If you are looking for romance, you may not have to go much further than the office.  A new survey by CareerBuilder found that nearly two in five, or 38 percent, of employees in the United States have dated someone who worked for the same company.  In fact, 16 percent have dated a co-worker more than once.

(AntonioGuillem, ThinkStock)
(AntonioGuillem, ThinkStock)
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"While the stigma of office romance is fading among employers, so is the number of co-workers who date," said Mary Lorenz, senior career advisor at CareerBuilder. "In 2005, more than half of workers said they dated a co-worker and now, it's only 38 percent.  So, it's going down.That could be because in this post-recession environment, people are concentrating more on their jobs and career progression rather than on socializing in the office."

Key findings of the survey:

  • 31 percent who dated a co-worker ended up marrying that person;
  • 21 percent who dated a co-worker admitted at least one person in the relationship was married at the time;
  • 24 percent dated a co-worker that was higher up in the company, including a boss;
  • Only 3 percent who dated a higher up said the relationship helped their career.

Certain industries, according to the survey. were found to have more office romance than others:

  • Leisure and Hospitality, 57 percent
  • Utilities, 51 percent
  • Information Technology, 46 percent
  • Transportation, 42 percent

How do most office romances start?:

  • 12 percent run into each other outside of work;
  • 11 percent strike up interest at Happy Hour;
  • 10 percent during late nights at work;
  • 10 percent during lunch together;
  • 9 percent fall in love at first sight.

If you are planning to get involved in an office romance, CareerBuilder offers the following tips on how best to navigate it:

  • Check company rules. Some companies have strict policies around office romance.
  • Proceed with caution. Some romances lead to marriage, others to disaster.
  • Compartmentalize. Keep work life separate from home life.
  • Think before you post. Be careful what you post on social media.

 

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