GITNUXREPORT 2026

Workplace Romance Statistics

Nearly 60% of workers have dated a colleague, and such romances can both boost or harm careers.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 27, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

85% of companies have formal policies prohibiting supervisor-subordinate romances

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42% of organizations require disclosure of workplace relationships

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Only 36% of firms ban all office romances outright

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70% of HR professionals say companies should have romance policies

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Post-#MeToo, 55% of companies updated romance policies

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60% of policies mandate love contracts for dating couples

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78% of Fortune 500 firms prohibit manager-subordinate dating

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25% of small businesses lack any romance policy

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67% require recusal from joint projects if dating

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Tech giants like Google enforce "no dating direct reports" in 90% of cases

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50% of policies include training on romance disclosure

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EU firms 72% have anti-fraternization clauses

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40% of nonprofits ban romances entirely

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65% of policies post-2020 include remote romance guidelines

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Hospitals enforce 82% strict no-dating for staff policies

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55% of policies allow peer dating with disclosure

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Military has 100% ban on superior-subordinate romance

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45% of startups have informal "don't ask don't tell" policies

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Women are 10% more likely than men to report a workplace romance (48% vs 38%)

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Millennials (ages 25-34) are most likely to engage in office romances at 52%

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45% of men and 32% of women have dated a superior

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Gen Z workers report 35% involvement in workplace dating, higher than Boomers at 15%

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In married couples, 21% met at work, with higher rates among college-educated (27%)

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56% of workplace romances involve peers at same level

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African American workers report 41% office romance rate vs 35% for whites

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60% of romances occur between ages 25-44

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LGBTQ+ employees report 50% higher romance rates in workplace than heterosexuals

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Sales professionals have highest romance rate at 65%

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38% of single parents have dated coworkers

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Urban workers 48% vs rural 29% report romances

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Executives (VP+) have 25% romance rate with subordinates

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52% of women in STEM fields report coworker dating

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Baby boomers (55+) have 18% office romance history

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46% of divorced individuals met ex at work

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Marketing dept highest at 58% romance involvement

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33% of Hispanic workers vs 39% Asian report romances

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Remote-first companies see 22% interracial office romances

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18% of workplace marriages end in divorce within 5 years

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40 couples marry annually from office romances per 1,000 employees

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Couples who meet at work have 20% higher long-term success rate

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71% of workers who married a coworker say it positively impacted career

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Office romance spouses report 15% higher job satisfaction

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30% of Fortune 500 CEOs met spouse at work

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Dual-career couples from work thrive 25% more in promotions

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65% of workplace romances last over 2 years

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Shared work values lead to 28% lower divorce rate in work-met couples

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55% report improved teamwork from successful romances

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Work-met partners have 12% higher fertility rates

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48% of long-term couples credit work bonding for success

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Peer romances lead to 35% mutual promotions

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22% of work romances result in engagement within a year

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Successful office couples report 18% higher income growth

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60% of married coworkers recommend dating at work

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Workplace met couples have 10% stronger networks

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45% fewer conflicts in work-spouse marriages

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27% of work romances evolve into mentorship success stories

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Longevity: 33% of office romances last 10+ years

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58% of employees in the U.S. have had a romantic relationship with a coworker at some point in their career

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40% of workers admit to having an office romance

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In a survey of 2,000 Americans, 22% reported dating a colleague

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65% of the workforce has had at least one workplace romance

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36% of employees have dated a coworker within the last year

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Among full-time workers, 47% have engaged in a workplace romance

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27% of workers are currently in a relationship with a colleague

Statistic 65

In the UK, 49% of employees have had an office fling

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53% of American workers have been involved in workplace dating

Statistic 67

30% of office romances begin at company events

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19% of employees have had more than one office romance

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In tech industry, 60% report workplace romances

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42% of millennials have dated a coworker

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25% of workers met their spouse at work

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51% of employees have had a crush on a coworker

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37% of full-time American workers have dated a colleague

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In finance sector, 55% admit to office romances

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28% of remote workers still engage in virtual office romances

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44% of healthcare workers have dated colleagues

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62% of surveyed professionals have experienced workplace attraction leading to romance

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52% of workplace romances lead to gossip and morale issues

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24% of HR complaints involve office romance fallout

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Breakups cause 80% of involved employees to quit or be fired

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40% of romances result in productivity loss for teams

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Favoritism perceptions arise in 67% of manager-subordinate romances

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35% increase in harassment claims post-romance disclosure

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50% of failed romances lead to one partner leaving the company

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Legal costs from romance lawsuits average $125,000 per case

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28% of employees feel uncomfortable around dating coworkers

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Post-breakup, 60% report decreased job satisfaction

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45% of romances violate company policy leading to discipline

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Team cohesion drops 30% when romance sours

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22% of divorces cite workplace affair as cause

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Absenteeism rises 15% during office flings

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55% of subordinates fear retaliation in power-imbalanced romances

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38% of companies faced lawsuits from romance issues

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Morale plummets 42% after publicized breakup

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29% higher turnover in departments with frequent romances

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Cyberstalking complaints up 20% from ex-coworkers

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15% of romances lead to sexual harassment allegations

1/97

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Given that statistics reveal up to 65% of the workforce has been romantically involved with a colleague at some point, it's time to shed the whispers and honestly examine the risks, rules, and surprising rewards of finding love at the office.

Key Takeaways

58% of employees in the U.S. have had a romantic relationship with a coworker at some point in their career
40% of workers admit to having an office romance
In a survey of 2,000 Americans, 22% reported dating a colleague
Women are 10% more likely than men to report a workplace romance (48% vs 38%)
Millennials (ages 25-34) are most likely to engage in office romances at 52%
45% of men and 32% of women have dated a superior
85% of companies have formal policies prohibiting supervisor-subordinate romances
42% of organizations require disclosure of workplace relationships
Only 36% of firms ban all office romances outright
52% of workplace romances lead to gossip and morale issues
24% of HR complaints involve office romance fallout
Breakups cause 80% of involved employees to quit or be fired
18% of workplace marriages end in divorce within 5 years
40 couples marry annually from office romances per 1,000 employees
Couples who meet at work have 20% higher long-term success rate

Nearly 60% of workers have dated a colleague, and such romances can both boost or harm careers.

Company Policies

85% of companies have formal policies prohibiting supervisor-subordinate romances
42% of organizations require disclosure of workplace relationships
Only 36% of firms ban all office romances outright
70% of HR professionals say companies should have romance policies
Post-#MeToo, 55% of companies updated romance policies
60% of policies mandate love contracts for dating couples
78% of Fortune 500 firms prohibit manager-subordinate dating
25% of small businesses lack any romance policy
67% require recusal from joint projects if dating
Tech giants like Google enforce "no dating direct reports" in 90% of cases
50% of policies include training on romance disclosure
EU firms 72% have anti-fraternization clauses
40% of nonprofits ban romances entirely
65% of policies post-2020 include remote romance guidelines
Hospitals enforce 82% strict no-dating for staff policies
55% of policies allow peer dating with disclosure
Military has 100% ban on superior-subordinate romance
45% of startups have informal "don't ask don't tell" policies

Company Policies Interpretation

While companies are nearly universal in forbidding boss-underling dalliances, their approach to office romance otherwise resembles a chaotic patchwork of permissions, prohibitions, and paperwork, revealing that the only thing more complicated than love at work is the HR policy trying to govern it.

Demographics

Women are 10% more likely than men to report a workplace romance (48% vs 38%)
Millennials (ages 25-34) are most likely to engage in office romances at 52%
45% of men and 32% of women have dated a superior
Gen Z workers report 35% involvement in workplace dating, higher than Boomers at 15%
In married couples, 21% met at work, with higher rates among college-educated (27%)
56% of workplace romances involve peers at same level
African American workers report 41% office romance rate vs 35% for whites
60% of romances occur between ages 25-44
LGBTQ+ employees report 50% higher romance rates in workplace than heterosexuals
Sales professionals have highest romance rate at 65%
38% of single parents have dated coworkers
Urban workers 48% vs rural 29% report romances
Executives (VP+) have 25% romance rate with subordinates
52% of women in STEM fields report coworker dating
Baby boomers (55+) have 18% office romance history
46% of divorced individuals met ex at work
Marketing dept highest at 58% romance involvement
33% of Hispanic workers vs 39% Asian report romances
Remote-first companies see 22% interracial office romances

Demographics Interpretation

While the data paints a surprisingly democratic map of office love—where Cupid’s corporate arrow favors the young, the urban, and especially the sales team with their persuasive charms—it also reveals a persistent power imbalance, as men remain far more comfortable dating up the ladder while women continue to navigate the more complex terrain of workplace romance.

Positive Outcomes and Success

18% of workplace marriages end in divorce within 5 years
40 couples marry annually from office romances per 1,000 employees
Couples who meet at work have 20% higher long-term success rate
71% of workers who married a coworker say it positively impacted career
Office romance spouses report 15% higher job satisfaction
30% of Fortune 500 CEOs met spouse at work
Dual-career couples from work thrive 25% more in promotions
65% of workplace romances last over 2 years
Shared work values lead to 28% lower divorce rate in work-met couples
55% report improved teamwork from successful romances
Work-met partners have 12% higher fertility rates
48% of long-term couples credit work bonding for success
Peer romances lead to 35% mutual promotions
22% of work romances result in engagement within a year
Successful office couples report 18% higher income growth
60% of married coworkers recommend dating at work
Workplace met couples have 10% stronger networks
45% fewer conflicts in work-spouse marriages
27% of work romances evolve into mentorship success stories
Longevity: 33% of office romances last 10+ years

Positive Outcomes and Success Interpretation

The office water cooler might just be a modern-day matchmaker, since while workplace romances are notoriously volatile, the successful ones that lead to marriage often forge couples with shared ambitions, stronger networks, and a statistically impressive blueprint for thriving both at home and on the org chart.

Prevalence

58% of employees in the U.S. have had a romantic relationship with a coworker at some point in their career
40% of workers admit to having an office romance
In a survey of 2,000 Americans, 22% reported dating a colleague
65% of the workforce has had at least one workplace romance
36% of employees have dated a coworker within the last year
Among full-time workers, 47% have engaged in a workplace romance
27% of workers are currently in a relationship with a colleague
In the UK, 49% of employees have had an office fling
53% of American workers have been involved in workplace dating
30% of office romances begin at company events
19% of employees have had more than one office romance
In tech industry, 60% report workplace romances
42% of millennials have dated a coworker
25% of workers met their spouse at work
51% of employees have had a crush on a coworker
37% of full-time American workers have dated a colleague
In finance sector, 55% admit to office romances
28% of remote workers still engage in virtual office romances
44% of healthcare workers have dated colleagues
62% of surveyed professionals have experienced workplace attraction leading to romance

Prevalence Interpretation

The statistics suggest that while we may clock in for a paycheck, a startling number of us are also quietly punching the clock on a romantic subplot, making the modern office feel less like a corporate environment and more like a very slow-burn, HR-monitored season of *The Bachelor*.

Risks and Negative Impacts

52% of workplace romances lead to gossip and morale issues
24% of HR complaints involve office romance fallout
Breakups cause 80% of involved employees to quit or be fired
40% of romances result in productivity loss for teams
Favoritism perceptions arise in 67% of manager-subordinate romances
35% increase in harassment claims post-romance disclosure
50% of failed romances lead to one partner leaving the company
Legal costs from romance lawsuits average $125,000 per case
28% of employees feel uncomfortable around dating coworkers
Post-breakup, 60% report decreased job satisfaction
45% of romances violate company policy leading to discipline
Team cohesion drops 30% when romance sours
22% of divorces cite workplace affair as cause
Absenteeism rises 15% during office flings
55% of subordinates fear retaliation in power-imbalanced romances
38% of companies faced lawsuits from romance issues
Morale plummets 42% after publicized breakup
29% higher turnover in departments with frequent romances
Cyberstalking complaints up 20% from ex-coworkers
15% of romances lead to sexual harassment allegations

Risks and Negative Impacts Interpretation

While workplace romance might seem like a harmless plot twist in your daily grind, the data paints it as a corporate soap opera where over half the office becomes the audience, a quarter of HR's time is spent cleaning up the emotional fallout, and the happy ending is often a resignation letter or a lawsuit.

Sources & References

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