2011 Vault Office Romance Survey Results

ABOUT US AUDIENCE PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Vault Office Romance Survey2011

www.vault.com

(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.

www.vault.com

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

www.vault.comLive (and Love) for Today


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.


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."

www.vault.com


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. “

www.vault.com


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

www.vault.com


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%)

www.vault.com


“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

www.vault.com


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

www.vault.com


"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.”

www.vault.com


2011 Vault Office Romance Survey Results

Career

office mate

office romances

romantic risks

people dont

serious relationship

romantic encounters

didnt carewww

managerial perks