Shhh...It’s A Secret. SHRM’s Annual Research Finds Most Employees Hide Their Workplace Romance

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Office romances may be slightly less taboo, but they’re still largely kept under wraps. New 2026 Workplace Romance research from SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, workers, and the workplace, finds nearly half (47%) of employees are currently or have previously been involved in a workplace romance, and a majority of those workers say they kept the relationship a secret. 

Secrecy is common among workers involved in workplace romances. When asked to consider all the workplace romances they had been involved in, more than half (56%) of workers said they have hidden at least one relationship from their team, while nearly half have concealed a relationship from their managers (49%) and HR departments (45%).  

“Let’s face it – workplace romances aren’t going anywhere. They’re woven into the fabric of our professional lives, and while they can add a spark, they also bring real challenges leaders cannot ignore,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, President and CEO of SHRM. “It’s essential for organizations to set clear expectations, promote transparency and fairness, offer practical training, and cultivate environments where business and personal connections thrive.” 

Additional key findings include:

Moral Responsibility 

• U.S. workers (48%) and HR professionals (49%) agree employees have a moral responsibility to report workplace romances under certain circumstances, such as a potential conflict of interest.  
  • 30% of HR professionals believe the opposite. 

Fewer Workers Find Workplace Romance Acceptable

• 57% of workers somewhat or strongly agree they feel comfortable with colleagues dating, a decline from 81% in 2025. 

Remote/Hybrid Work Hindering Dating Opportunities

• Workers who are in a hybrid or remote setting (39%) agree their work arrangements hinder their ability to meet romantic partners. 
  • However, 37% disagree. 

For HR professionals, favoritism and unfair treatment are top concerns, consistent with the concerns expressed in 2025. To address potential concerns about workplace romance, organizations handle them in a variety of ways. More than a third of HR pros say their organization has a clear, structured policy, while others say their organization takes these relationships on a case-by-case basis (30%) or that they adopt no formal policy at all (20%). 

HR professionals have the power to shape workplaces where transparency and fairness are the foundation. SHRM encourages HR leaders to foster open communication and cultivate a culture where employees and organizations can thrive together. 

Methodology

U.S. Workers: A sample of 1,243 U.S.-based workers were surveyed on December 8, 2025 using a third-party online panel. For the purposes of this study, participants were required to be employed by an organization. Those who were self-employed, retired, or an independent contractor did not qualify. Data is unweighted.  

HR Professionals: A sample of 1,553 HR professionals were surveyed from December 4 to December 9, 2025, using the SHRM Voice of Work Research Panel. Data is unweighted.  

Citation: 2026 Workplace Romance, SHRM, 2026. 

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.