Office romances are common, but in India, they appear to be especially prevalent. According to a recent international study by Ashley Madison, a platform for discreet relationships, India ranks second when it comes to people admitting to having had or currently being in a workplace romance. The study was conducted in collaboration with YouGov across 11 countries.
Mexico topped the list. The study covered 11 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US, with a total sample size of 13,581 adults.
The data highlights that workplace romances are hardly unusual in India, even as workplaces become more aware of policies around professional boundaries and conduct. The study reveals that four in ten Indians in the general population have either dated or are currently dating a colleague.
As for Mexico, 43 per cent of respondents said they have been romantically involved with a coworker, while 40 per cent of Indian respondents said the same. That is notably higher than in countries like the US, UK, and Canada, where the figure stands at 30 per cent.
Interestingly, men are more likely than women to have dated a coworker, 51 per cent compared to 36 per cent, suggesting a possible gender gap in risk-taking when it comes to office romances.
Additionally, women appear to be more cautious about the potential fallout of mixing professional and personal lives. Nearly 29 per cent of women say they are discouraged from pursuing workplace relationships due to possible professional repercussions, slightly higher than the 27 per cent of men who feel the same. Men, on the other hand, tend to worry more about the personal consequences, with 30 per cent citing it as a deterrent versus 26 per cent of women.
