Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com
Taboos about office romances that existed when baby boomers first entered the workforce are fading.
Adults tend to work longer hours today, which minimizes opportunities to meet others outside of the cubicle. Add to that, greater emphasis on teamwork and company initiatives that encourage socialization on an emotional and intellectual level, and workers find themselves in an environment where Cupid is hovering. Many office match-ups eventually bloom into marriage.
About 40 percent of boomers between the ages of 45 and 54 have dated a co-worker during their careers, while 34 percent of boomers over 55 have had an office liaison, according to CareerBuilder.com's annual office romance survey of 6,700 workers.
These interactions led to marriage for 33 percent of boomers aged 45 to 54, and 37 percent of boomers over 55.
Office romances have "become less taboo," said Michael Erwin, a spokesman for Careerbuilder. "More and more people are working longer hours, and no one knows your co-workers better than you."
The tendency to engage in office dalliances is just as strong among younger professionals. About 43 percent of workers between 25 and 34 have dated a co-worker, too.
Finding Opportunities To DateRomance between co-workers rarely begins in the actual office, with 15 percent of boomers saying their relationship began after spending time together at lunch. About 9 percent of boomers found that spark at happy hour, and another 8 percent became smitten after working late.
"Someone older might be (inclined to date a co-worker) because they don't have many opportunities to meet people," said Dr. Beth Tabakin, a Kentfield, Calif., psychologist. "The opportunities to meet partners aren't as big as they were in college or graduate school ..."
At the same time, the attraction needs to be considered alongside the potential for the relationship to go bust.
In general, baby boomers are a generation that's been more free and open with their relationships, but "having your ex-date at the desk next to you or down the hall could be damaging to your self esteem," Dr. Tabakin warned.
Before acting on any attraction, it's important to play our different scenarios, she suggested. For example, ask yourself, "What would happen if the relationship worked out in six months from now or a year from now?" Or "What happens if I stay neutral?"
For the employers' part, most organizations don't have rules governing workplace romance in their human resources manuals, and rely on workers to use common sense and maintain the highest level of professionalism and productivity.
