To be puzzled by workplace affairs/relationships?

[Linlin24]

It seems so common these days (both from on here and elsewhere) that colleagues become romantically involved.

Is it just me, or I struggle to see how this happens? Everywhere I’ve worked has been professional and barely any time to discuss non work matters!!

Sorry Nige

Not keen on how he loves a double entry.

I'm a teacher. Absolutely loads of teachers marry teachers that they meet at work. There are 3 married couples at my current school.

I met my husband at work. At the time though I was a student nurse on placement on the ward he worked and we didn't get together until I moved ward. I'm old though, this was early 90s and internet dating didn't exist. Back then, work, pubs/clubs and parties were where people tended to meet partners.

😱but clever 😀

I can assure you it is not just lately, office affairs have been commonplace for decades.

Makes best use of the holidays that way!

I met my OH in the queue in the canteen at work. We didn’t work together as such.

YANBU!!

Out of all the single people in the world, why shit on your own doorstep.

I will never understand it.

My married colleague was sleeping with the boss, whose wife also worked with us - when it all came out she was literally destroyed, her DH left her, she had to leave her job because the wife worked there and was left with nothing.
The boss left the job but was actually given another, higher paid role instead.

We’re in a very male dominated field and so you do get lots of male attention but I just think it’s way too much of a risk as what happens if it goes wrong?
My job and being able to pay my bills is more important than sex.

I had a couple of casual relationships with work colleagues when I was in my 20s. Then I started working in childcare and only one male member of staff so that was it.
When I worked in retail every other person seemed to be in a relationship/having an affair with another colleague. I think it's normal. Some staff see their colleagues more than anyone else.

It's not just these days OP - I met my DH at work 30 years ago! It was a relatively young workforce and we often went for drinks after work, the chatting / flirting etc doesn't necessarily take place in the office.

I used to be a nurse
Work nights out were notorious for people getting together.

Because people spend a lot of time with colleagues, pretty easy to see how it happens. Isn’t great if it ends in tears though.

I know of 2 who used to go to the car for a quickie!

What do you mean "these days? I'd say a good % of the long term married couples I know met at work. We spend so much time there, and meet more people there than anywhere else, it would be more odd if it didn't happen.

We used to socialise after work with each other, it's pretty common, especially where teams or departments are made up of a lot of young people. Loads of our younger staff have lunch together in groups too.

There are lots of people in our organisation who met each other at work, we even have a special jokey term for them!

I’d hate to work in your work places!
My boyfriend and I met at work. Two of my babies god parents are work colleagues (one past, one current). This summer I’m bridesmaid for a best friend who I used to work with. My work WhatsApp group is full of great fun and chats, and we socialise out of work at least six times a year. I think it’s very easy to form relationships at work, romantic and friendly!

Nope, because she is oblivious to what is happening around her.

I met DH at work. I know of at least a dozen couples that met at the same employer. It was a very large business so not as remarkable as it might sound.

I think probably half the couples we know met at work.

Most are now in their 40’s so were often office based earlier on in careers which makes work relationships much more likely. I do wonder how things would have played out if we all worked remotely back then as happens now. I suppose that’s why online dating exists nowadays. There really wasn’t a need for it 15/20 years ago.

Ive always presumed it was to alleviate the boredom.

Has always been a thing as far as I am aware, as has family members working in the same company/dept/office (which was a whole other thread a short while ago).🤔
I have worked with several people (M&F) whose partner works in the same office/building/company, many of which met at work (I am one of them).

I went out with a colleague for some time and later on (after we had gone our separate ways), they married another of our colleagues.
My OH worked for our company and his Ddad was my senior manager, I think the fact that MY Ddad was ALSO a manager at the same company that meant we got together as we tended to have large work social events that we all went to.😆

I met my husband of 27 yrs at work.

Never worked anywhere that didn’t have multiple affairs. Except for a travel agency, and they were all women.

Hospitality interviews should include a section on your dating preferences. Would save everyone a bit of time scouting each other out for the first hour day.

Out of all the single people in the world, why shit on your own doorstep

Because sometimes, you meet someone at work that you really click with, you’re both single, and you don’t want to trawl through the dross of online dating or take up some tedious hobby in order to look for a different single person when the single person you really like is RIGHT THERE.

Also, some of us just don’t see work as the meaning of life and aren’t really that bothered by the worst case scenario of feeling mildly awkward about working with an ex if things go wrong, and looking for another job. For some people that isn’t the end of the world. I could still work and pay my bills in a job where someone I had a fling with was working. Or in a different job.