Dating a Coworker?
26 May 2014
Read by 2396 persons
When it comes to workplace romance, many say it would harm their careers. According to a global Monster survey, 39% of respondents are against workplace romances, stating that dating a colleague would harm their career and that they would therefore never engage in a workplace relationship. However, 27% of global respondents don't think a workplace romance would harm their career and would even consider dating a colleague. Interestingly, 19% of respondents believe that even if a workplace romance would harm their career, they wouldn't hesitate to date a colleague if there was mutual attraction.
"To fully understand the repercussions of a romantic relationship with a colleague, you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. It's imperative to fully understand company policies and culture," says Mary Ellen Slayter, career management specialist at Monster.
If you want to start a relationship with a colleague, you should proceed with caution. Another important factor: hierarchical position. When employees from the same company date and one works for the other or holds a higher position in the hierarchy, this situation can be controversial, and many companies prohibit it. No one should risk losing a good job for a fling.
On the other hand, if you develop very special bonds with a colleague, remember that it's easy to consider another job elsewhere, while true love is not so easy to find."
Monster, the world's leading online recruitment service and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., asked visitors to its website: "Do you believe that dating a colleague would harm your career prospects, and would you do it?" More than 5,100 people responded globally, and here are the results:
• 39% answered: "It could harm and I would never date a colleague"
• 19% answered: "It could harm, but I would still date a colleague, especially if we are mutually attracted"
• 15% answered: "It cannot harm, but I would still never date a colleague"
• 27% answered: "It cannot harm and I would date a colleague"
Regional Statistics: From "It's Tempting" to "Let's Just Be Friends"
When analyzing the results by region, we find that American respondents are the most opposed to workplace romance. More than half (52%) believe that office affairs are harmful and would never consider dating a colleague. In Canada, 42% of respondents believe that dating a colleague could harm career prospects.
The US also has the lowest rate of responses of "It cannot harm and I would date a colleague" (18%). At the other end of the spectrum, French respondents live up to their reputation for "love affairs": 72% believe that a workplace affair would harm their career, but if there is mutual attraction, 49% would disregard caution and still date a colleague (double the results obtained in Germany, far behind in second place for carefree romance, at 24%). Indian respondents are much more cautious: only 9% would risk having a workplace affair even if they believe it would harm their career.
Overall, respondents from EU countries are rather relaxed about workplace romances: 35% believe they are safe and would be willing to date a colleague, while only 24% fear workplace love and would avoid engaging in such a relationship.
The results of the Monster Global survey are based on votes cast by visitors to its website between January 6 and 20, 2014. Only one vote per visitor is retained for the final compilation. The Monster Global survey, a product of Monster, the world's leading online recruitment company and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., is part of a series of online surveys designed to gauge user opinions on various topics related to career, the economy, and the workplace. These surveys are not scientific and only reflect the opinions of Internet users who chose to participate.
Monster.ca
Posted May 26, 2014.
"To fully understand the repercussions of a romantic relationship with a colleague, you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. It's imperative to fully understand company policies and culture," says Mary Ellen Slayter, career management specialist at Monster.
If you want to start a relationship with a colleague, you should proceed with caution. Another important factor: hierarchical position. When employees from the same company date and one works for the other or holds a higher position in the hierarchy, this situation can be controversial, and many companies prohibit it. No one should risk losing a good job for a fling.
On the other hand, if you develop very special bonds with a colleague, remember that it's easy to consider another job elsewhere, while true love is not so easy to find."
Monster, the world's leading online recruitment service and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., asked visitors to its website: "Do you believe that dating a colleague would harm your career prospects, and would you do it?" More than 5,100 people responded globally, and here are the results:
• 39% answered: "It could harm and I would never date a colleague"
• 19% answered: "It could harm, but I would still date a colleague, especially if we are mutually attracted"
• 15% answered: "It cannot harm, but I would still never date a colleague"
• 27% answered: "It cannot harm and I would date a colleague"
Regional Statistics: From "It's Tempting" to "Let's Just Be Friends"
When analyzing the results by region, we find that American respondents are the most opposed to workplace romance. More than half (52%) believe that office affairs are harmful and would never consider dating a colleague. In Canada, 42% of respondents believe that dating a colleague could harm career prospects.
The US also has the lowest rate of responses of "It cannot harm and I would date a colleague" (18%). At the other end of the spectrum, French respondents live up to their reputation for "love affairs": 72% believe that a workplace affair would harm their career, but if there is mutual attraction, 49% would disregard caution and still date a colleague (double the results obtained in Germany, far behind in second place for carefree romance, at 24%). Indian respondents are much more cautious: only 9% would risk having a workplace affair even if they believe it would harm their career.
Overall, respondents from EU countries are rather relaxed about workplace romances: 35% believe they are safe and would be willing to date a colleague, while only 24% fear workplace love and would avoid engaging in such a relationship.
The results of the Monster Global survey are based on votes cast by visitors to its website between January 6 and 20, 2014. Only one vote per visitor is retained for the final compilation. The Monster Global survey, a product of Monster, the world's leading online recruitment company and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., is part of a series of online surveys designed to gauge user opinions on various topics related to career, the economy, and the workplace. These surveys are not scientific and only reflect the opinions of Internet users who chose to participate.
Monster.ca
Posted May 26, 2014.
