Ten ways to spot an office romance

By Metis HR

25 Feb 2015

Since women joined the workforce in significant numbers in the early 1960s the number of people who met their future partner through an office romance has steadily increased, but we’re now told the trend is reversing.

By Metis HR.

In 1990, 20 per cent of people had an office romance that led to a long-term partnership, but by 2009 this had reduced to 10 per cent; on-line dating being blamed for the change.

Many workplaces try to discourage office romances between colleagues, not because they don’t want people to be happy but because if it goes wrong it can create terrible fallout between work colleagues.

As Valentine’s Day has just been and gone again how do you know if there’s an office romance brewing?

There are 10 tell-tale signs that an office romance is on the cards.

1. They avoid eye contact, becoming almost too formal with one another, barely making eye contact

2. They never leave the office together, often making a point of advertising the fact that they are leaving separately

3. When they’re not overtly advertising that they’re leaving separately, they’re both putting in extra hours, both arriving early or both leaving late

4. You walk into a room and feel like you’re interrupting a private joke, they talk about the same films, the same books, you feel that you’re intruding.

5. They start fiercely defending one another against perceived criticism, often unnecessarily.

6. Their sick leave and holidays keep coinciding; quizzing them about what they did on their time off generates a bland, non-committal answer.

7. They both look good, she always wears makeup and stylish outfits, he’s started jogging at lunchtime and their tastes have changed; she follows football now, he enjoys rom coms.

8. The previous ‘open door’ policy has gone awry, with the office door always closed and ‘confidential meetings’ always involving the two of them.

9. They seem to drive to work together, even if they don’t live in the same direction, and they’re seen sometimes dropping one another off round the corner from the office rather than at the front door.

10. Their work rate and performance has taken a nose-dive

And sadly, it’s that last one that causes the problem in the workplace. Work colleagues who are having to pick up the slack for their ‘loved up’ workmates can become resentful very quickly. A watchful eye and a careful word from an observant manager can do an awful lot to stop an office romance becoming the source of tension, resentment and negativity.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Metis HR

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin