Nearly half of employees have been involved in a workplace romance, and most keep these relationships secret from their teams, managers and HR departments, according to new research from SHRM.
The 2026 Workplace Romance study found 47 per cent of employees are currently or have previously been involved in a workplace romance. Of those workers, 56 per cent said they have hidden at least one relationship from their team, while 49 per cent concealed a relationship from their managers and 45 per cent from HR.
The findings suggest workplace romances remain common but are increasingly seen as something to keep private, even as attitudes toward dating colleagues have shifted in recent years.
Attitudes toward workplace dating decline
Acceptance of workplace romance has dropped sharply over the past year. Just 57 per cent of workers said they feel comfortable with colleagues dating in 2026, down from 81 per cent in 2025.
Both workers and HR professionals are divided on whether employees have a moral responsibility to report workplace romances. About half of workers (48 per cent) and HR professionals (49 per cent) agreed employees should report relationships under certain circumstances, such as a potential conflict of interest. However, 30 per cent of HR professionals said they believe the opposite.
“Workplace romances aren’t going anywhere. They’re woven into the fabric of our professional lives, and while they can add a spark, they also bring real challenges leaders cannot ignore,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of SHRM. “It’s essential for organizations to set clear expectations, promote transparency and fairness, offer practical training, and cultivate environments where business and personal connections thrive.”
Remote work affects dating opportunities
Workers in hybrid or remote settings reported mixed views on how their work arrangements affect their ability to meet romantic partners. Thirty-nine per cent said remote or hybrid work hinders their ability to meet potential partners, while 37 per cent disagreed.
For HR professionals, favoritism and unfair treatment remain the top concerns related to workplace romance, consistent with concerns expressed in 2025.
How organizations handle workplace romance
Organizations take varied approaches to managing workplace relationships. More than a third of HR professionals said their organization has a clear, structured policy on workplace romance. Thirty per cent said their organization handles relationships on a case-by-case basis, while 20 per cent reported no formal policy at all.
SHRM surveyed 1,243 U.S.-based workers on Dec. 8, 2025, using a third-party online panel. The organization also surveyed 1,553 HR professionals from Dec. 4 to Dec. 9, 2025, using the SHRM Voice of Work Research Panel.
