Marvin OnumonuResearch from Co-space found 32.5% of workplace relationships involved a supervisor, team leader or manager.
43.4% of employees said they were unsure if their company had a policy on office relationships.
60% of working adults said they had a workplace romance at some point.
Entry-level employees were most likely to be involved with colleagues at 39.5%.
20.9% of romances involved a supervisor or mid-level leader, and 11.6% occurred at manager or director level.
Relationships were more common in traditional office settings, with 73.9% taking place in fully in-person workplaces, 17.4% in hybrid workplaces and 8.7% among fully remote teams.
Four in five (80.4%) employees said they had witnessed colleagues dating at work, and nearly half said it was very common.
William Stokes, CEO at Co-space, said: “Workplace relationships aren’t new, but the way they play out today has changed.
“When people spend long hours collaborating closely, particularly in smaller or in-person teams, personal connections are almost inevitable.
“The role of employers isn’t to police relationships, but to create a culture of transparency, clear boundaries and mutual respect.”
Stokes added: “That starts with having clear policies in place and making sure everyone understands them.
“What we’re seeing across modern workplaces is that uncertainty creates risk.
“When employees aren’t clear on what’s acceptable, especially where reporting lines or managers are involved, it can lead to discomfort, blurred power dynamics, conflicts of interest, and damage to team morale.”
He added: “Organisations that prioritise open communication and thoughtful workplace design are far better positioned to support healthy relationships without compromising productivity, fairness or trust.”
