Attraction still grows among co-workers, despite the pandemic, according to new findings from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). One-third, or 33 percent, of 550 U.S. workers said they are or have been romantically involved with a colleague in 2022. A similar percentage said the same in 2021 (34 percent), though a smaller percentage agreed in 2020 (27 percent).
This togetherness tends to be low-key and "unofficial," SHRM found. When relationships deepen into something more, they typically are between peers (65 percent) rather than with superiors, defined as a manager, supervisor or boss (19 percent), or subordinates (12 percent). However, a higher percentage of men than women said they dated a peer, and more women than men dated their superior.
Most relationships of those surveyed ended before the COVID-19 pandemic entered the picture in 2020; only 20 percent of workers said they continued an existing workplace romance and 6 percent said they began a new workplace romance during the public health crisis. The 26 percent of individuals who started a workplace romance or continued one during the pandemic mostly connected through in-person dates, phone calls or direct messaging.
"Workplace romances come in many different forms, too," said Casey Sword, researcher, strategic research initiatives, at SHRM. "Some are subtler than others. For example, we found that half of workers have had a crush on a colleague, and nearly half have flirted with a colleague."
Millennials ages 18 to 30 were more likely than older Millennials (ages 31 to 40) and members of Generation Z, Baby Boomers or Traditionalists to have been asked on a date by a colleague. However, young Millennials—along with members of Generation Z—were the least likely to say they've flirted with a co-worker (29 percent).
[SHRM members-only sample policy: Employee Dating]
"As the pandemic continues to keep many of us apart, it's no surprise that workers are looking for connection amongst their colleagues—remotely or otherwise," said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM president and chief executive officer. "But if workers are finding romance in the workplace, it's key that employers have a workplace romance policy in place to prevent harmful situations should relationships go awry."
The #MeToo movement prompted employers to take more-stringent action in creating respectful workplace cultures by instituting policies to prevent sexual-harassment claims and claims of hostile work environments. Some companies required employees to alert the employer of consensual relationships they were involved in at work, forbade employee dating or prohibited employees from asking the same co-worker out again after being turned down.
More than three-fourths of workers surveyed Jan. 13-18, though, said their employer does not require disclosure of workplace romances. Such policies appear to depend on industry and size of organization, the survey found:
- 28 percent of workers in knowledge-type industries said they are required to disclose such relationships.
- 25 percent of workers in service industries said they are required to disclose such relationships.
- 9 percent of workers in physical-type industries said they are required to disclose such relationships.
Those employed at midsize and large organizations were more likely to say they were required to report such romances (27 percent at both) than those at small employers (16 percent).
When such policies are in place, it's important employees at all levels understand—and follow—the proper procedures. Jeff Zucker resigned last week as president and chairman of CNN for not disclosing a consensual relationship with CNN executive Allison Gollust.
"As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years," Zucker wrote in a Feb. 2 memo to staff. "I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today."
And, like Zucker, most workers surveyed who are or have been in a romance with someone at their organization don't disclose the relationship (77 percent).
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