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Vault Office Romance Survey2011
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(Almost) Everyone is Doing It.
41%
59%
Have you ever participated in an office romance?
No Yes
Battle of the Sexes?
• More men (23.3%) than women (15.4%) reported having short-term flings with co-workers.
• But women (22.2%) are more likely than men (14.7%) to have had a long-term, serious relationship with an office mate.
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
65%5%
31%
Does the shaky economy make you more or less willing to take
romantic risks at work?
No effect More willing Less willing
Willingness to take romantic risks decreases with age:
• 11.54% of 18-21 year olds said the economy made them more willing to take romantic risks
• 4.74% 35 to 39 olds were similarly willing
• Just 1.56% of over 50’s said the economy had increased their willingness to take risks
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
Some Relationships Are More Acceptable than Others
Different levels
Working on projects together
None; all office romances are acceptable
Same office location
Same level
Different office locations
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%34%
29%29%
22%20%
11%10%
6%6%
5%5%
Which of the following circumstances render an office romance unaccept-able?* *Respondents could pick more than one answer to this question.
Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
Some People Know When to Put Career First
40%
60%
Have you ever avoided or curtailed a potential romance that you would
have otherwise pursued specifically to avoid an "office romance"?
Yes No
"I learned my lesson the first time I dated a co-worker in a part-time college job; it's a quick way to tarnish your reputation.“
"We work so much. if I were single, why would I pass up an opportunity to date someone cool just because I work with her? It's all about maintaining a separation between work and romance."
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
It Isn’t Always About Sex (No, Really!)
72%
28%
Do you have an office "husband" or "wife"? This is someone with
whom you do not have a romantic relationship, but you hang out to-gether all of the time (on breaks,
at lunch, etc.).
No Yes
"My wife even calls her (my coworker) my second wife. I talk to my coworker more during the day than I do my wife in the evening... I even caught myself saying "Love you" to her ending a call... a couple times... once in front of my wife, but thank god we all found it funny. “
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
Managerial Perks?
…dated your supervisor?
…dated a subordinate?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
18%
26%
Have you ever…
* Respondents who have engaged in an office romance
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
Knock Before Entering
…had a tryst in the office?
...been caught in the middle of a tryst in the
office?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
33%
4%
Have you ever…* Respondents who have engaged in an office romance
• One-third of those who have had office romances have engaged in workplace trysts
• Men (38%) are more likely to have had romantic “encounters” at the office than women (26%)
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
“They Either Didn’t Realize or Didn’t Care”
"It is very difficult to keep yourself out of the gossip pool once rumors begin to spread.”
"People's gossip took a toll on my managerial capacity. My subordinates were not as respectful as they were once they found out.“
70%
30%
If you participated in an office ro-mance, did it impact your personal or professional relationships with
other coworkers?
NoYes
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
Get a Room!
Felt uncomfortable because of coworkers' intra-office romantic relationships
Felt that a coworker gained a professional advantage because of a romantic relationship with a coworker/superior
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
31%
38%
Have you ever…* Respondents who have engaged in an office romance
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
"Some people don't know how to handle a relationship at work, so they act like they are home together. It's a bit off-putting.“
"You do what you have to do to move up the ranks.”
"A coworker had a relationship that ended in a break up […] she wanted people to take sides and the whole thing was horribly uncomfortable for ages.”
“Forbidden is Fun”
63%
37%
Based on your previous experience in an office romance, would you
participate in one again?
Yes No
"For sure. I spend so much time at work that it's hard to meet people outside of work.“
"No. There is simply too much at risk on both a professional and private basis. The risks far outweighs the rewards.”
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Vault Office Romance Survey 2011
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