So many percent of people are (secretly) in love with a colleague

Have you ever lustfully gazed at the two desks to your left? You're certainly not the only one who is head over heels in love with a colleague.

In fact, it turns out that we really like those we work with day in and day out. According to the latest figures, there are nearly 150,000 couples in the Netherlands who are colleagues. That amounts to about 4 percent of all people working in our country. That may not seem like a lot, but there are more than you think. What also matters is the size of a company, because yes, more fish in the pond also means faster finding a nice fish that suits you. But it also holds true: the longer someone works somewhere, the greater the chance that we choose a workplace romance. There’s something to be said for that. The longer you are involved with a company, the more you are also engaged with your team around you.

And is it allowed? Yes, but it varies by company. Some companies have a basic rule that dating a colleague is a bit not done . So you could get into trouble if you’re secretly doing it in the elevator. And a boss can always move someone to another position if the love life interferes with serious work. But all in all, you don’t have to worry about your job if you have a crush on a colleague. According to the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, having a relationship with a colleague falls under the right to privacy and free partner choice. In short: it’s just allowed. But your boss can take other measures, so that you, for example, do not have authority over your new flame, that idea. You shouldn’t want that either, I think.

What happens even more often than a relationship with a colleague is sex with a colleague. Certainly, one in five has done this at least once (literally). Look, those are the better figures. And whether you belong to that group or not, just remember that there are plenty of jobs to be found. And that finding a nice love is generally a lot harder.