Britain is known to be a nation of workaholics with the longest working hours in Europe. So it’s not surprising that strong friendships and even romances flourish during our working hours especially as we spend an average of 80,840 hours of our lifetime at the workplace! With Valentine’s Day approaching, the Monster Meter decided to investigate how passionate Brits are at work.
The Monster Meter asked: Have you ever had a romance at work? 5,271 Monster.co.uk site visitors responded revealing the following findings:
30% (1,571 votes) - I am a woman: Yes
30% (1,561 votes) - I am a man: Yes
22% (1,188 votes) - I am a man: Never in my life
18% (951 votes) - I am a woman: Never in my life
The results show that over 60% of female respondents admitted to having had an affair of some sort at work, whilst 57% of male respondents said they had experienced an office romance. When looking at combined figures, we can safely say that more than 60%, of Brits have been involved with a colleague.
We work so hard in the UK that it’s not surprising that people meet and find love in the workplace, says Michelle Brown, PR Manager, Monster.co.uk. Whilst employers generally would not encourage office romances, these shouldn’t be treated as something negative. Some psychologists actually say that an office romance can be beneficial as an employee’s performance can be enhanced by channelling romantic involvement into enthusiasm for work and greater productivity!
Although it shouldn’t have an impact in your career, it is best to keep a few points in mind when engaging in an office romance. Here are some tips for ensuring an office romance doesn’t interfere with your career:
Check the rule book: There’s nothing more refreshing than a new romance, but many companies have policies for relationships forming within the work place - make sure you know what these are. Some actively discourage it; others just suggest you let them know about it.
Know you limits: When it comes to love in the office set some ground rules for your relationship within the working environment, steer clear of snogging in the lift and try to keep the soppy e-mails to a minimum. Above all, be discreet!
Be careful how you tell your peers: Some of us love a gossip but if you are just embarking on an office romance, be consistent in who knows and who is left in the dark. Some may be offended if they are the last to know! Be warned as often it’s not the big secret you think it is so it’s best to get it out in the open sooner rather than later.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of: Remember, more than 60% of your peers claim to have had an office romance, so you are not the first!
New technologies, work-life balance initiatives and flexible working schedules will bring a change to working hours and, consequently could have an impact on office relationships as less people will actually go to work and have less chance to meet each other.
The results of the current Monster Meter are based on votes cast by Monster.co.uk visitors from 17th to 31stth January 2005. Only one vote per user is counted toward the final tabulation. The Monster Meter, a product of Monster, the leading global online careers site and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide Inc., is a series of online polls that gauge users’ opinions on a variety of topics relating to careers, the economy and the workplace. Anyone interested in voting in Monster’s current online poll may do so by logging onto:
Looking for love? Then go to work
More than 60% of Brits have found romance in the office
