Americans Are Becoming Intimate With Coworkers At Record Rates

A survey of more than 2-thousand (2,017) U.S. adults about their sex lives and found a surprising number of them have hooked up with a coworker.

According to the survey:

• 40% of respondents admit they’ve had sex and/or a romantic relationship with a colleague.
• Of those, 11% confess to getting kinky with a coworker while in a relationship with someone else, while 9% were married.
• Men are more likely than women to start a sexual relationship with a colleague while romantically involved with someone else, 13% of men have had sex with a coworker while married, compared to 6% of women.
• Married workers were more likely to have a fling with a subordinate than single staffers. A third of respondents who had sex with a colleague while married did it with a subordinate, compared to 18% who hooked up with a subordinate while single.

A similar survey in 2005 reported 18% had been intimate with a coworker.

According to sexologist Dr. Jess O’Reilly, there are some obvious reasons people who work together are attracted to each other. “Feelings of attachment can often align with and grow from comfort, shared experiences and familiarity,” she explains. “It follows that we often grow attached to those with whom we spend more time.”

While she says it’s not uncommon for people to get turned on by those they work with, she advises proceeding with caution and being careful of power dynamics. She warns, “If you’re in a position of authority, I don’t recommend you make the first move.”