Three in Ten Workers Marry Co-Workers

02.24.2013
HR & Safety

Looking for love? According to CareerBuilder’s annual office romance survey, it may just be right in the cube next to you.

Thirty-nine percent of the more than 4,000 workers polled nationwide said they have dated a coworker at least once over the course of their career; 17% have done so at least twice. Of those who have dated a coworker, 30% reported that their office romance led them to the altar.

While the majority of relationships developed between peers, 29 % of workers who have dated someone at work said they have dated someone above them in the company hierarchy, and 16% admitted to dating their boss. Women were more likely to date someone higher up in their organization: 38% compared to 21% of men.

Other survey findings:

  • Leisure and hospitality leads the top five industries for office romances, followed by information technology, financial, healthcare, and professional and business services.
  • More than one-in-four workers (26 %) reported that what someone does for a living influences whether they would date that person. Six percent of workers said someone broke up with them because their job required too many hours at the office, they didn’t make enough money or the person didn’t like their line of work.
  • While the majority of workers tended to date people in different professions or functions, one-in-five workers (20%) reported that they are more attracted to people who have a similar job.
  • Social settings outside of the office were cited most often in regard to workers connecting on a romantic level. Running into each other outside of work (12%), happy hours (12%), late nights at work (12%), and lunch breaks (11%) were among the most popular catalysts for dating coworkers.
  • Most workers who have had office romances said they were open about their dating situation. Thirty-five percent reported they had to keep the relationship under wraps.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected with CBIA News Digests

The latest news and information delivered directly to your inbox.

CBIA IS FIGHTING TO MAKE CONNECTICUT A TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE MEANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.