Gen Z more likely to blur the lines between romance and work, says new survey

Love may be in the air, but is it in the workplace?

Yes, if a new survey of over 1,000 full-time U.S. workers is anything to go by.

American workers across all age groups, from Gen Z to Millennials and Gen X to Baby Boomers shared their thoughts on how workplace romances are affecting their careers, and workplace dynamics.

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Changing times

From the survey, evolving attitudes towards professional boundaries have emerged across generations.

Though 39% of workers of all ages have engaged in workplace relationships, Gen Z are most willing to date across hierarchies.

Some 11% of Gen Zers have dated their manager, but this drops to 7% for Millennials, to 5% for Gen X and just 3% for Baby Boomers. A further 11% of Gen Z workers have dated their subordinates.

Generation differences continue throughout the report. A similar enough 45% of Gen Z and 42% of Millennials have slept with a coworker, compared to 35% of Gen X and 21% of Baby Boomers.

Additionally, 24% of Gen Z workers have matched with a coworker on a dating app, higher than 16% of Millennials, and significantly higher than 6% of Gen X, and 1% of Baby Boomers.

Advances and advantages

When it comes to the differences between men and women in the survey, two notable differences emerged.

Unwanted advances are more common among women than men; 43% of women report feeling uncomfortable about a coworker's romantic interest, compared to 28% of men.

Men are also slightly more likely to report workplace romances leading to career benefits, with 7% of men saying a romance helped them get a promotion, compared to 6% of women.

HR in the dark

Despite the prevalence of office relationships, most remain concealed from management. The survey revealed that 72% of workplace romances are kept hidden from HR or management, though this secrecy varies significantly by generation.

Gen X workers are the most discreet, with 86% keeping their relationships private, compared to just 52% of Gen Z workers.

This generational divide extends to disclosure practices as well. While half of Baby Boomers report their companies never required relationship disclosure, only 10% of Gen Z workers say the same.

Gen Z also demonstrates unprecedented openness, with 47% informing their managers about their workplace relationships, and 46% notifying HR.

Eva Chan of Resume Genius, which commissioned the survey, had this to say: “Gen Z grew up being more naturally transparent and open about their relationships, thanks to social media and technology like dating apps. Their willingness to date across hierarchies has blurred the lines between personal and professional lives in a way we haven’t seen before.”

Career friend or foe?

Combining romance and careers presents complex dynamics, particularly for younger workers.

The survey found that 10% of Gen Z and 9% of Millennials credit workplace romances with helping them secure promotions, significantly higher than the 4% of Gen X and 5% of Baby Boomers who reported similar benefits.

However, workplace relationships can also create professional challenges. One in five Gen Z workers report quitting their jobs due to workplace romances, and 33% say these relationships negatively affected their work-life balance.

This impact is notably higher with Gen Z than other generations: only 15% of Millennials, 5% of Gen X, and 2% of Baby Boomers report similar disruptions.

Overall, the survey suggests that traditional taboos around office romance are fading, particularly among younger workers.

"Gen Z just isn't as concerned about a workplace romance hindering their career advancement as previous generations,” says Nathan Soto, career expert at Resume Genius.

"This may reflect a narrowing of young people's social circles, as opportunities to mingle in person are being replaced by screen time. Younger employees no longer view sleeping with a coworker as a taboo, and in addition to the risks, it may also have benefits, such as a promotion."

Organizations may need to review their rules and procedures as relationships at work become more accepted, especially among younger generations.

And that’s just one area. As Gen Z continues to enter the workforce in greater numbers, HR departments may need to adapt and adjust for new attitudes and looser professional boundaries, or at least communicate in-place boundaries clearly.

Looking for an organization with progressive workplace policies? Visit The Hill Job Board today, and see what roles are on offer that suit your skillset.

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