Workplace Romance Report: Cupid's Arrows Are Flying

Tags

Top Highlights

• In a survey of employed Americans, 34 percent are—or have been—in a workplace romance. Among that number, 69 percent said they had dated their peers at some point in their careers, 21 percent had dated their subordinates and 18 percent had dated their superiors, SHRM found. Although the numbers were small, about a quarter of those who said they had been in a workplace romance said that they'd started or continued that romance during COVID-19.

• 50 percent of respondents have had a crush on someone they worked with. 39 percent have been asked out on a date by someone they worked with, and 25 percent said they did the asking.  25 percent began a new workplace romance during COVID-19 or have continued a workplace romance that began prior to the pandemic. 23 percent have or have had someone that they consider their "work spouse," and 45 percent felt romantic feelings toward these individual

• owever, HR professionals have a responsibility to protect employees from favoritism, retaliation and incidents of sexual harassment. Ultimately, HR should encourage both honesty and professionalism to keep working relationships—and workplaces—running smoothly."