Marvin OnumonuResearch by office infrastructure company Co-space found over 60% of adults had been involved in a workplace relationship at least once in their careers.
It was most common among younger professionals, with 49.2% of those aged 25 to 34 reporting a relationship with a colleague, followed by 21.3% of those aged 35 to 44.
Entry-level staff were most likely to cross professional boundaries, making up 39.5% of workplace romances.
Manager and director-level staff accounted for 11.6%.
Organisations with 11 to 50 employees reported the highest rate, showing smaller teams and closer working boosted chances of romantic connections.
Workplace romance was mostly found in traditional offices, with 73.9% of relationships happening in person.
Hybrid settings made up 17.4%, and 8.7% happened in fully remote workplaces.
80.4% said they had noticed colleagues in romantic relationships, and 49.1% believed it was very common.
Despite this, 43.4% were unsure if their employer had a written policy about workplace relationships.
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, especially in smaller teams, personal connections are almost inevitable.
“The key for employers isn’t to try to police relationships, but to foster a culture of transparency, clear boundaries, and mutual respect.”
Stokes added: “That starts with having clear policies in place and making sure employees understand them.
“What we’re seeing across modern workplaces is that uncertainty creates risk.
“When employees aren’t sure what’s acceptable, it can lead to discomfort, blurred power dynamics, or even damage to team morale.”
He said: “Organisations that prioritise open communication and thoughtful workplace design, where collaboration and professionalism can coexist, are far better positioned to support healthy relationships without compromising productivity or trust.”
