Do you ever flirt in the workplace? Then you are certainly not the only one! Research by Jobbird.com shows that a third of employees have flirted, cheated or had a relationship with a colleague. 15 percent have or had a relationship with someone from work. 12 percent have peddled or had sex with a co-worker, and 8 percent stuck to flirting.
Not strange at all according to Mirjam Wiersma, flirt coach and author of two books about business flirting. “When people work together intensively, things sometimes blossom. It is not very surprising that someone communicates romantically with a business contact.” Wiersma advises people to flirt in the workplace. “It just depends on how.” According to the flirt coach, business flirting promotes productivity as opposed to romantic flirting. “People are aware that relationships at work are very important. All professionals are expected to build a relationship with their business contacts in order to ensure continuity or new assignments, for example.”
Fortunately, not everyone is open to a relationship in the workplace, as 65% of the respondents indicate that they want to keep work and private life separate.
Wiersma advises everyone not to look for romance in the workplace. “It can get you in serious trouble and in the worst case it can lead to dismissal. “Business flirting can help you when you want to be successful as a professional. You can see it as charming and that makes doing business and working easier. Romantic flirting has a different purpose, one that you better leave behind in the workplace.”
