Have you ever wondered how to spot an office romance?
Since the early 1960s, when women entered the workforce in large numbers, office romances leading to long-term relationships have steadily increased. However, recent trends show a reversal. In 1990, 20% of people met their long-term partner through work, but by 2009, this figure had dropped to 10%, with online dating largely responsible for the shift.
Many employers discourage workplace romances. Not because they’re against happiness, but because when things go wrong, it can lead to conflicts and disruption among colleagues.
Although spotting an office romance can be tricky. There are often telltale signs that something more than just work is brewing between colleagues.
10 Behaviours to Keep an Eye On:
- Avoiding Eye Contact: They become unusually formal with each other. This can include avoiding eye contact and keeping interactions professional to an almost exaggerated degree.
- Leaving Separately: They make a point of leaving the office at different times. Often going out of their way to show they aren’t leaving together.
- Synchronised Extra Hours: When not showcasing their separate departures, they both seem to work extra hours. Either arriving early or leaving late together.
- Inside Jokes: Conversations between them feel like private joke. They often talk about the same movies, books, or hobbies, making others feel like outsiders.
- Defensive Behaviour: They start fiercely defending each other against even minor or imagined criticism, often unnecessarily.
- Coinciding Time Off: Their sick leave and holidays align suspiciously. When asked about their time off, their answers are vague and non-committal.
- Personal Appearance: Both seem to have stepped up their appearance. She may wear more makeup or stylish outfits, and he’s suddenly jogging during lunch breaks. Their interests also shift—she’s into football, and he’s watching rom-coms.
- Closed-Door Meetings: Their once open-door policy is gone. Confidential meetings between them become frequent, and the door is always closed.
- Carpooling in Secret: They might drive to work together. Even if they live in different areas, discreetly dropping each other off away from the office.
- Declining Work Performance: Their work rate and overall performance take a noticeable dip, potentially affecting team productivity.
If you notice these signs, it could indicate that an office romance is blossoming. Unfortunately, it’s often declining performance that causes friction in the workplace. Colleagues who are left picking up the slack for their “loved-up” coworkers can quickly become resentful. Being procative and keeping an eye on the situation, addressing it early can prevent an office romance from becoming a source of tension, negativity, and workplace disruption.
Contact Us
If you’ve spotted the telltale signs and need support with an office romance, call Metis HR on 01706 565332 or email Paul.Roberts@metishr.co.uk or Jessica.Fossey@metishr.co.uk to arrange a FREE HR consultation.
