* 38% of people admit to having an affair with a coworker
* People working within finance, law and healthcare are more likely to have workplace affairs due to long hours, high stress, and after-hours bonding which can blur boundaries.
* 45% of affairs in the workplace started as casual flirting, whilst 27% began during business trips.
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site
Could your co-worker’s extra-long coffee break be more scandalous than it seems? A new survey conducted by IllicitEncounters.com has found that 38% of 1,800 people polled admitted to having an affair with a coworker.
The survey revealed that high-pressure environments are breeding grounds for office flings. The finance sector topped the list, with 33% of respondents in the industry admitting to affairs, citing long hours, intense demands, and after-work events as triggers.
Law wasn’t far behind, with 27% of legal professionals owning up to romantic dalliances. Healthcare followed at 18%, where emotionally charged environments and marathon shifts foster close bonds among medical professionals.
Interestingly, the survey found that 45% of workplace affairs started with casual flirting that escalated, while 27% began during work-related travel.
Investment banker, Ryan*, who took part in the survey described how his affair with a junior associate began: “My job demands 12 to 14-hour days, and you naturally form strong connections with colleagues,” he explained. “We started sharing personal details over late dinners, and one night, the chemistry just took over. I wasn’t looking to cheat, but it felt inevitable.”
Ryan* said he knows the risks involved, but the thrill of secrecy is hard to resist. “There’s a rush in sneaking around the office,” he admitted. “But I also know how catastrophic it could be if anyone found out.”
Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, says workplace affairs have always existed but are becoming more prevalent for several reasons.
“Workplaces naturally create opportunities for intimacy,” Leoni explained. “Spending extended hours together, sharing challenges, and having a mutual understanding of work pressures builds a unique bond that can easily blur boundaries.”
She also noted that professional hierarchies often add an element of excitement. “The dynamics of power and authority in the workplace can amplify the allure of an affair,” she said.
*Names have been changed
Top 5 industries where workplace affairs occur:
Finance 33%
Law 27%
Healthcare 18%
Hospitality & Tourism 9%
Media & Entertainment 6%
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