Study: A Third Of U.S. Workers Have Had A Romance With A Boss

What was supposed to be a feel-good moment on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert ended up revealing a couple having an affair. The clip of the cuddled-up concertgoers shows them panic as they’re shown on the big screen and later we learned they were a CEO and his company’s head of HR. While workplace romances are generally known to be a bad idea, it turns out smooching a supervisor isn’t as rare as you may think.

According to the “Modern Workplace Romance Report” from Zety, a startling 79% of respondents say they’ve had a long-term workplace romance. The online resume company’s poll of more than 1,000 U.S. workers uncovered something even more shocking - a third of people admit they’ve dated their boss or supervisor.

• Despite the controversy or professional risks of getting romantically involved with someone at work, it seems some folks can’t keep their hands off each other.
• So, what’s driving all these workplace romances? The surge of hybrid and remote work makes it easier for them to happen, as there’s less risk of being seen by coworkers if they’re not in the office together, according to 86% of respondents.
• While 94% think emojis and GIFs make workplace flirting easier, more than three-quarters (79%) admit they’d botched sending flirty messages by sending them to the wrong person.
• But the most unsettling finding in the survey may be that 91% confess they’d used flirting or charm to boost their position at work or advance their career.

It’s important to remember that Zety’s research doesn’t imply that workplace romances are all affairs involving married people cheating on their spouses, but it does remind us just how many people you work with may be romantically involved. Think about that as you look around on your way to the breakroom to get a refill on your coffee.

Source: Inc.⠀

Scott's Thoughts:

• Your workplace romance probably won’t get caught on the Jumbotron at a concert, but it’s still probably a bad idea to get involved with a coworker!
• Hookups lead to heartbreak and sadness in the long run. It always hurts someone.
• Consenting adults can do what they want outside of the office, but it could have consequences, as we recently learned.