Two Thirds Of Employees Admit To Having A Crush On A Co-Worker
Posted February 7, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Do you like that person in the cubicle next to you?
No, we mean do you really, really like that person?
You’re not alone. As Valentine’s Day approaches, you might be thinking of giving in to those feelings.
According to a recent survey, office crushes are the norm in workplaces across North America.
The research, done by an online job website, found two out of three employees admit to having some kind of crush on someone they work with.
Men are more likely to be smitten than women.
The Snagajob.com numbers show 72 percent of males have ‘fessed up to polltakers about their infatuations, while only 60 percent of women have the same feelings for someone else.
But for many, this affair of the heart is a silent tribute – most never give in to the feelings, with a full two-thirds agreeing they plan to forever keep their mouths shut about their growing attraction.
Not surprisingly the guys win here, too. More males than females say they’d be less likely to say anything to an employee they’re interested in.
With people working so closely to one another on a daily basis and some seeing their cohorts more than their own families, it’s inevitable these kinds of things would happen.
Some businesses frown on the practice, worrying that any romantic entanglements – and possible break-ups – could affect productivity and upset the overall working atmosphere.
And then there’s the problem of what happens when a boss and a subordinate find ‘amour toujour.’
“Office crushes are most often harmless distractions but can get complicated should they lead to workplace romances,” notes Snagajob’s Shawn Boyer.
But it’s almost impossible to regulate and many of the relationships have resulted in dates and couples actually getting married.
And for many of us, making a go of that is when the real work begins.
So the next time you see someone staring at you over that cubicle wall or desk, it may not just be part of the job. It could be a labour of love.
- Would you be willing to tell a co-worker about your feelings? Have you tried? And what happened when you did? Did it affect your working relationship? And if it went sour, did one of you have to quit or transfer? Email us your experiences and we’ll use them in a future story on this topic. Let us know if you wish to remain anonymous.
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