We all know how it feels to have a crush on a coworker. They make every shift more exciting, and they give you an additional boost of motivation to do well at work. Plus, you spend so many hours together each week, it’s no surprise that feelings might develop over time.
But a work crush is only appropriate if it’s reciprocated. Otherwise, it might land you in HR’s office for a very uncomfortable conversation. When one woman realized that her husband’s coworker was making blatant advances towards her, she decided that she couldn’t just sit around and watch. Below, you’ll find a story of petty revenge that she recently shared on Reddit, as well as some of the replies invested readers left her.
After visiting her husband at work, this woman realized that a coworker was vying for his attention
Image credits: micens / envato (not the actual photo)
So she decided to teach the employee a valuable lesson about boundaries
Image credits: Andrej Lišakov / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Murky-Emotion505
About half of all employees have had a workplace crush before
It’s not always easy to find someone to have a crush on as an adult. Perhaps you flirt with your neighbor every time you encounter each other in the stairwell. Or maybe you take your dog to the park at the same time every day, so you’ll have an opportunity to chat with that cute girl who owns a Labrador. But the easiest place to find a crush is probably going to be in the workplace.
According to a 2022 survey, about 50% of employees admit that they’ve had a crush on a colleague before. And one third say that they’re currently involved in a workplace romance or have been in the past.
Apparently, this isn’t seen as taboo or unprofessional anymore. Three quarters of employees say that they’re comfortable with colleagues being romantically linked, and 26% are even open to a relationship blossoming with a coworker.
When it comes to why people are so inclined to develop a crush on someone they work with, Business Insider notes that one of the biggest explanations is simply how much time we spend in the office.
David Brudö, CEO and cofounder of the mental well-being app Remente, says that office workers usually spend at least 1,680 hours a year in their workplace. That gives a person ample time to bond with their colleagues!
Working together also provides employees the opportunity to collaborate. You can see how a person responds to stressful situations, acts under pressure and interacts with others in the office. Plus, helping colleagues out and sharing the workload can be a great way to build a strong connection.
But if you develop a crush at work, you better make sure that you’re not stepping on anyone’s toes or making anyone uncomfortable. There is a fine line between being a little flirty and being creepy.
Sparking a workplace romance can be risky, even if both parties are single
If someone is married or in a relationship, they’re obviously not a great person for you to direct your attention towards. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be friends in the workplace, but it’s important to respect their relationship and their boundaries. Especially because not all workplace romances are as picture-perfect as Jim and Pam’s relationship.
Forbes reports that 40% of workplace romances actually involved cheating on a partner. But even if the relationship does start innocently, it can come along with issues.
People in workplace romances are 17% more scared of breaking up than those who met their partner somewhere else. And over half of people in workplace romances admit that the relationship has impacted their sense of individuality.
Meanwhile, 54% of these employees say that their workplace relationship has impacted their work-life balance. And 52% observed coworkers treating them differently after finding out about their relationship. At the same time, 51% of these employees admit that their relationship has impacted their sense of professionalism.
While it works out for some people, the office may not be the best place to find your next partner, especially if they’ve already got a ring on their finger. We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think this woman had the right to get petty revenge? Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article featuring workplace drama, look no further than right here.