in individual, in response to a survey from profession website Resume Builder.  

Through the previous yr, many main firms have carried out necessary return-to-office insurance policies, forcing staff to work in individual at the least a few days every week. 

Half of those that stated they’ve skilled office romance stated their relationship was with a superior, whereas 46% stated they’d a relationship with a subordinate. Nearly all of these in relationships with work colleagues stated they didn’t inform human assets about it, the survey discovered. 

Workplace relationships are sometimes frowned upon, particularly if the connection violates firm coverage. 

“I encourage individuals to verify their worker handbook for insurance policies round relationship co-workers. Some locations do not enable it, and others require you to acknowledge the connection,” stated Resume Builder’s Resume and Profession Strategist Julia Toothacre in an article on the research on the Resume Builder web site.

Understanding the implications

Two-thirds of staff who’d been in relationships with colleagues stated it had a constructive impression on their work, Resume Builder discovered. However romantic relationships on the workplace can even result in distractions and conflicts throughout the office.

“Whereas in-office romance has at all times been round, it is necessary to grasp the implications of those relationships,” Toothacre stated. “There’s a energy dynamic when it is a boss/subordinate relationship, which may result in issues like favoritism or getting let go if the connection ends.”

Of those that began a romantic relationship on the workplace, 46% stated they’d a relationship with one colleague, whereas 41% say they’d been in relationships with two coworkers. Fourteen % stated they’ve dated three or extra individuals they met at work. 

Lower than half — 47% — of these surveyed say they noticed no potential for love at work, and have neither began a romantic relationship nor had a crush on any colleagues.

Resume Builder surveyed practically 1,500 individuals in February 2024.