A rising number of Indians are being open about romantic relationships with coworkers—particularly as a survey by Ashley Madison shows 40% of Indian respondents have either dated, or are currently dating, a colleague. This is a major cultural change in a country where office romance is often dealt with more quietly and with shame, becoming a frequent highlight in Top Stories today.
What the 40% Actually Tells Us
This data comes from an international survey prepared by Ashley Madison in cooperation with YouGov and conducted in 11 countries, which shows that India is tied for second place worldwide for office dating–with Mexico at 43%, and the US, UK and Canada trailing behind at around 30%.
According to the survey, men are much more likely than women to have dated a coworker: 51% of men reported dating a colleague in the survey, while only 36% of women reported the same. This indicates that men are far more likely to take a risk when it comes to dating in the office.
Why is this happening now? Evolving cultural constructs
Changing Realities in the Workplace
The transition of Indians into the corporate, global, and white collar workspaces implies more daily contact with coworkers, and thus more opportunities for interpersonal relationships. The lines defining work and personal life are apparently not so stark anymore.
Modern Approaches to Relationships
Not only are workplace romantic relationships becoming accepted, but there is also an increasing openness to non-conventional relationship formats. An independent survey by the dating service, Gleeden, found that 35% of Indians are currently in an open relationship, with an additional 41% indicating that they would consider an open relationship if requested by a partner.
Easier for Younger Generations
Younger individuals, particularly in the 20 to 30 year old range, exhibited greater comfort mixing work and romance. The Ashley Madison report indicated that the youngest age group (18–24) is more forthright when commenting on workplace relationships.
Changing Attitudes and Workplace Policy
Transitioning from straightforward social interactions to romantic relationships in the workplace will not be without its challenges. Many companies still haven’t caught up with addressing the challenges of workplace relationships in their policies. Workplace romances can raise concerns about favouritism, conflicts of interest, and disciplinary measures imposed on interpersonal behaviours that cross the line into romantic relationships.
According to research conducted in the United States, while the majority of employees admit to multiple ordinary relationships with coworkers, most do not have clear policies to establish what is acceptable. That lack of clarity is tense, creates risk, and contributes to questionable practices. For organisations in India that want to adapt to the culture change, this calls for a costly revision of predictable behaviours.
What This Means for Organisations
Organisations need to develop policies that establish behaviour that allows for discretion and respect for personal freedom while keeping their employees morally safe.
The introduction of training around the expectation of transparency in the employee/employer relationship could go a long way to ease the transition into romantic relationships without appearing to enforce an imbalance of power or ethical ambiguity.
Having open conversations about the stigma around workplace romance will go a long way to ease the commitment organisations have to work to develop.
Final Thought
India’s 40% workplace romance rate isn’t simply a statistic or attention-grabbing headline. It is evidence of society in society. As Indians are reliving and imagining what relationships look like in front of their colleagues, it demands that companies and individuals evolve. Office dating is not just surviving; it is thriving, with that comes new norms, expectations, and new areas of responsibility.
