A Pracuj.pl study reveals that workplace relationships remain a significant avenue for finding partners, competing with digital dating apps.
Family and Friends Still More Effective Than Dating Apps
According to a Pracuj.pl study, 17% of respondents found their current partner through family or friends, outpacing the 13% who met via online dating applications. This figure rises to 21% for the 25-34 age group, highlighting growing online dating popularity among younger adults.
One in Four Employees in a Workplace Relationship
While 8% of those surveyed are in a relationship with a direct colleague, this figure jumps to 13% when including colleagues from the same company who are not direct collaborators. Furthermore, one in four respondents admits to having had a close romantic or intimate relationship with a colleague at some point in their career.
Workplace as a Filter-Free Space: The Search for Authenticity
For 56% of respondents, the workplace is seen as a natural environment for building close relationships, serving as an alternative to digital platforms. It’s a space to get to know someone in real-life, “authentic” circumstances, without the filters and curated profile photos common online. For 30% of respondents, the potential for a workplace relationship can be a factor in choosing an employer.
49% of Partners Understand Each Other Better Through Their Company
While office romances can be controversial, data shows positive impacts. A significant portion of those in relationships with colleagues report increased motivation to come to work and improved daily engagement. Crucially, 49% of respondents believe partners in the same firm better understand each other’s professional challenges.
The Price of Love in the Office: Why 74% of Couples Keep it a Secret
Seven in ten respondents report that revealing or ending a workplace relationship carries professional or social consequences. Common issues include tension in daily interactions (18%) and gossip from colleagues (15%). Men are more likely to fear a loss of status (21%) compared to women (8%). As a result, only 26% informed their entire team, while 74% kept the relationship private.
The Thin Line of Professionalism: Can You Love Without Favoritism?
Although 46% of respondents acknowledge the risk of mutual favoritism, the general attitude towards workplace relationships is positive. Only 22% believe that a relationship in the team negatively impacts other employees. In organizations based on mutual respect, private relationships can enhance motivation and team cohesion.
