Almost half of office workers have had a workplace romance – and a fifth of them are still together

More than one in five office staff have had three or more flings with people they work with on a day-to-day basis.

But on average, office romances last for just over 10 months before coming to an end. Most people get passionate with someone on the same rung of the career ladder as themselves, but just under a tenth got busy with someone who managed them.

The research was commissioned by Real Fix, a new podcast which features real people telling their own stories, in their own words. Podcast host Hattie Bishop said: “We were surprised to see how many people confess to having had an office fling. That being said, it’s nice to see many relationships that started in the office weren’t just short-lived affairs and became serious couplings. Embarking on a relationship with someone you work with can be fraught with peril – especially if it’s something you try and keep secret from your colleagues.

“Our podcast features lots of cheeky, funny and heart-warming relationship stories, so we’re used to hearing about the weird, wonderful and wacky ways people meet.”

One in four people kept their office romance under wraps from colleagues – although 64 per cent were eventually exposed. Awkwardly, nearly one in five – 16 per cent- are still working with their former office flame – even though the relationship broke down. And even if a full-blown office romance didn’t result from it, more than half of office-working adults (52 per cent) have shared a kiss with a co-worker.

Three quarters of respondents put the inter-office love-ins down to simply spending a lot of time together day in, day out. 55 per cent blame work nights out or other social engagements giving plenty of opportunities for flirting or more, according to the OnePoll research. And one in five reckon it makes the drudgery of day-to-day office life more exciting, if there’s someone to share an illicit relationship with.

Despite this, 50 per cent of adults believe it’s ‘not very professional’ to be romantically involved or in a relationship with a work colleague. Another 38 per cent have even been put in the uncomfortable position of having to keep someone else’s work trysts under their hat.

The Real Fix podcasts features real people, recounting their heartbreaking, inspiring, uplifting or funny experiences in their own words. The first episode features a couple who insist their relationship is better than ever – despite a 38 year age gap, as well as a woman who spends £8,000 a year on talcum powder… to eat.

Listen to the Real Fix podcast here or subscribe using the appropriate podcast platform here.