Looking for a Valentine this year? The office may be a good place to start. CareerBuilder.co.uk’s annual survey on office romance found two in five (39 per cent) U.K. workers have dated someone who worked for the same company, and 16 per cent said they have done so more than once. The national survey was conducted online in January 2014 and included a representative sample of 1,000 full-time, workers across industries and company sizes.
Love and Marriage
That budding office romance may even lead all the way to the altar, or possibly to a new job. Of those who dated someone from the office, three in ten (29 per cent) ended up marrying their office sweetheart. While, one in ten workers admitted to having to leave their job because of their romantic relationship with a co-worker.
Dating Up
Forty-one per cent of workers who have dated a coworker said their office sweetheart was higher up in the organisation with 24 per cent saying they dated their boss. However, only six per cent of workers who have had an office relationship said the relationship helped them progress in their career.
Love is Always in the Air
Most office romances start by coworkers simply working together (57 per cent) or at a work social (13 per cent). Some other situations that led to romance include running into each other outside of work (12 per cent), company party (8 per cent), and on a company business trip (4 per cent).
"Whether you are in an office or outside, when you fall for someone it just happens," said Scott Helmes, Managing Director of CareerBuilder UK. "If your valentine is in the office, remember to always keep it professional during business hours. Company policy doesn’t have to be a romance killer, but always consult it first and make sure that your romance is not making your other co-workers uncomfortable."
Our Little Secret
While most workers were open about their dating situation, nearly two in five (35 per cent) said they had to keep their relationship with a co-worker a secret. Forty-four per cent said they accidentally ran into co-workers while out socially with their office sweetheart. Of these workers, 27 per cent pretended that they weren’t dating their co-worker.
Tips for Navigating a Workplace Romance
- 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.
- Proceed with Caution – Some romances lead into marriage, but others can lead into disaster. Seven percent of workers reported having to leave their jobs because of an office romance that soured. Take the time to get to know someone first and carefully weigh risks and benefits.
- Compartmentalize – Keep your work life separate from your home life. Avoid showing PDA in the office and don’t involve co-workers 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.
About CareerBuilder.co.uk
CareerBuilder UK is one of the most visited online job sites in the United Kingdom. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc (NYSE: GCI), Tribune Company, and The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), CareerBuilder.co.uk powers the career centres for hundreds of UK sites that reach national, local, industry and niche audiences. CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.co.uk.
