Office Romances On The Rise Among Millennial Employees: Survey Says

Attitudes toward workplace romance are changing -- at least for Millennial employees. A whopping 84 percent of workers ages 18-29 say they would have a romantic relationship with a co-worker, compared to just 36 percent of Generation X workers (ages 30-46) and 29 percent of Boomers (age 47-66), according to a recent Workplace Options survey. And 40 percent of Millennials say they would have no problem dating their supervisors (compared to just 10 percent of older generations).

Far from being worried about sexual harassment charges, or just the general awkwardness of dating a boss or co-worker, 71 percent of Millennial workers believe there are positive aspects to a workplace romance, such as boosting performance and morale. And they’re not shy about it, either: 57 percent talk about their office romances with their colleagues.

Why it matters to your business: More than one-third of employees aren’t sure if there’s a company policy about dating at the office. If your business doesn't have such a policy, it’s time to consider it. Nearly half the employees surveyed say office romances are going on at work, and even if they don’t care, you need to be concerned about sexual harassment charges and complaints about perceived (or real) employee favoritism.

Comments

[valar84]

10:05 AM on 04/13/2012

Romance started at work will continue to grow, for a simple reason: where else are millenials to meet potential partners? We are living more and more isolated from other people. The internet and electronic devices have contributed to isolate us from social contacts and to break up our local communities. People come home from work and stay home most of the time.

As soon as people leave school, the ability to meet people and to get to know them falls drastically. Meanwhile, a lot of workplaces tend to increase working hours and demand more time from its workers, according to the new management paradigm, which further hurts the ability of people to belong to other communities. So, left with only work as a community to evolve in, people are turning to work for their social needs that communities used to provide, including finding romantic partners.

Yes, you can meet people online... but it's not the same thing. It's not really communities as old ones were, you don't get to frequent the same people and get to know them. Online communities form and disband based on interests, so that limits contacts outside of those shared interests. You don't get to know people much from that, surely not to the point of falling in love with them.

[jbyars]

10:42 AM on 04/13/2012

Valid observation. But you didn't say whether you thought it was good idea or not.

[valar84]

10:55 AM on 04/13/2012

It's certainly not ideal because there may be frictions between work and the romantic life of people. That being said, I think it's a case-by-case thing. For example, two teachers in the same high school, yes they work at the same place, but they don't really affect the other's work, nor are they in a position to promote one another, so there's no problem. If one is the boss and the other is a subordinate dependent on the boss for promotion and advancement, that is a situation rife with pitfalls and potential problems.

I think just saying that it's a "good idea" or "bad idea" is too simplistic, the reality is much more complex than that and depends on every case, but I would not condemn the idea outright like many people are doing here.

[notatowniegirl]

09:37 AM on 04/13/2012

I've only been tangled up with someone at the office once. He was the "office hottie" that all the women were throwing themselves at constantly to the point where his work was affected. We were a couple for 3 months before anyone even suspected. Once the cat was out of the bag, though, the digs and snotty remarks from other women got so bad that he offered to leave (and did) to protect me. A week later I overheard them talking about him... how he'd been a Himbo who thought he was too good for anyone at the office except the "anorexic" (presumably me). The comments haven't stopped.

It worked out somewhat well for me despite the catty women but I wouldn't recommend it if you desperately need the job and have no options. And stay away from anyone in your direct path to promotion. Even if it's a genuine romance, you'll be torn apart.

[cdchicago]

12:05 AM on 04/11/2012

A few years ago, I worked for a large consulting firm. One of the analyst was sleeping with the boss literally trying to get a promotion. she rarely worked, turned in crap that required rework but arrogantly ignored instructions. After all sleeping with the boss. well, one night his wife called him and told him there was an attempted break in at thewir home. He quit the next day, left the firm and returned home. She was evaluated by all of the people she messed over by not working. She was let go. The moral of the story is keep your personal life personal and your work life working. Never mix, shake or stir.

[belldn3]

10:05 PM on 04/10/2012

No. It's a terrible idea. Don't do it.

[TwoZeroOZ]

10:56 AM on 04/13/2012

30+, I assume?

[belldn3]

07:06 PM on 04/13/2012

Yes, and been there done that.

[jml1018]

08:49 PM on 04/10/2012

don't see what the harm is in employee romance

[silibalt]

08:36 PM on 04/10/2012

Dating a coworker is a dangerous undertaking in any industry. There are some who have and retired together successfully while the horror stories still linger about ruined careers and families. That old adage about don't crap in your own kitchen still applies no matter how you want to adjust the language on that bit of wisdom. If it becomes a competition you would be fighting your significant other over a job rating which both of you need but only one will get. If it's something like a LE job one of you could be sergeant or captain over the other which at work you do not have a choice to disagree with the order.

[jaburd]

07:31 PM on 04/10/2012

First rule of business. Don't crap where you eat.

[hman570]

07:14 PM on 04/10/2012

Very bad idea to date where you work. ONly bad things can come of it. Just think about if you break up and you still work together, makes for a bad situation. I would think twice before dateing where I work.

[jessiernut]

07:35 PM on 04/10/2012

A 5 year, strong marriage and a beautiful child is what it got me so far. I don't think that is a bad thing :-)

[hman570]

07:53 PM on 04/10/2012

Still early my firend still early.

[TwoZeroOZ]

10:58 AM on 04/13/2012

It seems the "millennials" may be more mature than the previous generations. I've seen plenty of office romances end, and nothing bad happens. The vast majority of the time you couldn't even tell the two people were ex's.

It makes sense; there's no rational reason to have things turn "bad" after a break up.

[hman570]

11:35 AM on 04/13/2012

Yet in todays work place it becomes a big problem. Harrisment is so easy today to make someone's life a living hell. I just feel that it would be better not to date in the office. When people say that things will not turn bad, well I would take a second look.

[dionysus10255]

06:11 PM on 04/10/2012

I've done it in the past & at least for me, I would not do it again. It becomes difficult to work side by side with someone if the relationship goes south. Many years ago I stopped socializing with people I work with because of too many bad experiences of them taking advantage of the friendship in the workplace. Granted these are my experiences & not everyone will find themselves in that position but knowing that there are ups & downs in every relationship, anything negative that happens between the two outside of the worplace will eventually find it's way into it.

[kingemperor]

12:50 PM on 04/13/2012

Yes, people should just go to work. No socializing. Don't get too deep in the relationship. If you do, you'll owe favors and all. Just go to work and come back. Meet people at other places. It relieves the stress from going to work. At least when you are at other places, when you meet someone and don't get along with each other; You can always change places. With work, you can't..........

[Billdabuilder]

05:29 PM on 04/10/2012

Don't meet your honey where you make your money.

[R Harvey]

05:23 PM on 04/10/2012

I know of an accountant who will sleep her way to her next position. She sets up the employees and threatens to sue if she is not promoted, or givena agreat reccomendation to another opportunity. she started in college, at a big four firm, at her last companuy which had to file for bankruptcy, and in her current position. I warned the controller, but he hired her anyway...found out later they were having an affair.

[jbm489]

05:10 PM on 04/10/2012

I did marry someone with whom I worked. We were equal in terms of our jobs. We actually didn't let anyone know until after we were engaged. I figured it would be better to keep it mum because if it didn't work out it would be AWKWARD. No tweeting back then, or Facebook. My advise is to keep it quiet.

[jbyars]

04:08 PM on 04/10/2012

May be fine for the couple, but I have never seen it go over well with the co-workers. Also, doesn't show much character if you can't be around a person 40-60 hours a week without controlling your emotions. You can still like a person, without having to insist on something more. I would be leery of dating someone that had that in their past.

[Tsvi1]

10:22 AM on 04/13/2012

But what if they controlled their emotions at work, like adults, and did whatever they wanted after?
It seems that if people still have a problem with that, than its their fault and not the couple's.

[jbyars]

10:38 AM on 04/13/2012

I understand your point. Just saying I have never seen a work couple leave it at the door, nor seen co-workers that think it's left at the door. My other point is, I wouldn't trust completely someone that can't leave the office romances out of the picture. Too many other great folks out there, rather than have that cross my mind every time he goes to the office working around a bunch of terrific women.

[Ayesha Khan]

03:30 PM on 04/10/2012

Being close or feeling close to someone brings vitality to your life, it really doesn't matter if he or she is a co-worker,but if you can maintain harmony between your work performance, and your relationship then there is nothing to worry about. Most employers might not agree with this point cause they fear that the attention of their employees will be effected, which to some extent is correct also. But then it depends how strong your EQ is, if you can handle emotional stress its a virtue. But from a practical point of view i must say, that one should refrain from getting emotionally attached to someone unless you are sure that you wont split--Its better to have a strong EQ than IQ-----

[Steve Spyrou]

12:43 PM on 04/10/2012

Its an interesting post, is it more about necessity. is possibility one of the reasons for this that millennials tend to be worked harder because they got employed during the recession, work longer and therefore their co-workers are the people that are always around