Workplace romances will die out???

[justasking111]

With all this working from home flexible working husband said well that'll put a stop to hanky panky in the workplace.

Is he right? It hadn't occurred to me

To a large extent I think it will, people will have less nights out.

What a weird thing for him to say, OP. Was he pouting?

Are you married to Frankie Howard?

My boss and I were talking about this. When I first started work (London professional services type place so long hours and pretty corporate) there was an awful lot of sex. Some resulted in long term relationships/marriage and kids including my own, some was single people having flings and some were affairs. It was the most common way my friendship group met partners.

Now I know barely any couples who met at work. I hear the odd rumour but it is notable rather than normal. Some of it will be age/seniority as I'm not there in the pub on a Friday anymore but over the last 5 years it seems to have hugely reduced. My boss agreed this is what he's seeing too.

Throw in wfh and I think your dh is right. Less proximity, fewer situation in which inhibitions are loosened. For me this seems a bit of a shame as work was a great place to meet people who were on the same page and you had a connection with,

I am talking about consensual appropriate relationships here only btw of which I saw many. Good riddance to the creepy power play ones.

I met DH at work... six years ago? We're married now, and I'm 21 weeks pregnant

Generally, although I wish it wasn't the case, I think things will slowly go back to how they were with regards to working. There may be some changes - more companies moving to cheaper areas rather than London, etc, but I think overall we will move back in that direction for the majority of people. I think some of that face-to-face interaction will be back then...

But there is a lot of cons for this bit in the middle. Lots more flexibility and work life balance, which are massive pros, but also cons for people who are doing new jobs, or want to make friends at work... video calls aren't the same, and I wouldn't have got to where I've got to professionally if I hadn't been in the office for random impromptu chats/projects/experiences.

For now, I'd say he's right - which is a shame when most of the single people I know are really sick of online dating and hate the idea of clubs, but also don't have the opportunity of random work meet ups or whatever.

Wouldn't stop a determined person like Matt Hancock.

In reality only half of jobs can be done from home and only a small percentage of jobs will be wfh forever. You can have an emotional affair over video chats.

It gives lots of scope for more video/text-based shenanigans.

This is so sad. The hanky panky was the best thing about working.

@sauvignonblue

This is so sad. The hanky panky was the best thing about working.

We're going to raise a whole generation who'll never know what it's like to cop a feel behind the Xerox.

@WorraLiberty

Are you married to Frankie Howard?

🤣🤣

On a side note does anyone remember sweets called hanky panky? I think from 1980s? Or have I made that up?

I think it may reduce it, also even if it ends up being two or three days per week in the office and two/three days at home, the opportunity for 'late meetings' and other excuses used to be unfaithful will be less available.

With many women choosing to work from home they'll be poor pickings for the office lotharios 😂😂

There's a great deal more intimacy to online calls in a way, and more excuses to message, and a greater need for diversion. The odfice romance has just moved online that's all OP.

I look towards the reduction in relationships, marriage, and birth rate in Japan and anticipate that this is where we're heading.

OTOH, the reduction in opportunities to break a spouses heart (and the family) through affairs and associated cruelty would be a big plus for society.

@justasking111

With all this working from home flexible working husband said well that'll put a stop to hanky panky in the workplace.

Is he right? It hadn't occurred to me

He's wrong, most offices will bring staff back, either hybrid or full time office return.

People that want to Shag will still flirt via zoom then meet up in person

Ah it’s sad really! I met DH at work. 12 years and 3 kids later, still going strong.

How many people will recall a zoom call with a secret smile in the decades to come though. Whereas a romantic encounter will be

Some of these comments 🤣🤣

*@sauvignonblue
This is so sad. The hanky panky was the best thing about working.

@WorraLiberty
We're going to raise a whole generation who'll never know what it's like to cop a feel behind the Xerox.*

I agree with both of these statements!! I have met long term partners and FWBs working in the office. All that eye contact over the desks and drinks after work. Sigh...those were the days!

I miss office flirtations for sure.

Although I have found myself having ‘zoom crushes’ on inappropriate colleagues which last all of a few days, keeps me occupied through the monotony of wfh though I guess.

It's quite possible to flirt over instant messaging. I think it won't be the end of office romances, but they might be done a bit differently.

@EBearhug

It's quite possible to flirt over instant messaging. I think it won't be the end of office romances, but they might be done a bit differently.

Poor mans romance IMO we're going all cyber sex then Barbarella style .

Oh dear the office lothsarios/pests may not be able to engage in their hobby as easily. Diddums.

@newnortherner111

Oh dear the office lothsarios/pests may not be able to engage in their hobby as easily. Diddums.

It’s not all about that . I met my lovely DH at work. Fat from the ‘office lothario’, he’s really quiet and introverted (we am I) and our relationship would never have got off the ground if we only spoke via zoom.