Workplace Romance Statistics: How Common Is Workplace Romance?

Love in the workplace, a subject often gossiped about around the office, can evoke mixed feelings. 

From side eyes to shy smiles, subtle glances, and maybe some pretence to covet secret affairs. These romances are inevitable. 

Workplace romance has raised many eyebrows and is often faced with strong office policies. However, how are employees dealing with finding love at work?

As we look at the captivating workplace romance statistics, we uncover just how common these situations are and how colleagues perceive them. 

Key Statistics & Facts (Editor’s Pick)

• Over 60% of employees have had at least one workplace romance.
• 47% of surveyed employees admitted to changing jobs just to date an employee.
• 85% of affairs begin in the workplace. 
• 40% of U.S. workers believe workplace romances are unprofessional
• 18% of U.S. workers who have been in a workplace romance say it negatively impacted their career. 
• 59% of workers admitted they had had sex with a colleague.
• 24% of male employees are more open to considering workplace relationships than 16% of their female counterparts who feel the same way.

Interesting Workplace Romance Statistics

1. Over 60% of employees have had at least one workplace romance before. (source)

2. About 43% of workplace romances have led to marriage. (source)

3. Comfortability (65%), lack of time to meet other romantic interests (61%), and shared workplace experience (59%) are the top 3 reasons why people engage in workplace romance. (source)

Other reasons include: 

• Convenience: 58%
• Similar interests/positions: 56%
• Compatibility: 52%
• Ability to see their true colours under stress: 44%
• A more enjoyable workday: 38%
• Clear communication: 28%

4. Workplace romances increase the fear of breaking up by 17%. (source)

5. Over 50% of employees say that a workplace romance has influenced their sense of individuality. (source) 

6. Of those who reported having a workplace romance, 57% said it affected their performance. (source)

However, employee performance is not the only area that gets affected. Other other affected areas are: 

• Work/life balance: 54%
• How coworkers treated them: 52%
• Sense of professionalism: 51%
• Increased workplace gossip: 46%
• Increased jealousy: 33%
• Scheduling vacations: 26%

7. 47% of surveyed employees admitted to changing jobs just to date an employee. (source)

8. About 40% of employees in workplace relationships admitted to cheating on a current partner with a colleague. (source)

9. 62% of employees admitted telling HR about their romantic workplace relationship. (source)

10. 41% of employees report feeling uncomfortable about public displays of affection (PDA) from their colleagues. (source)

11. About 50% of people believe workplace romance promotes favouritism. (source)

12. 50% of surveyed U.S. employees said they would consider a workplace fling or affair. 15% also said they would admit to having a crush on a colleague. (source)

13. Also, about 7% admitted to meeting their spouse at work. (source)

14. 67% of U.S. employees aged 18 to 24 are the most open to workplace relationships. 10% also admitted to currently being in a relationship with a colleague. Only 47% of the older employees (65+ years) approve of workplace relationships. (source)

15. The science and pharmaceutical industry is the top industry setting for finding workplace romance. 50% of the employees in this industry are open to workplace romance. (source)

Other industries with a high possibility of workplace romance include:

• Leisure, sports, and tourism: 36%
• Telecommunications services: 33%
• Property and construction: 31%
• Accountancy, banking, and finances: 28%
• Public services and administration: 27%
• Sales: 26%
• Creative arts and design: 25%
• Environment and agriculture: 25%
• Retail: 20%

16. 85% of affairs begin in the workplace. (source)

17. 24% of employees who admitted to having workplace romance said either they or their partner was married at the time. (source)

18. 45% of surveyed respondents confirmed their company had some kind of policy on office romance. (source)

19. Although most people accept office romance, 43% of industry professionals believe that romances between colleagues at different levels are unacceptable. (source)

20. 44% of employees agree they have a work best friend. (source)

21. 67% of respondents stated they knew someone who cheated on their partner with another coworker. (source)

22. 75% of employees surveyed claimed workplace romances cause favouritism, while 74% said they reduce productivity. (source)

23. 73% of employees know someone who met their spouse at work. (source)

24. In the U.K. The West Midlands is the top office romance hotspot, with more than one in three respondents (34.6%) admitting to workplace romantic encounters. (source)

25. 49% of participants reported that their organization lacks a specific policy addressing workplace relationships. (source)

26. 41% of employees are not aware of their company’s office romance policy. (source)

27. 37% of workers hide love connections from HR at work. (source)

28. 19% of workers who had been in a relationship with someone at work stated they felt pressured to be part of a romantic relationship at work. (source)

29. Over a quarter (27%) of U.S. employees are in a workplace romance or have been in one before. 57% indicated love was the primary motivation for starting their romance, while 1% said it was work-related. (source)

30. 75% of American workers are okay with coworkers being in romantic relationships, and 83% respect or would respect those who are. (source)

31. 40% of U.S. workers believe workplace romances are unprofessional. (source)

32. 40% of workers in the United States have flirted with someone from their office. 24% have gone on a date with someone from their workplace, and 17% have had an official relationship with someone from their employment. (source)

33. 79% of U.S. workers who are currently or have previously been in a workplace romance have dated their peers. However, 10% have dated their subordinates, and 18% have dated their superiors. (source)

34. 24% of U.S. workers have had a “work spouse,” and 20% of these workers have romantic feelings for this person. (source)

35. Younger Millennial and Generation Z workers are 33% more likely to say they’d be open to a workplace relationship than Older Millennial workers (15%), Generation X workers (27%), and Baby Boomer and Traditionalist workers (23%). (source)

36. In-person dates/meetings (79 per cent) were the most common way they used to develop workplace romances. Other ways include phone calls (55 per cent), direct messaging (46 per cent), and work-related events such as happy hours and work parties (27 per cent). (source)

37. According to 71% of U.S. workers, their employer does not compel them to disclose if they participate in a workplace romance. (source)

38. The majority (87%) of U.S. workers in a workplace relationship said that work-related concerns had little or no impact on their breakup. However, 13% claimed work-related issues had a moderate or significant impact. (source)

39. 18% of U.S. workers who have been in a workplace romance say it negatively impacted their career. (source)

40. 50% of those who reported workplace romance following the pandemic claimed it was with a superior, while 46% said it was with a subordinate. (source)

41. Of those who began a romantic relationship at work, 46% claimed they were in a relationship with one colleague, while 41% said they were in a relationship with two colleagues. 14% claimed to have dated three or more people they met at work. (source)

42. 47% of employees surveyed say they saw no potential for romance at work. (source)

43. About 77% of those who have been in a workplace romance haven’t disclosed the relationship to their employers. (source)

44. 59% of workers admitted they had had sex with a colleague. (source)

45. 73% of surveyed employees knew someone who had met their spouse in the workplace. Also, 67% knew someone who had cheated on a partner with a colleague. (source)

46. Almost 8 in 10 (78%) respondents believed you could find true love in the workplace. (source)

47. About 1 in 10 heterosexual couples in the U.S. admitted they met at work. (source)

48. 66% of those who have had a relationship with a co-worker said it positively affected their work. (source)

49. According to a SHRM survey, 74% of employees who were previously in a relationship with a co-worker said it was worth it. (source)

Workplace Romance Statistics: Employee Perspective by Gender

50. 24% of male employees are more open to considering workplace relationships than 16% of their female counterparts who feel the same way. (source)

51. Also, 40% of male employees admitted to crushing on a colleague. 10% said they have feelings for their boss. Compared to women, the numbers are lower. Only 8% of female employees admitted crushing on their boss, and one-third will consider workplace romance. (source)

52. Almost one in every two women and three in every ten men in Canada have reported workplace harassment or sexual assault. (source)

53. 55% of women, 44% of males, and 46% of nonbinary/GNC employees have experienced workplace sexism. Also, 54% of respondents reported having power inequalities in their relationships. (source)

54. According to a survey, 13% of men and 7% of women said it was acceptable to exhibit or display sexually explicit content in the workplace. (source) 

55. 15% of males felt it appropriate to resume asking a coworker for a date after they had already declined, compared to 9% of females. (source) 

56. In the U.K., men (27.6%) are more likely to engage in a romantic relationship with a colleague than women (21.5%). (source)

Conclusion

As we have seen in the workplace romance statistics, love knows no bounds, not even the office walls. 

From subtle glances at the water cooler to deeper connections over shared projects, work can indeed become the backdrop to a blossoming romance.

Despite the potential benefits of office romances, it’s important to approach such relationships with a blend of caution and optimism. 

Striking a balance between professional responsibilities and personal relationships is the key to making the most of these often thrilling yet delicate connections. 

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