It's exciting to have a crush or a new love interest. But when the latest apple of your eye happens to
Eighty-nine percent of employees say they've felt attracted to a coworker before, according to a survey from resume platform Zety, while 24% have taken the next step and gone on a date with someone they've worked with, and 17% have
Katherin Winnick, a certified sex therapist and educator, says her office romance started out as beneficial for both her career and personal life. She and her partner worked on similar projects and were able to spend long periods of time together, deepening their bond.
"In the beginning, working together actually helped our relationship. We understood each other's work pressures, celebrated successes together and provided support during challenging times," Winnick says. "Our lunch breaks became mini-dates, which added an extra layer of excitement to our daily routine."
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But over time, Winnick says the "line between work life and love life got blurry," and the pair eventually split after two years together. Her advice for other workers on the hunt? Look elsewhere.
"Our professional lives began to bleed into our personal lives more than we would have liked. Work disagreements turned into personal arguments and vice versa," she says. "We decided to part ways but continued working in the same office — talk about awkward! Would I recommend finding your partner at the office? Probably not."
While it may be fun to flirt around the water cooler, power dynamics, relationship fallouts and uncomfortable colleagues could add complexity to the workplace. For employers, having an official policy on office relationships can ensure the proper boundaries are being followed.
"The success of a workplace romance depends on several factors, such as the company's policies, the individuals involved, and the level of professionalism maintained," says Julia Mathers, marketing executive at Pasha Funding. "It is crucial for companies to have clear policies in place regarding workplace relationships. This not only protects the company from any potential legal issues, but also sets boundaries for employees to maintain a professional environment."
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However, just 42% of employers have some sort of policy in place around workplace relationships, according to SHRM. While banning relationships outright is not a feasible option, ensuring
"Working together can bring a couple closer and strengthen their relationship. However, it can also lead to jealousy, conflicts of interest, and even favoritism," Mathers says. "It is essential for individuals to maintain a balance between their personal and professional lives and not let their relationship affect their work."
For Yay Pranav, a freelance SEO strategist, that lesson was hard-won. After being in a relationship with his assistant for nearly two years, he began missing his own work targets, putting his team, and his job, in jeopardy.
"I got into a relationship with my junior assistant, and working together was fun at the time. But it seriously affected our team outputs as I was not being strict with her on the tasks," he says. "Eventually, I was about to get fired and everybody knew about our relationship. I quit my job and started freelancing. We couldn't rekindle our relationship after that."
Yet for some lucky lovebirds, meeting at work has paid off. Author Margaret Ghielmetti says working in the same industry with her husband helped them connect and understand each other's challenges — lessons that have paid off over their decades-long relationship.
"I met my husband at work and we just celebrated 31 years of marriage!" she says. "Our life together has been an adventure that never would have happened if it weren't for work, so I am grateful."
